Abstract This paper examines how the history of East Asia in the modern period from 1400 to 1900 is commonly viewed through the lens of the Europeans who came to trade, convert, loot, and conquer during this time. It discusses how although it cannot be denied that the arrival and eventual dominance of the Europeans over the international relations of the Sinic world was of great significance in the history of the region, it may be argued that simply by shifting our perspective we may obtain a more accurate analysis of this era in EastAsianhistory.
From the Paper " The history of East Asia in the modern period - from 1400 to 1900 - is commonly viewed through the "lens" of the Europeans who came to trade, convert, loot and conquer during this time. While it cannot be denied that the arrival and eventual dominance of the Europeans over the international relations of the Sinic world was of great significance in the history of the region, it may be argued that simply by shifting our perspective we may obtain a more accurate analysis of this era in East Asian history. "
Abstract The paper examines the historical meaning behind several important events in EastAsianhistory through the 'people' perspective and nationalism. The paper argues that although nationalism was the driving force behind these events, particularly in China, diverse events were brought about by different groups of 'people' in that society. The paper focuses on China and Korea and examines the the Japanese colonial rule in Korea, the 1911 Revolution in China and the Chinese May Fourth movement.
From the Paper "The situation in Korea at the beginning of the 20th century was particularly complex. The Korean peninsula was of interest to both Russian and Japanese imperial interests for economic and strategic reasons. After the Russo-Japanese war (1904-1905) Korea was acknowledged as Japanese sphere of interest by United States and Britain. In 1910 Koreans officially lost their sovereignty when the treaty of annexation was signed. Many see the Japanese rule over Korea as contradictory. Korean people suffered from the police regime the Japanese authorities have established. The punishment for riots and crimes were strict. The Korean participation in all forms of government was cancelled."
Tags: Japan, Korea, China, Revolution, May, Fourth, movement, nationalism, peoples
Abstract This paper makes use of three cases to show the incorrectness of the past notion of EastAsian isolationism. Eurocentric ideas about Tokugawa, Japan, Qing, China, and Choson, Korea are examined as examples of these incorrect notions of static Asian societies. The paper includes notes on different stereotypes to emerge from different approaches to EastAsianhistory.
From the Paper "A basic error of Eurocentric ideas of East Asian history can be seen in thumbnail sketches of Tokugawa Japan, Qing China, or Choson Korea. First of all, they upset ideas of static Asian societies in which little changed till the arrival of Westerns, as in ideas of Asian xenophobia in Japan and China, in particular, or references to a chronic isolationism that, actually, can be seen as ordinary protectionism. Blaut explained how models of European or other Western diffusionism have had a strong power over ideas of the West's impact upon the non-Western world, for good or ill, towards several assumptions that have only been upset, in the last few decades."
Abstract This paper begins by briefly outlining the astronomical pace of economic growth in the EastAsian NICs. It then explores the course of development's relationship to development theory. It asserts that the neo-liberal link between economic development and democracy and greater equality is dismissed by the experience of the NICs. However, the dependency/world system approach, currently expressed in globalization, is affirmed by the recent history of the EastAsian NICs and the present situation.
Abstract This paper discusses the EastAsian financial crisis of 1997-1998 and how it represented not only a shock to the regional economies of East Asia but, in a larger context, a blow to the confidence of global financial markets in the fundamental structural soundness of EastAsian economies. The paper points out that the EastAsian economies that were at the center of the crisis - in particular, Thailand and South Korea - were also among those being most highly praised for their market liberalization and fiscal prudence during the regional economic boom of the 1990s. This, in particular, represented troubling concerns for the global economic community in terms of the validity and trustworthiness of assessments of EastAsian economies. With this in mind, this paper considers whether it is safe to assume that the crisis is truly over.
Abstract The paper discusses the 1997 EastAsian financial crisis, also termed the IMF crisis locally within the region, that saw the downturn of many EastAsian and Southeast Asian economies. The paper explains that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) received much of the blame due to its handling of the crisis. The paper focuses on the IMF efforts in South Korea and reveals that the IMF today is moving toward a less restrictive and more realistic system.
Outline:
Introduction
The EastAsian Economic Crisis
South Korea
Conclusion
From the Paper "The South Korean Central Bank was forced to expand its open market operations (OMO) in order to attempt to stabilize its currency. By elevating the amount of OMO in terms of their own securities, Central Banks attempt to control extreme devaluation in times of stress or manage exchange rates in a more stable fashion (Guille 57). For South Korea, contracting the amount of currency through sales of securities was extremely important in controlling the free-fall of the Won during the extent of the crisis."
