Southeast Asian Sites Research Articles

Evaluating the Impact of Digital Mapping and 3D Imaging Technologies on the Restoration of Historical Sites in Southeast Asia

The preservation of cultural heritage sites is undergoing a transformation, propelled by advancements in digital and 3D technologies. This paper explores the integration and impact of such technologies, including digital mapping, 3D imaging, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT), on the conservation of historical sites. By providing detailed case studies from Southeast Asia, this study examines the accuracy improvements, enhanced visualization capabilities, and increased public engagement facilitated by these technologies. It also addresses the technical, financial, and training challenges associated with their implementation. Furthermore, the paper discusses the potential of emerging technologies to revolutionize heritage conservation and predicts future trends in the field. The findings suggest that while there are significant benefits to the adoption of these technologies, careful consideration is needed to overcome the associated challenges and ensure sustainable integration into conservation practices.

Beyond ‘Community Craft Specialisation’ in Prehistoric Mainland Southeast Asian Metallurgy: Copper Smelting Behaviours at Khao Sai On, Nil Kham Haeng, Non Pa Wai, Phromthin Tai, and Tha Kae in Central Thailand

Archaeology in Lopburi Province has been under long-term development since the 1970s and has led to the discovery of Khao Wang Prachan Valley (KWPV) as one of three currently known primary copper production (mining and smelting) sites in Southeast Asia. However, since the 1980s, archaeometallurgical research has focused mainly on the two sites of Non Pa Wai (NPW) and Nil Kham Haeng (NKH), dated from the Neolithic (ca. 1800 B.C.) to Early Iron Age (ca. 2300 B.C.), that are known to have large sequences of archaeological material linked to copper production. Although other sites with evidence of copper production are known in this restricted geographical area, their assemblages have not previously been subjected to archaeometric study. This article discusses the results of archaeometallurgical analyses of slags from Khao Sai On (KSO), Tha Kae (TK), and Phromthin Tai (PTT) with sequences dated during the Middle-Late Iron Age. Slag analysis reveals that different smelting behaviours were occurring at these sites. One heterogenous smelting behaviour at Khao Sai On was probably linked to a smaller community practicing metallurgy among other activities, while Phromthin Tai shows more homogeneous production linked to a larger settlement. Although these three sites are located within 26 km of each other, smelters were probably exploiting different local copper deposits around KWPV. The results seem to support a community based type of production where production behaviours are linked to local geology, technical competence, and intensity of exploitation.

Maritime Linkages between the Han Dynasty and Parthian Empire: Evidence from Unearthed Persian Pottery

This study describes a Persian pottery jug unearthed from Hepu, a well-known port for foreign trade in China during the Han Dynasty. The jug is the earliest and only Persian object dated to the Han Dynasty discovered in China. It thus serves as one of the most significant physical pieces of evidence for the investigation of trade between the Han Dynasty and Southeast Asia, South Asia, and even West Asia. This article takes the Persian jug as its starting point, and combines archaeological data from the same period unearthed from other port sites in Southeast Asia and South Asia, as well as Chinese and foreign historical documents, to recover the sea route via which the Persian jug moved from West Asia through South and Southeast Asia to Hepu, to confirm that the Han Dynasty had established indirect or direct maritime links with the Parthian Empire by the second century A.D. at the latest. This conclusion is supported with the discovery of glass and bronze cymbals from Western Asian and Mediterranean regions in Hepu and Panyu, the latter of which served as the largest foreign goods distribution center in the southern coastal area of China.

In the Footsteps of Wolfgang Franke: Revisiting Chinese Temples in Bangkok

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Chinese immigrants constituted up to 50% of the population in Bangkok. Beyond their religious role, Chinese temples served as community centers, fostering social connections, news exchange, and providing entertainment for newcomers in the Thai capital. With archival records scarce, the preserved epigraphy within these temples emerges as a crucial historical source. This article revisits Wolfgang Franke’s documented sites from the 1970s and 1980s, finding that the inscribed objects generally remain intact, and indicating stability in Bangkok’s Chinese temple culture over the last fifty years. Addressing the lack of a comprehensive listing of Chinese temples and their locations, the article presents a geo-referenced survey, significantly expanding previous lists. The survey data are available online as supplemental material, contributing to the documentation of Chinese religious sites in Southeast Asia. The article concludes by reflecting on the historical evolution of temple construction in Bangkok.

