ABSTRACT
Chapter 20 delves into the analysis of power relations as manifested in the built environment of Asia. It reveals a complex web of histories that encompass imperialism, colonization, nationalism, identity politics, and the neo-colonial processes associated with globalization. Asian cities, institutions, and various architectural forms have been intentionally designed to express forms of imperial and national sovereignty, while also being shaped by social responses to political shifts. The chapter provides an overview of the architecture that emerged during the colonial encounter in Asia, examining how cities and buildings were influenced by the process of decolonization as a catalyst for social transformation. It argues that imperial and national framings produce distinct historiographical traditions that reflect these very different legacies of power. Overall, this chapter illuminates the importance of understanding the architectural legacies of imperialism, colonization, nationalism, and decolonization in order to grasp the multifaceted dynamics of power and identity in Asia’s built environment.