Tags: currencies, devaluation, stock, market, assets, economy, World, Bank
Abstract This is an anthropological paper rooted in discussions with university students of different EastAsian origins, mainly in Toronto. The paper refers to literature that tends to criticize cultural conflicts and those of generations, whereas students appreciate some aspects of their families of origin and note how Toronto offers many choices due to large, well-established EastAsian communities. The writer points out that students were more inclined to joke about tradition and parents' ideas, than to complain about them. The writer also discusses dating, a 20th century phenomenon in East Cultures, that takes on forms of its own and can be superior to other social life for students.
From the Paper "For a Canadian post-secondary student of East Asian origin this paper was interesting to research. It is clear that young people of East Asian heritage gain other views of proper social life than in the day of their parents or grandparents. The 20th century saw the creation of a new courtship in East Asian countries and cultures as explained in Kendall's study of Korean cultural change. If one sees a broader world of Chinese-influenced cultures that are very old, it is predictable that some ideas linger and students who contributed to this paper did not see them as binding or 'bad'."
Abstract By including examples from the history of EastAsian countries, this essay will explore this issue of how history is shaped by certain forms of value and ideology by showing that the writing of most history is controlled by the view of national history. This essay will show how national history is partly revisionist in the sense that people put national views onto history that it never fully had. In this sense, actual history or the truth of what happened is always difficult to get at and in many ways unattainable, since one has to read and consider history through the veil of bias
Abstract This paper explains that the EastAsian Summit, a historical event that was supposed to herald the "economic coming together" of the EastAsian States has fallen considerably short of that objective.
From the Paper "The Asians seemed not have learnt to think and act as one force; in unity. The outcome of the Kuala Lumpur summit would be seen as a more geo-strategic power play instead of the 'coming together' that the Declaration says. This fact brings to the fore, barricades and stumbling blocks that stand on the path to achieving an East Asia Community. These are conditions that must be taken care of if such a feat is to come to fruition. The alarming rivalry and power play between the two Asian giants is one of such conditions. The increasing feud between these two giants, China and Japan, ranging from history to territorial matters, economic to geostrategy issues, would tear Asia apart instead of bringing it together. This could force smaller nations to align themselves along the line created by these two giants, creating polarity in the Asian region, bitter rivalry and unhealthy competition."
Tags: malaysia, declaration, regionalism, monetary, fund, japan, united, states, asians
Abstract The EastAsian financial crisis was an important developmental economic event in that region. This paper attempts to put that financial crisis in perspective. The paper examines the speculation on whether the region still might suffer from or be prone to the effects of such a financial crisis. The paper also explains that the EastAsian financial crisis can best be characterized as a currency crisis.
Outline:
I. Introduction
Motivation
Problem Definition
Goals and Objectives
Significance of Study
Summary of Results
II. Literature Review
Relative to Prior Research
Relevant Literature
Theory and Methodology
III. Methodology
Relation to Previous and Present Literature
Hypothesis Formulation
Advantages and Limitations
Plan of Analysis
IV. Data Collection and Analysis
Results and Explanations
Achievement of Goals and Objectives
V. Implications and Policy Recommendations
Implications
Policy Recommendations
From the Paper "The 1997 East Asian financial crisis, also known as the IMF crisis, caused the contraction of many formerly robust East Asian and Southeast Asian countries. The crisis began in Thailand and quickly spread throughout the region with sudden devaluation of currencies, stock markets and various other economic structures (Li). One unique characteristic of the East Asian financial crisis was not that it occurred but that it spread like a pandemic from one economy to the other in the region. The problem examined here is whether these conditions or characteristics that led to the financial crisis in the region persist in any real sense."
Abstract This paper discusses how the religions of China, Korea and Japan have in common an emphasis on the essential unity of all things and the necessity of the individual's integration with nature, family and society. It shows how some of the most important religions in East Asia have been Confucianism and Taoism, which were indigenous to China and Buddhism, which was imported to China from India and then spread to Korea and from there to Japan. Through a brief overview of the main beliefs of these main EastAsian religions, it demonstrates how this region of the world has been a distinct entity in terms of the nations' reliance on similar types of worship, shared faiths that are adapted to separate cultures and similar conceptions of the relationship between religion and society.
From the Paper "Devotion to ancestors and the burial of the dead characterized Chinese civilization from its earliest beginnings and these aspects of religion have persisted throughout history. But the emergence of the concept of the Tao, usually translated as "way", was to influence the formation of the two great indigenous religions of China. The Tao--and "how to know it, live it and construct a society that exemplifies it"--has been the thread that runs through all Chinese thought and religious expression and has, consequently, affected Korean and Japanese civilization as well (Ellwood & McGraw 183). Chinese thinkers held that there were three realms in which the Tao could be realized: nature, society, and the individual's inner being."
Tags: confucianism, taoism, buddhism, family, society
This paper summarizes the various views taken by the World Bank on Asian economic development before the crisis, and how the effects of the Asian crisis threw the Bank's judgement.into doubt.