Living in the dry zone: Stable isotope insights into palaeodiet in ancient Myanmar

Southeast Asia is becoming a region of increasing interest in discussions of past migration, the origins of agriculture, and past impacts of human land-use change on environments. Myanmar, situated at a geographic and cultural crossroads between East, South and Mainland Southeast Asia, is potentially a critical region for exploring these themes. However, direct data relating to subsistence in the region has been lacking. Here, we apply stable carbon and oxygen isotope analysis to tooth enamel from humans and associated fauna to examine the subsistence economy of two communities from Myanmar, Oakaie and Nyaung’gan, spanning the transitional period from the late Neolithic to the early Bronze Age (ca. 1300-700BC). Situated within the broader regional and local environmental context, our data demonstrate the δ13C values of the individuals from the communities of Oakaie and Nyaung’gan are significantly higher, and the δ18O values are significantly lower, than individuals from the other sites in Southeast Asia, however, neither are significantly different to the Chinese sites and they overlap broadly with individuals from Mayutian in Southern Yunnan Province. These findings provide a unique insight into the subsistence economy of the ancient inhabitants of the Central Dry Zone of Myanmar.

Are You A Shopaholic? A Case Study of Customer Satisfaction of Shopee

Online shopping or called e-shopping is the place for everyone to purchase goods or services via an application provided or through a web browser over the Internet. One of the biggest e-commerce sites in Southeast Asia, Shopee has locations around the globe, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore. It is an online application where everyone can buy and sell goods easily with just one click on their smartphone. This case study examines the significant factors toward customers’ satisfaction with using Shopee in Malaysia. In this case study, the researchers use a questionnaire survey to accumulate information from 100 customers of the Shopee application to know deeper about their satisfaction with using Shopee for online purchases in Malaysia. The findings show that promotion strategy, service quality, and product variety, affecting the customers’ satisfaction of Shopee. The results provide new insights into customers’ satisfaction that can help the company's performance in the future.

Growth and carbon stocks in four mangrove species planted on a former charcoal concession site in Ranong, Thailand

The ending of mangrove concessions for charcoal production in 1998 gave new impetus to mangrove conservation and rehabilitation in Thailand, including the designation of the Ranong Biosphere Reserve (RBR) to protect Thailand’s largest single mangrove ecosystem. Four of the dominant tree species in the RBR were planted as seedlings in single species blocks on a former concession site in 1994: Rhizophora apiculata (Ra) and R. mucronata (Rm); and 1995: Bruguiera cylindrica (Bc) and Ceriops tagal (Ct). Tree growth and natural recruitment of seedlings and saplings were recorded in 100 m2 sampled quadrats in each species block in 1999, 2008, 2019 and 2023. All four species exceeded 10 m mean height by 2019 (range 12.1 ± 3.8 m to 19.6 ± 2.3 m), while mean DBH was 7.5 ± 3.4 cm to 9.1 ± 6.9 cm. There was evidence of self-thinning mortality by 2023, especially in the Ra and Bc blocks. Some illegal cutting of Bc trees between 2019 and 2023 further impacted the growth performance of this species, which exhibited a compensatory strategy of self-planting many seedlings. The height and DBH of the four planted species in 2023 were still less than in a mature Rhizophora- and Ceriops-dominated conservation forest area (mean tree height 17.4 ± 6.7 m; DBH 15.1 ± 7.3 cm). However, soil organic carbon (SOC) was high and not significantly different between the monoculture species blocks (525 ± 107 Mg C ha-1 to 743 ± 31 Mg C ha-1) and the conservation forest (616 ± 91 Mg C ha-1). SOC accounted for 74%-90% of the total ecosystem C, which was 650 to 829 Mg C ha-1 in the planted species blocks and 828 Mg C ha-1 in the conservation forest. The estimates for plant, soil and ecosystem C are compared with those reported from other natural and planted mangrove sites in Southeast Asia, especially along the Andaman Sea coast. The findings confirm the importance of conserving the few remaining areas of near-primary mangrove forest in this region.

