Date of Publication

2015

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in International Studies Major in European Studies

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

International Studies

Thesis Advisor

Severo C. Madrona, Jr.

Defense Panel Chair

Charmaine Misalucha

Defense Panel Member

Alfredo C. Robles, Jr.
Maria Bernadette L. Abrera

Abstract/Summary

Eurocentrism and the narrative of Westphalian nation-states have been ontologically and epistemologically dominant in International Relations (IR). Addressing this problem in IR required the study of the genealogy of the international systems by focusing on a world region. One such region that has been understudied and continues to stay in IR’s disciplinal periphery is Southeast Asia. Yet Southeast Asia is too diverse. A possible approach to this difficulty is to take one sub-region of Southeast Asia as a starting point. An interesting area of departure would be East Maritime Southeast Asia. This thesis argued that in order to integrate non-Western regions in IR and subsequently universalize the discipline, there is a need to utilize a more nuanced systems theory. Via Buzan and Little’s conception of the international system and with the aid of the historical method, the study confirmed the existence of an international subsystem in East Maritime Southeast Asia from the 1500s to the 1860s. This was made possible by the various physical and social technologies which greatly facilitated the military-political, economic and socio-cultural interactions in the sub-region. Furthermore, East Maritime Southeast Asia’s historical experience as an international subsystem offers lessons necessary for the universalization of IR theory.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

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Embargo Period

4-8-2021

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