Communism And Reform In East Asia

The West no longer regards communism in East Asia as a threat. On the contrary, because the communist party states of East Asia appear to be undergoing a process of reform directed primarily at economic modernization, it is now regarded as a potential market. The West’s attitude is reinforced by the recognition of East Asia’s economic importance more generally – a perception which in itself undoubtedly stimulated reform in the region’s communist party states. The causes, extent and consequences of reform in the East Asian communist party states are the concerns of the contributions to this volume, first published in 1988. It includes chapters on the reform process in China, North Korea, Vietnam and Mongolia; as well as examinations of the roles played by both China and the Soviet Union in the Asia-Pacific region. They demonstrate that a belief in a simple, single process of economic and political liberalization – brought about by the drive for economic modernization, the production imperative – is a misleading argument. Although the production imperative might act as a stimulus to reform, it is neither a sufficient nor even a necessary condition. In individual countries the communist party’s search for legitimacy, a change of leadership, or the relationship with the USSR have equally been the spur to reform. The drive for economic modernization may even be a consequence of the communist party’s desire to reform rather than a cause. The absence of a uniform pattern does not detract from the potential consequences of economic and political change. These challenge socialist thinking on the nature of collective life, ownership and rural society.

First published in 1969. The 'consequences' in this book refer to Peking's policy on people's war and to US counter-measures; and the effect of these in South East Asia. The author argues that, on the whole, China under Communism was a better place for the majority of people than it was under the Kuomintang. Contents include: Revolution and Intervention in South East Asia, Communist Revolts: 1948; Sino-Soviet Dispute; US reaction: the Vietnam Commitment; China: Conditions for Success; The Struggle for Vietnam; August Insurrection; China in Maphilindo; Lessons from Malaya and the Philippines; Peace and the Tet Offensive

The monumental events that have hastened the collapse of communism in Europe have inevitably raised major concerns about the future of Communist regimes and systems in Asia. What are the prospects for reform there? What do the changes in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union signify for Asia. What effect would the decline of communism in Asia have on superpower relations and relations with non-Communist Asian countries? This volume examines these and other related questions, and includes leading scholars on Chinese, Japanese, and Korean affairs, as well as contributions by selected foreign specialists who provide their perspectives and analyses. The first part offers commentary on the nature of political changes in the former Communist bloc and their implications for selected Asian countries. Essays in the second part assess the likely impact of political developments on China, North and South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, and on Japanese-Soviet relations and U.S.-Japanese economic and security relations. Young C. Kim and Gaston J. Sigur

A comparative study of the political economy of the transition from communism in East and Southeast Asian countries (China, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia), addressing the key theoretical questions generated from the debate between shock-therapists and gradualists. While accurately defining the pre-reform model, this book explores the causal variables that have contributed to reform efforts within Asia, examining the significance of the sequencing of political and economic transition and the interplay between politics and the economy in determining variations in transition outcomes. Comparing the 'real world' experiences of transition nations in communist Asia with Eastern Europe, prominent questions are brought to the fore; will market capitalism or market socialism prevail after the grand failure of communism? This book makes an important contribution to the political economy theory of comparative communist and post-communist studies and provides detailed analytical insights that will prove influential in future theoretical work.

This book looks at the way in which foreign policy has changed in communist states. It considers especially the relationship between domestic reform and foreign policy reform at times when formerly closed societies are becoming more open to the outside world. It focuses on three European and three Asian states, analysing their different paths to reform and looking in depth at the question of why some communist regimes collapse and why those in Asia have proved more durable than those in Europe.

Comparison of politics and political power struggles in 5 Asian countries, primarily in the period from 1945 to 1970 - covers the evolution of political systems, political leadership, conflicts and political problems, etc., and considers the future political outlook for the 1970's. References.

The New Asian Renaissance provides the first comprehensive history of today's East Asia, tracing the essential stages in the rise of the region from its birth under colonial rule to the post Cold War era. Recounting the evolution of China, Japan, North and South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Burma, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Francois Godement outlines the major forces that have shaped East Asia into its present economic shape. Originally published in French, this work is an essential tool for understanding the past, present and future of a region that has become a significant actor in the international political economy.

This innovative, interdisciplinary introduction to East Asian politics uses a thematic approach to describe the political development of China, Japan, and Koreas since the mid-nineteenth century and analyze the social, cultural, political, and economic features of each country. Unlike standard comparative politics texts which often lack a unifying theme and employ Western conventions of the 'state', "Political Systems of East Asia" avoids these limitations and identifies a common thread running through the histories of China, Korea, and Japan. This common thread is Confucianism, which has shaped East Asian perspectives of the universe and how it operates. The text describes and explains the ways in which each country has employed this shared tradition, and how it has affected the country's internal dynamics, responses to the outside world, and its own political development.