Differences in migration phenology of warblers at two stopover sites in eastern Russia suggest a longitudinal migration pattern

Long-distance migratory birds often face major geographical barriers on their journey. While some species are able to cross them, others use longer routes to avoid such barriers. Little is known about the strategies of Siberian landbird migrants, which either cross or circumvent the deserts and mountain ranges of Central Asia en route to their non-breeding sites in Southeast Asia. Here we compare data on migration phenology and morphology from two bird ringing stations in eastern Russia, situated at similar latitudes but with a longitudinal difference of 1500 ​km, to hypothesise migration patterns. We found significant differences in timing between the two sites (birds migrated significantly earlier in spring and significantly later in autumn in the east), suggesting longitudinal migration as a result of migration detour. However, morphological differences show a less clear pattern. We argue that most Siberian landbirds might opt for a detour through the Russian Far East instead of a direct route in order to avoid unfavourable stop-over habitat in Central Asia. However, tracking studies will be necessary to prove this.

A dilemma of World Heritage ideals and challenges in Southeast Asia

AbstractFifty years after the ratification of the World Heritage Convention, we have come to learn that there is a huge discrepancy between the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) ideals of protecting heritage sites with outstanding universal values and unmatched realities in situ. I attempt to elucidate what World Heritage ideals of heritage protection are held in iconic sites in Southeast Asia. The studied sites are ancient monumental heritage sites of national importance – namely, Borobudur of Indonesia, Sukhothai and Ayutthaya of Thailand, and Angkor of Cambodia. The authorities in these countries have converted heritage sites into parks for visitors and for capitalization, which has placed authenticity and integrity at stake as well as converting the sites for contestation between the authorities and local communities. In order to solve the dilemma of the World Heritage ideals and their unwanted realities, I explore possible effective approaches for UNESCO and its partners to take into consideration.

Multiple dimensions of biodiversity in paleotropical hotspots reveal comparable bat diversity

AbstractBat species commonly comprise at least 50% of tropical mammalian assemblages, but Afrotropical bat faunas have been little studied leading to perceptions that they are depauperate. Here, we compare alpha taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of insectivorous bats belonging to the narrow‐space foraging ensemble from a bat diversity hotspot in Nigeria to species‐rich sites in Indonesia and Malaysia, using previously published data. The Nigerian site is protected unlogged forests at Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary and Cross River National Park. For comparison, we targeted similar unlogged forest sites in Southeast Asia: Indonesia—Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park Forest in Sumatra; and Kakenauwe Forest Reserve on Buton Island, Sulawesi; and another in Malaysia—Krau Wildlife Reserve. All sites were sampled using comparable methods, with an emphasis on harp traps that effectively capture the forest‐interior ensembles. We also compare regional beta diversity of bat assemblages in ecoregions using occurrence data (literature, unpublished records, and online natural history collections) from the Lower Guinean Forest and the Malay Peninsula. We demonstrate comparable alpha taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of narrow‐space bats among sites in Nigeria and Indonesia, but greater diversity in Malaysia. Turnover and overall beta diversity of bats among ecoregions was comparable between the Lower Guinean Forest and the Malay Peninsula, but nestedness was higher in the latter. Our results reiterate the value of harp traps in generating bat survey data that allows equatable comparisons of “mist net avoiders” in the Paleotropical forest understory. Our findings have implications for regional and local bat conservation.

When the Land Sings: Reconstructing Prehistoric Environments Using Evidence from Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology, with Examples Drawn from Fluvial Environments in the Nile and Son Valleys

Geomorphic evidence from rivers and lakes can help explain past changes in the locations of archaeological sites as well as environmental and climatic changes in their catchment areas. Examples drawn from the Blue and White Nile valleys in northeast Africa and from the Son and Belan valleys in north-central India reveal how Quaternary climatic fluctuations in the headwaters of these rivers are reflected in changes in river channel patterns downstream as well as in the type of sediment transported. Soils and sediments that contain prehistoric and historic artefacts can be analysed to show the type of environment in which the artefacts accumulated. Beds of volcanic ash may preserve former landscapes and their fossil remains and can provide a synchronous time marker against which to assess changes in the archaeological record. The pattern and tempo of past sea level fluctuations has controlled the distribution of coastal archaeological sites and helps to explain the absence of certain Holocene Neolithic sites in southeast Asia. Disturbance of archaeological sites by plants and animals, especially termites in tropical regions, can affect the stratigraphic and chronological integrity of the site.

