Syed Hussein Alatas and the School of Autonomous Knowledge compiles 14 essays from across Southeast Asia on the ideas of Syed Hussein Alatas, the renowned social theorist best known for the seminal The Myth of the Lazy Native.

The title refers to Alatas’ school of thought calling for the study of the social sciences free from the limitations of not just Eurocentric, but also nationalistic, sectarian, and nativist mindsets. It stresses a diagnostic sociological approach, that is driven by a concern for social development and autonomy of the mind and spirit.

Conceived during Alatas’ tenure at the National University of Singapore, a generation of young academics heeded the call, with the legacy continuing until today. The volume is edited by reseachers Mohamed Imran Mohamed Taib and Nurul Fadiah Johari.

Syed Hussein Alatas and the School of Autonomous Knowledge is available for pre-order from Gerakbudaya.

Syed Hussein Alatas and the School of Autonomous Knowledge

Mohamed Imran Mohamed Taib and Nurul Fadiah Johari, eds.
2026
Gerakbudaya