Economics, Politics and Public Policy in East Asia and the Pacific
Authors: Wolfgang Lutz, IIASA and Samir KC, IIASA
Asia today is home to more than four billion people — more than 60 per cent of the total world population — yet its influence in world affairs remains disproportionately small.
The reason for this imbalance is that, while influence on the world stage is partly a function of population size, it also depends on economic and other dimensions. Read more…
Authors: Kent Anderson and Clement Macintyre, University of Adelaide
At a time when governments all around the world are struggling to tackle social reform and other problems, the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper takes up the massive agenda of dealing with the challenge that Asia’s rise presents in a novel way.
Author: Andrew MacIntyre, ANU
The whole world — including Asia itself — is grappling with the impact of Asia’s rise on the global landscape.
Today, the Australian government launched its response to the challenge of Asia’s rise in a White Paper, Australia in the Asian Century.
Authors: Nick Bisley, La Trobe University, and Andrew Phillips, UQ
The ‘Indo-Pacific’ has arrived. Australian, Indian and US analysts and policy makers increasingly favour the concept over more traditionally East Asia-oriented constructs to characterise Asia’s evolving strategic geography.
Evidently a key principle informing Australia’s forthcoming defence white paper, Read more…
Authors: Jason Mundy and Tony Press, Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC, Hobart
While Asian countries are increasingly emerging as significant players in Antarctic science and affairs, Asian engagement in the Antarctic is not a new phenomenon. Nor is Australia’s close involvement in that engagement.
Author: Purnendra Jain, University of Adelaide
The Australian government will soon release a White Paper on Australia in the Asian Century, based on consultation with major stakeholders and more than 250 submissions.
While this will be a key document in future planning, and the first of its kind to guide Australia’s engagement with Asia across a wide range of fields, this document is written primarily from the perspective of the federal government, so its focus is national. Read more…
Authors: Ian Buchanan and Christopher Findlay, AUSPECC
As the politically and economically diverse Asian Pacific states adjust toward post-Cold War institutional structures and alliances, Australia faces renewed policy making and economic cooperation challenges.
It is precisely this diversity of economic interests and political systems that dictates the mode of engagement and the degree of centralised control over the ‘scripts’ used by the actors who exercise influence over the region through various policies and fora.
Author: Maria Monica Wihardja, Bank Indonesia
The Japanese saying, ‘the name speaks for itself’, appears to reflect accurately the current global economic and geopolitical landscape.
Asia — meaning ‘sunrise’ in Greek and ‘east’ in Assyrian — is clearly rising, and the time has come for the ‘Asian Century’. Read more…
Author: Razeen Sally, ECIPE
Economic freedom is often glossed over in discussions about the many facets of the ‘Asian century’, but market liberalisation is a crucial enabler of Asia’s current awakening.
There is much unfinished business, for economic freedom remains substantially repressed across Asia. Expanding it is vital. Read more…
Author: Wook Chae, KIEP
The 21st century, which commentators have dubbed the ‘Asian century’, will see a vast increase in integration within the Asian region.
South Korea is an important strategic player in this process due to its influence in the spheres of trade and its efforts to promote multilateralism. Read more…
Author: Shiro Armstrong, ANU
Japan and China are often seen as adversaries, locked into bickering and an historically antagonistic relationship.
They are neighbouring economic giants which have a host of unresolved historical issues to deal with and a natural rivalry for regional — and now global — influence.
Author: Philippa Jones, China Policy
China places culture at the forefront of policy: it is an essential component of political arrangements and should be thought of as an abbreviated term for the complex of history, institutions and social relationships that come down from the past.
Culture is far from a decoration on the fringe of public affairs. Read more…
Author: Rod Broadhurst, ANU
Across the Asian region, crime follows opportunity and is fostered by globalisation, economic growth, conflict and social change.
Weak and erratic governance also multiplies the risk of transnational crime by offering potential safe havens for criminals. Read more…
Author: Stephen Costello, Washington
Reading statements from the US and ROK administrations and the international press regarding recent North Korean declarations against South Korea, it seems that there has been a broad failure to realise that the North is terribly and predictably offended by the rhetoric from the South Korean president and much of the South Korean media.
When Pyongyang says that certain statements from President Lee Myung-bak and the conservative press are injurious and seek to humiliate and degrade North Korea, it means Read more…
Author: Veronica L. Taylor, ANU
No one now seriously doubts Australia’s interdependency with its Asian neighbours.
Our borders are porous, we are exposed to one another’s risk, and our trade, investment, economic and social development, political stability and regional security depend on mutual cooperation. Read more…