Quantifying transportation infrastructure pressure on Southeast Asian World Heritage forests

Transportation infrastructure has expanded rapidly in Southeast Asian forests over the last 20 years, opening up remote areas to the degrading effects of internal forest fragmentation and human exploitation. Natural World Heritage sites (NWHS) can be a powerful policy instrument to safeguard tropical forest ecosystems (when adequately implemented and enforced, and communicated to all relevant stakeholders); however, despite this mechanism, transportation infrastructure pressure has been increasing in NWHS forests. Here we propose a novel GIS approach to assess spatial and temporal changes in transportation infrastructure pressure on NWHS in Southeast Asia using a Transportation Infrastructure Pressure Index (TIPI) and forest fragmentation analysis, underpinned by global open-source datasets. Mean pressure in Southeast Asian NWHS is lower than in their surrounding areas (15 km), suggesting that NWHS protection is preventing some deterioration. However, in the last 5 years, these sites have also come under increasing transportation infrastructure pressure (at a mean rate of 14.9% over the period 2014–2019 across 12 sites in Southeast Asia). Furthermore, increases in transportation pressure in NWHS surrounding areas are correlated with increases in transportation pressure inside NWHS. With transportation infrastructure projected to continue to expand globally, GIS-based analysis methods such as these could enhance existing NWHS monitoring efforts, providing early warning about pressures that may be contributing to forest degradation and biodiversity declines in NWHS.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Marine Atmosphere from the Western Pacific to the Southern Ocean: Spatial Variability, Gas/Particle Partitioning, and Source Apportionment.

The spatial variability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the marine atmosphere contributes to the understanding of the global sources, fate, and impact of this contaminant. Few studies conducted to measure PAHs in the oceanic atmosphere have covered a large scale, especially in the Southern Ocean. In this study, high-volume air samples were taken along a cross-section from China to Antarctica and analyzed for gaseous and particulate PAHs. The data revealed the spatial distribution, gas-particle partitioning, and source contributions of PAHs in the Pacific, Indian, and Southern Oceans. The median concentration (gaseous + particulate) of ∑24PAHs was 3900 pg/m3 in the Pacific Ocean, 2000 pg/m3 in the Indian Ocean, and 1200 pg/m3 in the Southern Ocean. A clear latitudinal gradient was observed for airborne PAHs from the western Pacific to the Southern Ocean. Back trajectories (BTs) analysis showed that air masses predominantly originated from populated land had significantly higher concentrations of PAHs than those from the oceans or Antarctic continents/islands. The air mass origins and temperature have significant influences on the gas-particle partitioning of PAHs. Source analysis by positive matrix factorization (PMF) showed that the highest contribution to PAHs was from coal combustion emissions (52%), followed by engine combustion emissions (27%) and wood combustion emissions (21%). A higher contribution of PAHs from wood combustion was found in the eastern coastal region of Australia. In contrast, engine combustion emissions primarily influenced the sites in Southeast Asia.

Modern human teeth unearthed from below the ∼128,000-year-old level at Punung, Java: A case highlighting the problem of recent intrusion in cave sediments

The emergence of modern humans in the eastern edge of the Eurasian Continent is debated between two major models: early (∼130−70 ka) and late (∼50 ka) dispersal models. The former view is grounded mainly on the claims that several cave sites in Southeast Asia and southern China yielded modern human fossils of those early ages, but such reports have been disputed for the lack of direct dating of the human remains and insufficient documentation of stratigraphy and taphonomy. By tracing possible burial process and conducting direct dating for an early Late Pleistocene paleontological site of Punung III, East Java, we here report a case that demonstrates how unexpected intrusion of recent human remains into older stratigraphic levels could occur in cave sediments. This further highlights the need of direct dating and taphonomic assessment before accepting either model. We also emphasize that the state of fossilization of bones and teeth is a useful guide for initial screening of recent intrusion and should be reported particularly when direct dating is unavailable. Additionally, we provide a revised stratigraphy and faunal list of Punung III, a key site that defines the tropical rainforest Punung Fauna during the early Late Pleistocene of the region.

Annual Long-Distance Migration Strategies and Home Range of Chinese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter soloensis) from South China.

