Southeast Asia: A Testament covers the tragic history of post war Indonesia from its successful struggle against the Dutch to Suharto's bloody overthrow of Sukarno in 1965. It also gives a personal account of the US involvement in Indochina, where George Kahin was an early critic of the Vietnam war and struggled to open the eyes of policy makers to the historical, political and military realities of the Vietnamese situation. Kahin also witnessed the reluctant involvement of Cambodia in the conflict, and the 1970 coup against Prince Sihanouk which paved the way for the Communist accession to power.
This book will be of interest to students of American diplomatic and foreign policy, Asian studies, and international relations. It is an engagingly written, often poignant personal account of George Kahin's experiences in Southeast Asia, ad as such will also appeal to the general reader.
Biography
George Kahin was Professor Emeritus of International Politics at Cornell University. He was a leading scholar of Southeast Asian history and of US foreign policy in the postwar period.
'sums up the central themes of a busy and peripatetic life in 15 fascinating chapters.' - Asian Affairs
'All is laid bare in this fascinating book. A testament in the true sense of the word ... the book not only captures the historical pinnacles of Indonesia but also those of Vietnam and Cambodia.' - Jakarta Post
'George Kahin's reminiscences are indeed a great contribution to Southeast Asian studies. His personal and consistent approach could certainly be taken as an example by other American young scholars. His humane approach to those he knew in Southeast Asia was deeply appreciated by many. He will be fondly remembered for a long time into the future.' - The Muslim World Book Reviews
