Marshall Poe
Marshall Poe
Diana S. Kim, "Empires of Vice: The Rise of Opium Prohibition Across Southeast Asia" (Princeton UP, 2020)
Diana S. Kim, "Empires of Vice: The Rise of Opium Prohibition Across Southeast Asia" (Princeton UP, 2020)
Diana S. Kim, "Empires of Vice: The Rise of Opium Prohibition Across Southeast Asia" (Princeton UP, 2020)
Thursday 30th December 2021
Diana S. Kim discusses her book on how opium prohibition influenced colonial state-building in Southeast Asia on 'New Books in Drugs, Addiction and Recovery'.
58 minutes
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Get the buttons here!Empires of Vice: How Opium Shaped Colonial Southeast Asia
The idea that Burman-specific targeting was central to how the British would approach prohibition and sumptuary restrictions, and that the rationales behind it had to do with the conception that there was an increase in social disorder, specific forms of petty crime that seemed indicative of a more general moral decay.
Ever wondered how something as small as an opium poppy could influence the fate of entire nations? In this episode of 'New Books in Drugs, Addiction and Recovery', Diana S. Kim dives into her award-winning book, *Empires of Vice: The Rise of Opium Prohibition Across Southeast Asia*. Kim paints a vivid picture of colonial state-building, focusing on the unexpected role played by opium regulation.
Through her detailed comparison of Burma, Malaya, and Vietnam, she reveals that prohibition wasn’t born from grand decisions in European capitals but from the everyday observations and interpretations of countless petty bureaucrats. These small actions and stories gradually transformed opium into a significant issue that colonial states had to tackle. The episode sheds light on how these incremental changes shifted the focus to the state as the main force in dealing with opium problems.
Kim’s exploration is not just about historical facts; it’s about understanding the intricate web of governance and control that shaped Southeast Asia. This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the intersection of drug policy, colonial history, and political science.