Abstract A look at Malay political culture from the perspectives of Anthony Milner. The author investigates the Malay political experiences, traditions and customs and analyzes these from the Milner's point of view that political relationships in Malay are based on leadership and support.
From the Paper "Anthony Milner's central point in his examination of kerajaan is that the key to understanding political motivation must involve an understanding of differing political experience. European observers often saw political relationships in Malay societies as being based on accumulation and distribution of wealth, whereas to Milner the process had a deeper political motivation; to gain supporters."
Tags: politics, tradition, wealth, honor, motivation, leadership, support
Abstract The primary focus of this essay is to note the changes taking place within the Japanese decision-making process. The author argues that Japan's foreign policy is no longer hostage to domestic and economic issues.
From the Paper "The geopolitical situation in Northeast Asia is undergoing tremendous change, politically, economically, and militarily. The major debates underway today concern the rise of China, the impending collapse of North Korea, the economic dilemmas of Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia, and the Sino-Russian ?strategic partnership.? One emerging issue, which has drawn little attention, however, is the evolving rapprochement between Japan and the former Soviet Union. There are clear signs that the two nations are ready to move past the differences, which have divided them for over half a century."
Abstract This paper presents a study of the effects of China's controversial Strategic Demographic Initiative on women, both in the short term and the long term. Particular attention is paid to the one-child policy and to urban Chinese women. Prospects for development are considered as well.
From the Paper " The argument over the existence of overpopulation has been spreading since Thomas Malthus lifted quill from paper after finishing Essay on the Principle of Population. Over the last fifty years, international population analysis has been highly concentrated on the South, where extreme poverty creates concern over population size. China's aggressive population control measures have made it the darling of neo-Malthusian theorists and the enemy of several human rights proponents, including feminist organizations. Accounts of coercive measures employed to attain population quotas, as well as surveys and interviews, make it evident that Chinese policy"in particular the one-child requirement"has not yet gained widespread acceptance by women. The impact of the policy has been both positive and negative for Chinese women but, while it provides effective conditions for socialist development, it requires a greater process of democratization in order to reflect the needs of women in the family."
Tags: coersion, contraceptives, development, education, human, overpopulation, rights
Abstract This paper details the cultural struggle of the Chinese-American daughters in Gish Jen's Mona in the "Promised Land" and Amy Tan's "Joy Luck Club" to accept and assimilate American culture in tandem with the lessons of their immigrant parents.
From the Paper "The lives of the characters within the novels Mona in the Promised Land by Gish Jen and The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan are highly influenced by their parents and their generation's expectations of children. However the novels? girl characters grow up to defy the traditional roles defined by their parents? country of origin. China of the 1920s, the time of the girls? parents, was a place of caste systems- clear-cut roles, and absolute obedience to one's defined position. If a person was female, the role also required obedience to the male head of household- whether it was a father, husband, grandfather, or uncle. The defiance of this precept meant ultimate dishonor to yourself and your family. The best example comes from The Joy Luck Club's mother of An-Mei Hsu, who had gone against her family's wishes and later returned home: ?Now everyone was standing up and shouting, and I heard my mother's voice crying, ?An-mei! An-mei!? Above this noise, Popo's shrill voice spoke."
Abstract The author of this paper discusses the significance of the battle at Dien Bien Phu as the place where the first Vietnamese revolutionaries found their power and became a force to be reckoned with and argues that had the United States learned from this battle and adopted the successful tactics in this terrain and situation, it might have had a better chance of winning its own conflict in Vietnam.
From the Paper "The end of World War II brought vast political changes throughout Asia. In previously colonial areas, nationalists used the opportunity present in the Japanese surrender and the temporary weakness of European powers to demand self-determination. The August Revolution brought the Vietminh to power in Vietnam, and the clash between French and Vietminh was inevitable, as neither side was willing to concede sovereignty to the other. A few months after the close of World War II, France sought to re-establish its discredited and unpopular colonial rule in Indochina. Encouraged by words of support from President Truman, the French committed almost a million military men to their effort."
Tags: battle, war, chinese, american, fight, conquer, territory
Abstract This paper supports Morris-Suzuki's proposition that a review of history (time as opposed to space) will prove that the definition of "Japanese" has been a function of time and political, social and economic context in which there were "varying strategies which the state used to manage difference and create uniformity" for its own purposes.
