Eric Alan Jones

Current Research

Dr. Eric Jones is an associate professor of History and a member of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at NIU. As a historian, he has written much on Indonesian history and for more than 30 years, he has been a scholar and observer of the archipelago. He is currently working on a project the transition to democracy and served as an official election observer for the 2024 Indonesian National Election. Dr. Jones has had the privilege of mentoring and working with some of Indonesia's most prominent members of government and society. In recognition for his service and contributions to the relationship between Indonesia and the United States, he was recently awarded the honorary title of Daeng Marewa (Bravelord) by the King of Gowa. He has previously served in various administrative capacities and led and designed training programs for the Indonesian Election Commission, the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and the Indonesian House of Representatives Secretariat.

Major Publications

Book

Wives, Slaves and Concubines: A History of the Female Underclass in Dutch Asia. DeKalb: NIU Press, 2010.

Articles/Book Chapters

• "Fugitive Women: Slavery and Social Change in Early Modern Southeast Asia," Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, Vol. 38, No. 2 (June 2007)
• "Courts and Courtship: An Examination of Legal Practice in Dutch Asia," Leidschrift: Historisch Tijdschrift, Vol. 21, No. 2 (2006), 31-50.
• "Indonesia: Hundreds of Thousands Perish, the West Elated," Asian Studies Newsletter, Spring 2005, Vol. 50:2, 15.
• "Dutch Empire", "Calvinism", "Jakarta", "Sukarno", "Malaysia", "Dutch East Indies", "Dutch East India Company (VOC)", "Dutch West Indies", "Dutch West India Company", "Afrikaans", entries in Melvin E. Page (ed.), Colonialism: An International Social, Cultural and Political Encyclopedia, 3 vols. (ABC-CLIO: Santa Barbara, CA, 2003)

Teaching Interests

As a teacher I handle most of the undergraduate and graduate history courses on Southeast Asia. In addition to responsibility for individual undergraduate courses on nearly every country in Southeast Asia, most frequently Indonesia and Burma, I also offer region-wide courses. For graduate course offerings, I've taught a range from Islam in Southeast Asia to Southeast Asia and the U.S. If you really want to see me get animated, ask me about my Study Abroad Malaysia class, where have taken students for coursework and travel abroad. The food, the weather, the people and the history – all warm.

Courses Taught

• HIST 171 The World Since 1500
• HIST 343 / 498J-P3 History of Southeast Asia Since 1800
• HIST 447 History of Burma
• HIST 448 History of Indonesia
• HIST 449 History of Malaysia – Study Abroad
• HIST 498 History of Cambodia
• HIST 510C/560 US and Southeast Asia
• HIST 560 Islam in Southeast Asia

Interdisciplinary Affiliations

Center for Southeast Asian Studies

Honors Faculty Fellow (2022-2023)

As an Honors Faculty Fellow, Professor Jones will teach a seminar on Spies, Lies and Secret Wars CIA in fall 2022 in the University Honors Program. The Honors Faculty Fellowship program identifies faculty eager to teach innovative, exciting seminars of interest to highly motivated students from across the university.