ABSTRACT
The chapter is organised by themes. The initial theme is a literature-based reflection on critical assessments of contemporary Area Studies, including suggestions for 'new' Area Studies. This is followed by a discussion of the geographical as one element in the conceptualisation of area in Area Studies. Islamic Studies and Buddhist Studies are also clustered as a type of Area Studies. The perception of area knowledge as colonised knowledge shines through most of the arguments brought forth in this context. A great deal of the demands for alternative ways of generating knowledge and conducting research has been inspired by perspectives from Postcolonial Studies. The chapter discusses some ideas that have sprung off from this current since they have met with considerable attention in the case of Southeast Asian Studies, too. It concludes with some remarks concerning the tunnel vision that feeds into the debate on areas and Area Studies.
