Cynthia Chou is Professor of Anthropology at the University of Iowa, also holding the C. Maxwell and Elizabeth M. Stanley Family Chair in Asian Studies. She is author or co-editor of several books including 'The Orang Suku Laut of Riau', 'Indonesia: The Inalienable Gift of Territory', 'Southeast Asian Studies: Debates and New Directions' and 'Tribal Communities in the Malay World: Historical, Cultural and Social Perspectives'.