Simple SummaryThe migration strategies and activity patterns of the Chinese Sparrowhawk, a small raptor species, remain unknown. Long-distance migratory birds have the habit of using stop-over sites during migration in order to help them supplement energy and restore their physical strength. We put GPS satellite positioning devices on Chinese Sparrowhawks, with the objective of determining when they start their migration, the route, whether they stopped during migration, habitat preferences, and where they ultimately wintered. This was conducted to help us understand the entire migration strategy of the Chinese Sparrowhawk. At the same time, based on satellite location information, we constructed a comprehensive picture of its summer, winter, and stop-over home ranges, and explored the associated activity patterns.From 2018 to 2019, two Chinese Sparrowhawks (Bird 01, male; Bird 02, female), Accipiter soloensis, were captured and fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) loggers in order to identify summering and wintering sites, migration routes, and stop-over sites. The Chinese Sparrowhawks were first fitted with backpack solar GPS satellite trackers in China in order to explore their migration routes. The two Chinese Sparrowhawks successfully completed their migration from southern China, through Nanning city of Guangxi province, China, to Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore and finally arriving in Indonesia, where they stayed until the March of the following year. They then returned to China along the original route, arriving in Changsha city, Hunan province, China. The two individuals traveled more than 4000–5000 km. For the first time, telemetry data demonstrate, the linkages between their Indonesia wintering sites, their stop-over sites in Southeast Asia, and their breeding/summering sites near south Yangtze River in the south-central part of China. During this long-distance migration, 2653 bird satellite sites were received. The autumn migration durations for the two Chinese Sparrowhawks were 84 days and 50 days, respectively, compared to 83 days and 49 days in spring. The median stop-over duration was 12.7 and 9.3 days, respectively and the median speed of travel was 74.2 km/day during the autumn migration and 73.9 km/day during the spring migration. Furthermore, two and one stop-over sites and one and three stop-over sites were used during the autumn and spring migrations of Chinese Sparrowhawks 01 and 02, respectively. The Chinese Sparrowhawks migrated long distances and used stop-over sites during their migration. Based on the home range analysis, we can conclude that Chinese Sparrowhawks reach their maximum home range in the summer and have multiple nuclear domains.

Genetic diversity, population structure and demographic history of the tropical eel Anguilla bicolor pacifica in Southeast Asia using mitochondrial DNA control region sequences

The tropical catadromous eel, Anguilla bicolor pacifica, an important fishery resource in Southeast Asia, is under threat due to overexploitation (especially of its glass eel phase) and the limited information on their current genetic status which is necessary for resource management. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences, a useful marker for population genetic studies in many aquatic organisms, were used to investigate the genetic diversity, population structure and demographic history of A. bicolor pacifica in the region. A total of 151 specimens were collected from three sites in Southeast Asia, namely: Phu Yen, Vietnam (n = 48); General Santos, Philippines (n = 52); and, Palu, Indonesia (n = 51). A total of 138 haplotypes were identified using the mtDNA control region sequences. In spite of the lack of shared haplotypes, low and non-significant FST values, high haplotype diversity in concurrence with relatively low nucleotide diversity, a haplotype network with no phylogeographic structuring indicate no significant genetic population structuring among the eel samples from Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia. Population expansion of A. bicolor pacifica was also suggested based on the results of the neutrality tests, mismatch distribution analysis and Bayesian skyline plot. Taken together, a joint management strategy for A. bicolor pacifica must involve countries in Southeast Asia particularly Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia for its sustainable use.

Method for Estimating Ecological Carrying Capacity of DataPoor Coastal Finfish Cage Aquaculture Sites in Southeast Asia at System-Scale

This study presents the development of a simple and generally applicable method for estimating ecological carrying capacity (ECC) of coastal finfish cage aquaculture at the system-scale in Southeast Asia and potentially other data-poor island nations. The ECC method relies primarily on results of dynamic models for simulation of organic loading due to multiple fish farms. In this study, the ECC method was successfully integrated within a methodology under development at Kiel University to holistically evaluate site suitability, ecological carrying capacities at farm-level and system-scale, as well as siting. Results of the application of the methodology for a target aquaculture site in northwest Bali, Indonesia, are presented in this study. Analysis of these results identified traditional fish farms located outside suitable areas and large-scale commercial farm clusters operating beyond ecological carrying capacity. Nonetheless, it was found that production output of the site in Bali is far below ECC and that it could be increased considerably without harming the environment. Recommendations have been made for reallocating the mispositioned farms as well as for reducing fish production of the farm clusters while expanding overall fish production to the east. The ongoing operational early warning monitoring at the site in Bali is being supplemented with regular monitoring of sediment quality in the seafloor and water quality in the aquaculture area to promote sustainable development. The proposed methodology has wide applicability and can be easily adapted to other regions for investigating present conditions and planning new aquaculture sites in pristine regions. The methodology is currently being up scaled to several target sites selected by the Indonesian Government to expand the activity.

