Martin Stuart-Fox

Laos has the smallest population, the weakest military, and despite rapid economic growth in recent years, one of the lowest levels of per capita income in mainland Southeast Asia. Yet a glance at the map reveals its strategic location, between China and Cambodia and between Thailand and Vietnam. As Laos was formerly a crossroads for trade routes, the socialist government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic today seeks to transform the country into a prosperous crossroads at the heart of this rapidly developing region.This third edition of Historical Dictionary of Laos, Fourth Edition contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has more than 1.000 cross-referenced entries on important personalities as well as aspects of the country’s politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about Laos.

Explores the nature of Buddha's enlightenment and the meaning of Buddhist symbolism, discussing the relationship between Buddhist meditative techniques and examples of Buddhist symbolism found in early Pali texts and in the twilight language of the tantras.

Laos is a land of festivals. Every village, every temple, and every ethnic minority not only holds its own special festivals but joins the wider Lao community in celebrating the national ones as well. This book explores the most important festivals of Laos and offers a rare and fascinating glimpse into the spiritual and communal life of the Lao people. Written and photographed by experts in Lao history, society, and culture, Festivals of Laos is a wonderful combination of insightful narrative and stunning photography.

China, the world's most populous nation, has always exerted great influence on the traditional kingdoms and modern states of Southeast Asia. Today, history and culture continue to shape the modern relationship.In this concise volume, Martin Stuart-Fox charts the history of relations between China and Southeast Asia across two millennia, examining patterns of diplomacy, commercial networks, and migration, and explaining how these have varied over time. He shows how China's traditional world view was disrupted by the modern order of sovereign nation states, how the country struggled to adapt through its 'century of humiliation' from the opium wars to the proclamation of the People's Republic in 1949 and how, since then, China has sought to restore its standing in the world.A Short History of China and Southeast Asia is a fascinating account of imperial ambition, internal collapse and revival, cultural and commercial striving, war and revolution. Here, the 'Middle Kingdom' plays its role on the world stage, from the beginnings of its history to its growing contest with the USA for dominance of the Asian region. An important insight into the complicated history of the fastest-growing region in the world. to its growing contest with the USA for dominance of the Asian arena.A title in the series edited by Milton Osborne.

This authoritative and wide-ranging history traces events in this little-known country from ancient monarchy, through its establishment as a French colony, to independence in 1953, the People’s Democratic Republic, and the present one-party authoritarianism. The book highlights Laos’ complex and shifting political alliances. The struggle for independence from France was followed by a struggle for unity and neutrality in the face of persistent foreign intervention, as the country was drawn into the war in Vietnam. Only with the end of the Cold War and the withdrawal of Vietnamese troops has Laos been able to reassert its neutral foreign policy and develop a market economy. This book is an impressive political, social, cultural and economic history. It will be essential for anyone wanting to understand Laos as it joins ASEAN, faces great economic challenges and struggles to maintain its cultural identity.

This authoritative and wide-ranging history traces events in this little-known country from ancient monarchy, through its establishment as a French colony, to independence in 1953, the People’s Democratic Republic, and the present one-party authoritarianism. The book highlights Laos’ complex and shifting political alliances. The struggle for independence from France was followed by a struggle for unity and neutrality in the face of persistent foreign intervention, as the country was drawn into the war in Vietnam. Only with the end of the Cold War and the withdrawal of Vietnamese troops has Laos been able to reassert its neutral foreign policy and develop a market economy. This book is an impressive political, social, cultural and economic history. It will be essential for anyone wanting to understand Laos as it joins ASEAN, faces great economic challenges and struggles to maintain its cultural identity.

Explores the nature of Buddha's enlightenment and the meaning of Buddhist symbolism, discussing the relationship between Buddhist meditative techniques and examples of Buddhist symbolism found in early Pali texts and in the twilight language of the tantras.