Abstract
In this article I reflect on Grant Evans’ landmark and influential The Politics of Ritual and Remembrance: Laos since 1975, the way in which this book relates to the transformation from socialism to post-socialism in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR), to the crisis of legitimacy of the communist regime, and to issues of social memory, Buddhism, nationalism, iconography, and ethnic minorities. I also consider how other scholars have engaged with The Politics of Ritual and Remembrance both critically and supportively since the publication of the monograph in 1998. I include in my analysis some observations on Evans’ quite radical change in political views over his career as a student, journalist and academic, culminating in his critique of socialism in general and the LPDR in particular and his controversial sympathy for the Lao monarchy.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 181-194 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | The Australian Journal of Anthropology |
Volume | 30 |
Issue number | 2 |
Early online date | 23 Apr 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2019 |
Keywords
- Buddhism
- ethnic minorities
- Grant Evans
- iconography
- Laos
- nationalism
- royalty
- social memory