Leisure Activities in Southeast Asia, from Pre-colonial Times to the Present

Abstract

This chapter examines leisure activities practised in Southeast Asia, a region consisting of 11 countries. We have structured the chapter into five main sections. First, we examine the varied influences on pre-colonial Southeast Asian leisure and patterns that demonstrate the regional spread of particular activities. Second, we examine how leisure pursuits shifted during the colonial era as European administrators sought to ‘civilise’ colonial subjects. Third, we investigate the post-colonial era and the ways in which leisure became a key nation-building strategy in states’ attempts to ‘modernise’ the citizenry. Fourth, we outline ways in which globalisation in recent decades has shaped leisure practices in Southeast Asia. Finally, we examine contemporary state-driven attempts to revive indigenous leisure activities.