This book analyses the growth, development and crisis experiences of the Southeast Asian economies, in particular, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand -- also known as ASEAN-5. The proposition is developed that the robust economic performance of the Southeast Asian economies during the past four decades has been attributed to the various factors, developments and independent national policies which have been pursued by the individual member countries rather than to any regional economic framework. The book covers eleven topics which is suitable for a one-semester course on the economics of Southeast Asia. Also, it has a narrower area coverage as it focuses only on the five economies, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. The sectoral treatment of the crisis impact and the analytical treatment of policy responses to the crisis differentiate this book from other publications on the same topic. Finally, the book provides an analysis of national developments, policies and factors which have contributed to the economic transformation of the respective Southeast Asian economies.

This book provides the basis for a reconceptualization of key features in Southeast Asia's history. Scholars from Europe, America, and Asia examine evolutionary patterns of Europe's and Japan's Southeast Asian empires from the late nineteenth century through World War II, and offer important insights into the specific events of the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. In turn, their different perspectives on the political, economic, and cultural currents of the "post-colonial" era - including Southeast Asia's gradual adjustment to globalizing forces - enhance understanding of the dynamics of the decolonization process. Drawing on new and wide-ranging research in international relations, economics, anthropology, and cultural studies, the book looks at the impact of decolonization and the struggle of the new nation-states with issues such as economic development, cultural development, nation-building, ideology, race, and modernization. The contributors also consider decolonization as a phenomenon within the larger international structure of the Cold War and the post-Cold War eras.

There is widespread agreement that the world's most successful developing countries in the 1980s were those in Southeast Asia. Following in the footsteps of postwar Japan and more recently Korea, the populations of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Philippines have made enormous strides in income, industrial and agricultural production, exports, education, health, nutrition, consumption, and other development indicators. This book brings together political scientists, economists, officials of Asian governments, the United States, and representatives of the multilateral banks to analyze and explain Southeast Asia's extraordinary growth. Chapters and contributors to The Southeast Asian Economic Miracle include: "Recent Developments and Future Prospects of Indonesia" by Anwar Nasution; "The Economic Experience and Prospects of Thailand" by Sukhumbhand Paribatra; "The Development of the Former Indochina States" by Frederick Brown; "Trade and Investment in Southeast Asian Development" by Stephen Parker; and "Managing Renewable Resources in Southeast Asia: The Problem of Deforestation" by Gareth Porter. Among the critical questions that the contributors address are: Is the success of the 1980s and early 1990s a permanent part of the world's economic landscape? How will this region react to the growth of China's vast productive capacity and to the faltering of Japan's economy? What will be the effect of U.S. military disengagement caused by domestic budgetary concerns and the end of the cold war? The Southeast Asian Economic Miracle is an important study of the shifting winds of the political economy of growth in our time—the movement away from a command to a free market environment. It will be an essential resource for political scientists, Asia area scholars, economists, and policymakers.

East Asia is regarded as growth center in the world today, even as political tension in that region remains high. Economic growth has spilled over from Japan to the Asian newly industrialized economies, as well as to the middle-income countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) through foreign trade and investment. Despite economic growth, an East Asian multilateral security scheme was never created. Will this situation change in the new international environment? With these trends in mind, the collection of articles in this volume sheds light on economic and political issues of natural in East Asia. The articles discuss a comprehensive range of topics:Macroeconomic performance,foreign direct investment, trade policies, financial markets, security arrangements, surveys of recent developments in South Korea, People's Republic of China, and Taiwan.Integration within ASEAN focusing on AFTA and sub-regional co-operation. Integration of Indochinese economies in to greater Southeast Asian markets.

The demise of America's Cold War-era foreign policy, has transformed Southeast Asia's relationship with the United States. No longer seen in the political context of communist containment, the countries of Southeast Asia - Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Vietnam - are becoming increasingly powerful players in the world economy. Their unparalleled economic growth will dramatically affect the U.S. economy and its relations to other regional powers such as Japan and China. How well the United States responds to this challenge and to the opportunity to forge new relationships in the region will significantly shape the success or failure of our performance as a global superpower. In From Dominoes to Dynamos, John Bresnan, an expert on U.S.-Asian relations, details the steps the United States should take to define a new role in the area. He examines shifting American interests - from strategic to economic - in the region, and surveys the history of an area that includes both historic allies, such as the Philippines, and adversaries, including Vietnam. The book includes a detailed analysis of current economic trends, as well as recommendations for coping with Japan's growing influence in the Southeast Asian economy and a clear analysis of the direction U.S. foreign policy must take to maintain its position as a leading player in the region.

This well-researched book examines the dramatic transformation of Southeast Asian countries from agricultural and mining economies to industrial nations. In doing so, it explores the effects of development policy on a number of interdisciplinary issues, and the emergence of new social and political pressures created by industrialization. These include their heightened vulnerability to complex economic crises, their use of sophisticated instruments in the labour process and increased awareness of environmental issues. The distinguished authors present a regional and cross-border focus on transnational actors and institutions, and the policy issues and problems which have a wider impact on spatial configurations in the region. This insightful study will appeal to researchers, academics and policymakers working on the economics and development of Southeast Asia.

This original Handbook on the Northeast and Southeast Asian Economies provides a broad overview of economic and social developments in the countries covered (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, North Korea, The Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Viet Nam). The analytical narratives on the economic transformation of these economies draw on existing literature, and highlight the interactions of socio-political factors. They examine the role of economic policies and the influence exerted by historical and political circumstances. Each chapter, written by leading country experts, begins with a brief discussion of the political history of the country and ends with a discussion of future prospects and challenges. The editors' introduction provides a comprehensive survey of the political economy of Northeast and Southeast Asian economic transformation with a particular emphasis on post-Asian crisis issues. The editors have ensured that this Handbook will be an invaluable reference work for many years to come for researchers, academics and students of Asian studies. Policymakers interested in learning more about the background and future opportunities and challenges posed by these economies will also find much to engage them.