The culturally diverse and historically complex region of South-East Asia has played a vital role in the development of the concepts and methods of anthropology. Why, then, has it not yet provided the subject matter of an introductory teaching text? As the first comprehensive and detailed introduction to the social and cultural anthropology of South-East Asia, this volume decisively fills this glaring gap. It is a little known fact that many of the senior anthropologists of the post-war period who contributed to the development of anthropological theories and methods formulated their ideas and perspectives in their encounter with South-East Asia. Furthermore, social scientists have fully appreciated the value of an anthropological approach in understanding the dynamics of change in South-East Asia. Above all, this book addresses the major theoretical issues and themes that have emerged from the engagement of such anthropologists with South-East Asian communities. It also provides a succinct historical survey and analysis of the development of our understanding of the peoples and cultures of the region. This introductory volume is the prelude to a series of teaching texts on the peoples and cultures of South-East Asia. The series gives due emphasis to the responses to development, globalisation and change of local communities in the region.