States And Development In The Asian Pacific Rim

This book is an edited volume of eleven chapters that focus on state policy and its consequences for economic development and social transformation in East Asia. The introductory chapter anticipates the conclusions of the chapters to follow, arguing that an adequate explanation of the &'Asian miracl.

This book examines the increasing integration of Pacific Rim countries, especially in East Asia and Southeast Asia, and the creation of 'new geographies'. The interaction of local and global forces is examined. Nineteen papers by leading scholars from the region are presented, with an Introduction and Conclusion. Illustrated with maps. A list of selected readings, and an index are included.

In this volume, scholars question the current euphoria over the rapid growth of the Pacific rim - as an economic region and as a political ideal. They suggest that much of the discourse on the region is highly ideological, focusing on its potential for capitalist development while ignoring the limitations of such development, its human costs and consequences. This critique of the idea of a Pacific rim also seeks to redress the balance by focusing on the region in terms of human interactions.

Analyzing the long-term, historical development of the major economies around the Pacific Rim in language aimed at the general reader, Coming Full Circle throws light on the most important relationships in the region today as well as on the prospects for future economic development and political cooperation. The authors begin with a critique of the popular notion of an integrated "Pacific region," paying particular attention to the influence of geography and environment on population distribution and patterns of regional economic activity. Their study covers the diverse indigenous development of pre-European times, later periods of direct European influence, and the evolution of modern-day urban societies in the region. Finally, they track the rise of the United States and Japan as the dominant regional economic powers and forecast changes we can expect to see in the years ahead, noting in particular the increasing importance of China.

Analyzing the economic, strategic, and cultural elements that shape the attraction--and the friction--between the Pacific and Atlantic communities, this book integrates European perspectives into a discussion that has traditionally been dominated by Asian and U.S. voices. The authors take as their theme the uncertainty created by the Pacific Rim’s new role in shifting the international balances of political and economic power. Economic uncertainty has been fueled by Asia’s trade surpluses with Western Europe and the United States, with the West viewing its system of free world trade as working to the greater advantage of the Asia Pacific. Strategic uncertainty pivots on the U.S.-USSR superpower rivalry and on the growing influence of Japan and the PRC on the strategic balance in the Pacific Basin. A more subtle and powerful constraint surfaces in the realm of culture--in differing perceptions among the people of the Asia Pacific and the West concerning liberal values and the liberal underpinnings of the present system of world trade.

China's ongoing transformation and expanding economic prowess has sustained interest in the models of Asian economic development. The earlier successes of the "Asian Tiger" economies of South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore and the historic and current preeminence of Japan as both a regional and world economic power, inspire more in-depth and comparative studies of these Asian models. Growth and Crises in the Asian Pacific Rim familiarizes the reader with the various Asian models of development, exploring both the strengths and weaknesses of these paradigms. Economic dynamism in East Asia during the last sixty years provides a multitude of case studies that illustrate economic fundamentals, such as the development of economic bubbles and currency crises. This book is designed as a textbook for both undergraduate and graduate students and is accessible to readers with a rudimentary knowledge of economics. Although the book endeavors to explain the phenomenon of economic growth and development, the selections are written from various disciplinary perspectives such as economics, history, political science, sociology, anthropology, business, and international relations. It is appropriate for course use in other social science disciplines and business areas focusing on the study of Asian Pacific Rim development. The general reader seeking to understand the various modes of growth and development of rapidly evolving regions such as the Asian Pacific Rim will find the book's selections illuminating. Margaret Malixi is professor of economics at California State University-Bakersfield. Her research interests and publications lie in the area of international economics, open economy macroeconomics, applied econometrics, and Asian Pacific Rim development.

Recognizing the dawning of the Pacific century and its implications for the United States, this textbook explores the economic, political, and social development of the countries of the Asia Pacific and analyzes past, present, and future U.S. policy responses. Houseman compares and contrasts various levels of development within the region, emphasizing especially trade, security, and human rights issues. He concludes with recommendations for U.S. policymaking acknowledging the realities of shrinking political and economic influence in the post-Cold War era.

This important volume examines the vast potential of--and critical need for--cooperation among the neighboring states of the Pacific Rim. From economic and security matters to cultural and environmental concerns, the Pacific Century will require increased cross-border education, communication, and cooperation, which can be enhanced by regional organizations and agreements. This work offers a compilation of new thinking from international political, business, and academic leaders on the challenges facing the Pacific Rim in the next century, and proposes the emerging Pacific community as a model for global cooperation.