Asian Melting Pot: History Through the Multicultural Perspective

During May 15-16, 2021, the Faculty of Arts and the Office of International Affairs & Global Network, Chulalongkorn University, jointly organized an international online conference, “Asian Melting Pot: History through the Multicultural Perspective”. The sessions were held to encourage scholars from AUA member institutions and other parties from the wider international network to discuss the rich history of multicultural exchanges across the Asian continent from the early modern period to the present.

In order to re-discover and investigate the rich legacy of multicultural Asia, participants were encouraged to present from a wide range of fields in the humanities and social sciences, emphasizing on trans-regional and trans-continental work.

The presenters were from various fields, with academic affiliations in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, China, and Kazakhstan. Twenty papers covering a wide range of topics were presented and discussed in a total of six panels, divided into three main sessions or subthemes, each with two panels.  The papers embraced a wide range of disciplines and topics, including history, anthropology, linguistics, literary studies, international relations, public policy, and geography.

At the start of the conference, Professor Bundhit Eua-arporn, President of Chulalongkorn University, presided over the opening ceremony.  In his welcome remarks, he stated, “We are now undergoing dynamic and historic transformations.   Transformations that reveal a new awareness that can alter our fundamental assumptions, and that can enable unprecedented changes.  We should continue to engage in dialogue around our societal concerns from an intercultural perspective.”

Two keynote addresses were delivered by Professor Datuk Dr. Danny Wong Tze Ken, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya, and Professor Dr. Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Director of the Institute of Security and International Studies, Chulalongkorn University.

The Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) was established in 2017 through the combined effort of flagship universities in the region.  With aims to address regional and global challenges to Asian higher education and to foster economic, scientific, and technological development, the organization strengthens collaboration among member institutions. 

To read the conference report and watch the keynote sessions, click the links below:

• The Conference Summary Report
• Opening Remarks by Professor Bundhit Eua-arporn
• Keynote speech by Dr. Danny Wong
• Keynote speech by Dr. Thitinan Pongsudhirak
• Closing Remarks by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suradech Chotiudompant

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