Robert Cribb is currently undertaking the writing of a chapter that delves into the historiography of modern Southeast Asia for the upcoming edition of the Cambridge History of Southeast Asia, scheduled for publication in 2024. The field of modern Southeast Asian history, encompassing the era from around 1800 onwards, possesses distinctive characteristics within the broader discipline of history. Notably, it is characterized by a notable dominance of scholars from outside the region, its roots in interdisciplinary area studies, and a lack of a centralized geographical focal point.
In the process of elucidating this field, Cribb has made a deliberate choice to steer away from emphasizing prominent figures and celebrated works. Instead, the focus is directed towards the identification of four prevailing metanarratives that form the basis of most historical writings concerning the period since 1800: Modernist, autonomist, internationalist, and discursive. The chapter concludes by venturing into speculative territory, deviating from the conventional historical approach, as Cribb explores potential future developments in the field with an open and non-traditional perspective.
Robert Cribb is Professor of Asian History in the Department of Political and Social Change. He is a historian of Indonesia with broader interests in Southeast Asia and in Asia as a whole. His interests include political and environmental history, the history of violence and historical geography.