Pacific Asia

Pacific Asia has witnessed arguably the most dynamic economic growth and social transformation in the world since 1945. Inspired by the example of Japan, a number of high performing economies have emerged in the region. Pacific Asia explores this extraordinary pace of development and explains the various factors that lie behind it. It introduces the complex politics of development and sets Pacific Asia in its geographical and socio-cultural context. As well as Japan, the role model of development, Pacific Asia examines the experiences of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.

Yumei Zhang

List of abbreviations, Introduction, 1 Development theories, 2 Development in Pacific Asia, 3 The political economy of 'Confucian' capitalisms, 4 The political economy of 'ersatz capitalism' in Southeast Asia, 5 Political development in Japan: a model of 'illiberal democracy'?, 6 Political development in Taiwan, South Korea and Thailand: the triumph of democratization, 7 Political development in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia: democratisation blocked, 8 'Welfare Orientalism' and social development in Pacific Asia, 9 The changing context of development: democratisation, globalisation and the 1997 crisis, 10 The rise of regionalism in Pacific Asia: contested visions, changing realities, Conclusion, Appendix 1, Appendix 2, Bibliography, Index