From the Paper "In "Japan" in Reinventing Japan: Time, Space, Nation? (M.E. Sharp, 1998, p. 10) Tessa Morris-Suzuki proposes that the definition of what it means to be Japanese ?was not contestant or stable. Instead ? it was contextual and changing?. She argues for her hypothesis and her proposal of re-examining the nature of the nation and the nationalistic concept by presenting an overview of history to support the fact that Japan is not a homogeneous society and never has been. This is to present argument to the contrary position that the Japanese were essentially a homogeneous social group, a phenomenon created by geographic isolation. Instead, Morris-Suzuki proposes that a review of history (time as opposed to space) will prove that the definition of "Japanese" has been a function of time and political, social and economic context in which there were "varying strategies which the state used to manage difference and create uniformity" (pg. 34) for its own purposes."
Tags: japan, time, space, morris, suzuki, nationalism
This paper provides an examination of the soaring career, culture, and works of Chinese-American author Amy Tan with a special emphasis on her novel, "The Hundred Secret Senses".
2,400 words (approx. 9.6 pages), 10 sources, 2001, $ 73.95
Abstract This paper examines the life, career and literature of best-selling Chinese-American author Amy Tan. The author focuses specifically on her novel "The Hundred Secret Senses", and examines the history of Chinese-American immigrants, the discrimination they were subjected to, and the pressures of assimilation into American culture. The paper also looks at the pull between Chinese tradition and American way of life, and how Tan struggles with this issue in her writing.
From the Paper "In only a handful of novels, Amy Tan has brought us the legends and stories of her background. She has introduced the American public to a new world of fiction, based on her own experiences mingled with the experiences of her ancestors in their beloved homeland of China . In these stories, she has shown herself to be a writer of uncommon technical skills, powers of observation, and richness of humanity, a combination of gifts that inspires her many readers to eager anticipation of her future works."
Abstract This paper discusses the effects of globalization and its invasion in the traditional societies of South Asia. The paper explains how globalization has brought changes in the cultural fabric of countries like India and that many old traditions are now being replaced by new and powerful western values but that there still some norms which have been able to withstand the forceful influence of the western world.
From the Paper "There is a lot of debate going on in almost every part of the world regarding globalization and its possible impact on the traditional societies of the world. While it is impossible to comment on the effects of globalization and still maintain an impartial stance, yet we can discuss the impact of this on some countries of the world to find out how it is bringing changes to so many parts..."
Tags: India, tradition, culture, technology, advance, values, influence
Abstract This essay examines the experiences of the Chinese people who immigrated to America between the years 1850 and 1930. The author looks at the events that these people experienced such as the hardships and the culture barriers as well as the series of laws and events that occurred during this immigration to the United States.
From the Paper "As with many other people groups who left their homelands for America during this 80-year period, Asians experienced a great number of positive and negative ordeals in their attempts to join the great melting pot of the new world. Chinese immigration during this time is filled with countless stories of hardship, rejection, persecution, opportunity, and success. A significant language barrier compounded the Chinese immigration experience. Beginning in the mid- 19th Century when young, single men were recruited as contract laborers from Southern China (particularly from the Kuangtung Province), Asian immigrants have played a vital role in the development of the United States. Several factors contributed to the influx of Chinese to the wild American West around 1850. "
Abstract This essay discusses Buddhism by looking at Basho's travel diary entries, or stations which contain a haiku poem . The writer reflects on the flashes of enlightenment, called kensho, which are intense forms of those everyday occurrences that surprise us because they seem to reveal a truth.
From the paper:
?Haiku is a momentary, condensed poetic form and its special quality is that it is perfectly adapted to give the reader that little instant of kensho insight. Each of Basho's travel diary entries, or stations, contain a haiku poem, an enigmatic ?kensho.? Each haiku becomes a little burst of awakening.?
Abstract This paper deals with the various reasons that Buddhism entered China. It talks about the help the religion received from the government and the hindrances it had to overcome to become the major force it is today in China.
From the Paper "For most of history, China has been described as an extremely unified country, in both culture and political aspects. This was furthered by the fact that China was isolated and insulated from "alien" thoughts and beliefs, even though there was minimal contact by way of the Silk Road and from India. When Buddhism made its appearance in China, it brought with it a view of the outside world that was foreign, inviting, and challenging. While bringing new ideas, it at the same time brought up cultural, social, political, and religious challenges that had to be addressed and changed to fit Chinese life in order to be accepted."
