Congregations and Associations: The Political Structure of the Chinese Community in Phnom - Penh, Cambodia

Attempts to look at types of Chinese communities in Southeast Asia particularly the Chinese societies in Phnom - Penh, Cambodia. States that the simplicity of social organization among the Chinese in colonial Phnom - Penh derived from the system of French indirect rule which divided the Chinese by place of origin into five congregations. Describes the congregation system to demonstrate that this system was responsible for limiting the proliferation of Chinese associations in colonial Phnom - Penh, and to indicate its import on Chinese community structure. Compares the congregation system with two other Chinese communities in Southeast Asia: nineteenth century Singapore and the towns in Dutch Java. Outlines the developments in associational structure which have occurred in Phnom - Penh since the end of the congregation system