Pacific Regional Infectious Disease Association (PRIDA): capacity-building for microbiology and infectious disease across the Pacific

PRIDA is an Australian based network of medical and scientific specialists, combining expertise in microbiology laboratory development, infection control, management of infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship. PRIDA focuses on grassroots support for Pacific and Southeast Asian sites through the establishment of long-term mentoring relationships with front line health care workers. With an emphasis on bench level training for scientists and bedside development for clinicians, PRIDA has advanced testing capacity, infection control and antimicrobial stewardship in the Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, and PNG. Understanding the need to upskill HCWs in the Pacific, PRIDA has expanded into areas of formal education opportunities with development of online microbiology diplomas, for pathologists, physicians, and scientists. Concurrent design of multidisciplinary virtual video conferenced microbiology rounds provides teaching opportunities in real time and improvement in daily patient care. From its origin of volunteerism, PRIDA has attracted funding through partnership with larger organisations and are currently involved in sponsored AMR projects in the Pacific.

Cesarean birth in the Global Network for Women\u2019s and Children\u2019s Health Research: trends in utilization, risk factors, and subgroups with high cesarean birth rates

BackgroundThe objectives of this analysis were to document trends in and risk factors associated with the cesarean birth rate in low- and middle-income country sites participating in the Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research (Global Network).MethodsThis is a secondary analysis of a prospective, population-based study of home and facility births conducted in the Global Network sites.ResultsCesarean birth rates increased uniformly across all sites between 2010 and 2018. Across all sites in multivariable analyses, women younger than age twenty had a reduced risk of cesarean birth (RR 0.9 [0.9, 0.9]) and women over 35 had an increased risk of cesarean birth (RR 1.1 [1.1, 1.1]) compared to women aged 20 to 35. Compared to women with a parity of three or more, less parous women had an increased risk of cesarean (RR 1.2 or greater [1.2, 1.4]). Four or more antenatal visits (RR 1.2 [1.2, 1.3]), multiple pregnancy (RR 1.3 [1.3, 1.4]), abnormal progress in labor (RR 1.1 [1.0, 1.1]), antepartum hemorrhage (RR 2.3 [2.0, 2.7]), and hypertensive disease (RR 1.6 [1.5, 1.7]) were all associated with an increased risk of cesarean birth, p < 0.001. For multiparous women with a history of prior cesarean birth, rates of vaginal birth after cesarean were about 20% in the Latin American and Southeast Asian sites and about 84% at the sub-Saharan African sites. In the African sites, proportions of cesarean birth in the study were highest among women without a prior cesarean and a single, cephalic, term pregnancy. In the non-African sites, groups with the greatest proportion of cesarean births were nulliparous women with a single, cephalic, term pregnancy and all multiparous women with at least one previous uterine scar with a term, cephalic pregnancy.ConclusionCesarean birth rates continue to rise within the Global Network. The proportions of cesarean birth are higher among women with no history of cesarean birth in the African sites and among women with primary elective cesarean, primary cesarean after induction, and repeat cesarean in the non-African sites.

A magic formula for economic development? Global market integration and spatial polarization in extractive industries

ABSTRACT The World Bank, World Trade Organization and others promote integration into global markets as a certain path towards economic development. Some researchers share this optimism, arguing that development is the record of how one thing leads to another, once peripheral locations have plugged into global networks. Comparing resource peripheries in South America, Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa with regard to the upstream oil and gas sector, we call for a more nuanced assessment. Against the backdrop of 38 narrative, open-ended interviews, we show that there is spatial polarization between ‘gateways’ and peripheral sites in Southeast Asia. Argentinean and Ghanaian case studies reveal that local firms usually provide generic services, with little prospects of venturing into higher value-adding activities. We conclude that at least the oil and gas sector is not suitable for fulfilling very optimistic expectations on development.