This text provides discussions of ethnic politics in Myanmar, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, offering an interpretation of the nature of ethnic consciouness and the causes of ethnic tensions.

In 1990 Nepal's Peoples Movement reduced King Birendra from an absolute ruler to a constitutional monarch. This book is the first academic analysis of these events and places the 'revolution' of 1990 within the context of Nepali history.
Louise Brown examines the background to Nepal's recent upheavals as well as covering the country's ealy history and its continuing problems of national integration. The previous, unsuccessful, democratic experiment and the nature of monarchical rule are discussed within an analysis of Nepal's social and economic modernisation. The evolution of political...

This study traces the historic course of diplomatic competition between the rival Koreas within the context of a changing international system. The focus is on the dynamic interaction of domestic and international political economies and their effects on the conduct of diplomacy. The author offers an interpretation of the importance of adaptability in determining success in international relations.

The only book length study to cover the Philippines after Marco's downfall, this key title thematically explores issues affecting this fascinating country, throughout the last century. Appealing to both the academic and non academic reader, topics covered include:
national level electoral politics
economic growth
the Philippine Chinese
law and order
opposition
the Left
local and ethnic politics.

Provides an assessment of approaches to studying Thai politics, the various forces reshaping the forms of political activity and their roles in the fluid contemporary political environment. This volume should be of particular interest to those who require an understanding of the complex and rapidly changing political realities of contemporary Thailand.

The Politics of NGOs in Southeast Asia traces the history of the emergence of NGOs in the Philippines and southeast Asia and the political factors which encouraged this. The main focus is on the period from the mid-1990s when NGOs first became a notable force in the region. It documents the complex relations between NGOs and other political actors including the state, organised religion, foreign donors, the business sector and underground insurgent groups and their impact on NGO strategy.

This book is the first study to relate the political history of the South East Asian Monarchy to the politics of the region today. The excellent coverage of this fascinating subject should be of interest to the general reader.

Indonesia broke off relations with China in 1967 and resumed them only in 1990. The author asks why. His answers shed light on Indonesia's foreign policy, the nature of the new order's domestic politics, the mixed functions of diplomatic ties, the legitimacy of the new regime, and the role of President Suharto. The book argues that the matter of Indonesia restoring diplomatic ties with China is best understood in terms of the efforts made by the military-based new order government to sustain its political legitimacy. To counter domestic challenges, it posed as the guardian of the state...

Tarki-Young Hamm's book is a critical inquiry into the dynamics of the armament of North and South Korea from the Korean War period to the 1990s. The author's findings reveal that North Korean military superiority is a myth, used by South Korean governments to legitimize military expenditure. Moreover, defence spending has been used to consolidate authoritarian regimes and mobilize popular support. This analysis describes and explains the armament processes of the two Korean states from a more objective, critical perspective. Hamm considers defence expenditure as the best indicator of...

Engaging China is one of the first books to look at the responses of major international powers to the recent economic growth of China. Anyone interested in the financial fortunes of the Asia-Pacific region cannot afford to ignore the rise of China as an economic power since the 1970s. Economic growth coupled with increased military capability and spreading nationalism have gradually enhanced Chinas international profile. In an interesting mix of the empirical and theoretical, case studies from United States, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia illustrate Chinas...