Abstract This paper examines reasons for the EastAsian economic crisis during 1997 and 1998. The World Bank report of 1993 praises many of the practices that ultimately led to the crisis. Currencies, stock markets, 'crony capitalism' and financiers are examined. The paper argues that both economic and cultural reasons are ultimately to blame for the economic crisis.
From the Paper "In recent decades international financial institutions, most notably the World Bank, have held up East Asia as a capitalist miracle, a role model for the rest of the world to follow. The Newly Industrialising Countries (NIC's) took off during the 1970's and included countries from around the world. But is was almost exclusively the NIC's of Asia who maintained their high growth rates through the 1980's and 1990's. While the South American NIC's were left behind in the debt crisis of the early 1980's, the Asian 'Tigers' continued to surge ahead. South Korea, for example, maintained a manufacturing growth rate of nearly 9% a year during the 1980's, while exports grew by 10% a year (Hadjor: 1992). Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore also enjoyed such success, and they were soon joined by other Asian countries such as Malaysia and Thailand. By 1987 the combined manufacturing exports of South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore totalled about half of all third world exports compared with 6% for Mexico and Brazil combined (ibid). The World Bank firmly believed that the experience of the Asian tigers constituted a viable model for other Third World countries. In 1993, the Bank published its seminal work 'The East Asian Miracle' as a guide to how the Tigers had been so successful. But disaster hit the East Asian region in 1997/98 when the economies in that part of the world took a massive beating from what became the 'Asian Crisis'. Suddenly the World Bank report and hopes for the region looked decidedly inaccurate. Here we will summarise the various views taken by the World Bank on Asian economic development before the crisis hit, together with how the effects of the Asian Crisis threw into doubt the Banks judgement."
Tags:asian, crisis, capitalism, crisis, crony, globalisation, world, bank, asia
Abstract The essay examines the conditions in Thailand that led to effective devaluation of the Thai Baht in July of 1997 and the reasons for the "contagion" that affected other EastAsian economies. The paper also includes a survey of the reforms undertaken by the Thai Government since the crisis.
Contents:
Introduction
Economic Growth before the Crisis
Macroeconomic Policy Mix before the Crisis
Financial Sector before the Crisis
Regulatory Weaknesses before the Crisis
Reasons for Contagion in Other Countries
Survey of Reforms
Conclusion
From the Paper "The countries of East Asia have long been called the "Asian Tigers" due to growth rates averaging 8 per cent annually over the past two decades; large rises in per capita income, high domestic savings, low budget deficits and low inflation. However, it appears that the very success of high economic growth of these countries led foreign investors to underestimate the underlying economic weaknesses as the East Asian Financial crisis unfolded."
Tags: baht, contagion, government, policies, post, reform
Abstract The paper discusses how, in Japan, women's literature since the late 19th century, has had particular forms expected whereby the woman who writes from her heart and reports details of life is seen as less significant than the woman whose work somehow complies with established traditions of form, subject and genre. The paper provides examples from EastAsian literature to support its arguments.
From the Paper "It is as though women's subjectivity, in their authentic expression, must crack through barriers of slightly different kinds, as both societies need to take on a new understanding of how women fit into literature and ideas. In the meantime, a wise approach is one of reading Chinese or Japanese works by women as direct accounts, trying to put aside preceding forms, concentrating on what the writer is trying to convey, more than the nature of her environment or the social or political environment. One knows that the women, not the Chinese outlook or the Japanese society's sexism, will be seen as problematic, as is well understood by women writers in both countries. Whatever appears will be assessed in relation to how well it fits with a tradition to have gone before and with criticism likely of that which diverges. Many things have not been good about women's experience in modern China or Japan at different times or in particular situations. At the same time, many things have been appreciable, as needs to be kept in mind by non-East Asian readers who may be quick to criticize the societies described or the condition or women within them. It is tremendously important that women in both China and Japan be encouraged to express themselves, as individuals, so that women's literature in both countries can be seen for its different vantage points and ideas."
Abstract This paper analyzes Japan's relationship with other EastAsian nations. The paper explains that, after WWII, the relationship between Japan and the EastAsian nations continues to shaped by the need to cope with an imbalance of political and economical polices and issues. The paper also points out that, currently, Japan and China have an association filled with both integration and tension. According to the paper, it is crucial that both Japan and China build a cooperative relationship, which will help create security in the EastAsian region and for the West.
From the Paper "Though she has not been able to regain her full potential to build up her military, Japan has been pivotal in the world economy, and this economic performance has granted her international recognition. Even as Japan continues to work to gain military power by unbinding the restrictions of the PKO legislation, East Asian nations and the West are forced to recognize the ways in which Japan reached her economical prowess: through patience, consultation, consensus, and a polite attitude in dealing with other countries."
Tags: isolated independent military, wa principle, yen
