Cambodia Now: Life in the Wake of War

by Karen J. Coates

Overview

Cambodia has never recovered from its Khmer Rouge past. The genocidal regime of 1975-1979 and the following two decades of civil war ripped the country apart. This work examines Cambodia in the aftermath, focusing on Khmer people of all walks of life and examining through their eyes key facets of Cambodian society, including the ancient Angkor legacy, relations with neighboring countries (particularly the strained ones with the Vietnamese), emerging democracy, psychology, violence, health, family, poverty, the environment, and the nation's future.

Along with print sources, research is drawn from hundreds of interviews with Cambodians, including farmers, royalty, beggars, teachers, monks, orphanage heads, politicians, and non-native experts on Cambodia. Dozens of exquisite photographs of Cambodian people and places illustrate the work, which concludes with a glossary of Cambodian words, people, places and names, and an appendix of organizations providing aid to Cambodia.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786420513
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	04/12/2005
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	392
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.78(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Author Karen J. Coates is a journalist and media trainer and the 2011 T. Anthony Pollner Distinguished Professor in the School of Journalism at the University of Montana. She writes for a variety of newspapers, magazines and journals around the world and lives in Peralta, New Mexico.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments     
Preface     
Introduction     
Map of Cambodia     

PART I: RECONCILING THE PAST

1. War Remnants: Mines and Desperation     
2. Leaving Cambodia: Passing the Test     
3. Genocide: Ghosts on the Porch     
4. Angkor: An Empire in Ruins     
Interlude: Siem Reap to Phnom Penh     
5. Neighbors and Borders: Enemies Through Time     
Interlude: The Admiral's House     
6. Kampuchea Krom: The Land Next Door     
7. Anlong Veng: Beyond the Khmer Rouge     
Interlude: Bond and Than     

PART II: LIVING NOW

8. Democracy: Rice and Rights     
Interlude: Sam and Vic     
9. Violence and Crime: Blood in the Street     
Interlude: A Runner’s Course     
10. Psychology: After the Tragedy     
11. The Wanderers: A People Uprooted     
12. Women: The Lesser Sex     
13. Children: Born Against Odds     
14. Health: Living Against Odds     
Interlude: Dog Bite     
15. Pollution: Sewage and Waste     
16. Environment: Threats in the Wild     
17. The Fringe: People on the Edge     

PART III: LOOKING AHEAD

18. The Crossroads: Tugged in Two Directions     
19. Development: Building on Quicksand     
Interlude: Cops and Dogs     
20. Heroes: Doing It Their Way     
21. Prospects: No Easy Peace     

Afterword     
Glossary     
People, Places and Names     
Organizations     
Cambodian Time Line     
Notes     
Selected Bibliography     
Index     

Editorial Reviews

compelling”—Pacific Affairs Journal; “in this moving book, illustrated with Redfern’s photos, Coates depicts the spunk, the verve, and the color of a resilient and optimistic people”—Wildlife Conservation Magazine; “an impressive book...one of a few publications to focus on life in Cambodia today”—The Montanan; “I loved the book, I could hardly put it down...a must read...strongly recommended”—Cambodia Tales; “relentlessly compelling essays...haunting photos...combines human stories and journalistic thoroughness...examines Cambodia through a variety of prisms”—The Register-Guard; (Eugene, Oregon); “Coates and Redfern found a country that had been torn apart by war and remained violent. Through the people they met along the way, and in some cases, helped toward a more rewarding life, they paint a picture of Cambodia that isn’t being told anywhere else. Most news agencies have all but forgotten the country...anyone with even a mild interest in Southeast Asia won’t be disappointed. This book is for anyone who wants to read of a culture and a history so foreign to our own. It’s also a book for anyone who likes to read about fascinating stories of challenge, and the strength of the human spirit.”—The News-Review; (Roseburg, Oregon;) “a portrait of the country that shows ‘the ravines of life between Cambodia’s bursts of news’ through the stories of individuals...shed[s] light on the experiences and impact of the Khmer Rouge genocide, the historical legacy of Angkor Wat, relations with neighboring countries, the psychological effects of war, current politics, internally displaced peoples, the status of women and children, health and ecology, and future prospects”—Reference and Research Book News.

From the Publisher

an impressive book...one of a few publications to focus on life in Cambodia today

The Montanan

in this moving book, illustrated with Redfern's photos, Coates depicts the spunk, the verve, and the color of a resilient and optimistic people

Wildlife Conservation Magazine

compelling

Pacific Affairs Journal