[W]hile Ivarsson could have been content to go to the trendy conclusion that Laos was a simple ‘creation’ of the colonial West, his in-depth knowledge of Laos, of the Lao and of t
[W]hile Ivarsson could have been content to go to the trendy conclusion that Laos was a simple ‘creation’ of the colonial West, his in-depth knowledge of Laos, of the Lao and of their language allows him to accord agency to the Lao themselves in the making of their nation. Ivarsson’s study is a fascinating read and one of the most important and sophisticated books on modern Laos to have been published in the last 30 or so years. […] Ivarsson has clearly produced an innovative,intelligently crafted and provocative book.