Tags: buddhism, china, religion, culture, tradition, population, society
This is a paper that looks at the many different female images in Taoism. It looks at what they are and the importance they have to the religion as a whole.
Abstract This paper discusses the religion Taoism, and the connection females have to the religion. Taoism is not necessarily a feminine religion, but females feel a close connection to the religion due to its female imagery, females goddesses and methods of enlightenment for females.
From the Paper "The presence of feminine elements in Taoism is sweeping, and these elements have influenced the participation of women in this particular religious movement. The use of this female imagery gives women, and the qualities associated with them, a favored status in this religion. However, just because Taoism does value such qualities as softness and fluidity, usually associated with the feminine, does not mean that it favors a feminine model or can be seen a stronghold of feminism. Rather, it allows for a greater acceptance of women into the religion, and an easier relation between the woman and her religion."
Abstract The paper looks at the history of Japan after WWI. The events described are the conquering and occupation of Manchuria in China, the Panay Incident, the actions taken by the US towards Japan and the actions taken by Japan after WWI. The paper also looks at the Japanese government's instability during that period. The paper concludes that the actions taken by the Japanese in World War II were a direct result of the relationship that had developed between the United States and Japan between World War I and World War II.
From the Paper "The period between World War I and World War II was a tumultuous time for the world. From the focus of most of the civilized world, the majority of the trouble was arising from Europe. There were two countries that were threatening the free world with their oppressive ideals, and hand banded together for their mutual benefit. With Hitler heading the Nazis in Germany, and Mussolini heading the Fascists in Italy, the future of Europe was hanging in the balance. These dilemmas, however, were not the only ones the world would have to deal with. In the Pacific, an alien and seemingly remote country, that until just under a century ago had been totally un-industrialized, was threatening its neighboring Asian countries. Using their powers of adaptation and an indomitable spirit, they had forced themselves into being one of the most powerful nations in the world. The Japanese had seen what the world had to offer, and had immersed themselves into becoming a force in the world instead of becoming a province of another world power. The nation they would become, in accordance to their method of borrowing outside concepts and re-conceiving them with a distinct Japanese identity attached, was heavily dependent on the interactions that they would experience with other nations. The actions taken by the Japanese in World War II were a direct result of the relationship that had developed between the United States and Japan between World War I and World War II. The major events the shaped this relationship were the incidents occurring in China, instabilities within the Japanese government, and the actions taken by the United States towards Japan."
Abstract This paper examines the iconography of the gods and goddesses within traditional Indonesian art, looking at the ways in which they are dressed reflect larger stylistic concerns within the culture as well as illuminating the relationship between the gods and their worshippers.
From the Paper "Before examining this particular issue in greater detail it is important that we provide an overview of the country's religious mix and heritage. The majority of the current population is Muslim, but it is an Islam strongly influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism as well as the islands" older, indigenous pagan and animistic beliefs. The island of Bali is home to most Indonesians of Hindu descent, while in the current day there are small Christian population scattered throughout the country. There are also followers of Confucianism.?
Abstract This paper investigates human rights issues and violations in China and Korea during the last half of the twentieth century. Some of the topics covered include, Tiananmen Square and the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This investigation includes human rights violations, as well as recent attempts by both countries to show that they are trying to change their policies and move forward alongside the world community. The paper also looks at the United Nation's role in setting policy and in the establishment of various worldwide bodies to monitor human rights.
From the Paper "Much of the credit for the progress in human rights must go to the United Nations, its allied agencies, and such regional organizations as the Council of Europe, the Organization of American States, and the Organization of African Unity. Also visibly helpful, however, particularly since the early 1970s, have been three other factors: the public advocacy of human rights as a key aspect of national foreign policies, made initially legitimate by the example of U.S. Pres. Jimmy Carter; the emergence and proliferation of activist nongovernmental human rights organizations such as Amnesty International (winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace for 1977), the International Commission of Jurists, and diverse church-affiliated groups; and a worldwide profusion of courses and materials devoted to the study of human rights both in formal and informal educational settings. Indeed, in light of the weaknesses that are clearly present and even endemic at the intergovernmental level of global and regional organization, it is likely that each of these factors will play an increasingly important role in the future (Bauer 24)."
