Economic and Political Change in Asia and Europe : Social Movement Analyses

Since the 1973 publication of Alain Peyrefitte’s prophetic __When China Awakens__, developments in East Asia have outstripped even the wildest predictions. China has undergone the fastest industrialization and urbanization process in history, yet tensions there are rising as some realize how far they have been left behind. This volume explores the applicability of European economic and social models to our analysis of East Asia’s and, in particular, China’s situation. Though millions of Chinese and other Asian people have been lifted out of poverty, inequality is rising nonetheless, and contemporary Europe and Asia are both witnessing collective action against rampant economic neoliberalism in the former and the exclusion of minorities in the latter. It is difficult to overstate the relevance of this assessment, which seeks answers to some central questions: Can events in Europe serve as a model for those in East Asia? Are there similarities or differences between the two regions? To what extent do political, economic or social systems stimulate or inhibit collective action? How culturally equivalent are the collective actions of marginalized/ disadvantaged people in the two locations, or are events in Europe symptomatic of specific cultural attributes? Comparing and contrasting the research tools and dominant paradigms in the social and economic sciences in East Asia and Europe, as this volume does, throws out some revealing results. Since The 1973 Publication Of Alain Peyrefitte's Prophetic When China Awakens, Developments In East Asia Have Outstripped Even The Wildest Predictions. China Has Undergone The Fastest Industrialization And Urbanization Process In History, Yet Tensions There Are Rising As Some Realize How Far They Have Been Left Behind. This Volume Explores The Applicability Of European Economic And Social Models To Our Analysis Of East Asia's And, In Particular, China's Situation. Though Millions Of Chinese And Other Asian People Have Been Lifted Out Of Poverty, Inequality Is Rising Nonetheless, And Contemporary Europe And Asia Are Both Witnessing Collective Action Against Rampant Economic Neoliberalism In The Former And The Exclusion Of Minorities In The Latter. It Is Difficult To Overstate The Relevance Of This Assessment, Which Seeks Answers To Some Central Questions: Can Events In Europe Serve As A Model For Those In East Asia? Are There Similarities Or Differences Between The Two Regions? To What Extent Do Political, Economic Or Social Systems Stimulate Or Inhibit Collective Action? How Culturally Equivalent Are The Collective Actions Of Marginalized/ Disadvantaged People In The Two Locations, Or Are Events In Europe Symptomatic Of Specific Cultural Attributes? Comparing And Contrasting The Research Tools And Dominant Paradigms In The Social And Economic Sciences In East Asia And Europe, As This Volume Does, Throws Out Some Revealing Results.--publisher's Website. Part I: Economic, Political And Social Globalization In Asia And Europe. Economic Change And Social A Dynamics: Converging And Diverging Trends Across Different Economies / Bernadette Andreosso-o'callaghan ; European Integration, Social Cohesion And Political Contentiousness / Christian Lahusen ; Images And Frameworks Of Collective Action In China / Carsten Storm ; European Governance And Democracy / Didier Chabanet ; Agricultural Markets And Food Riots: The European Union And Asia Compared / M. Bruna Zolin. -- Part Ii: Social Movements In A Transnational Perspective. Marginalization And Transnationalizing Social Movements: How One Relates To The Other / Pascale Dufour ; Transnational Collective Action And The European Network Of The Unemployed / Frédéric Royall. -- Part Iii: National Examples. The British And French Hunger Marches Of The 1930s: An Exclusive Mode Of Protest, A Cultural Transfer And A Fulcrum Of Success / Matt Perry ; Comparing Mobilizations Against Three Social Reforms In The 2000s In Belgium / Jean Faniel ; Employment Status And Political Participation: Does Exclusion Influence The Protest Behavior Of The Young Unemployed? / Marco Giugni And Jasmine Lorenzini ; The Practical Uses Of Administrative And Cultural Categories Across The Field Of Pro-gypsy Activities In France Today: Activist Constructions And Adaptations To Political Categorizations / Anne-cécile Renouard ; Challenges Of Social Engagement: Ngo Work In The People's Republic Of China / Birgit Häse ; The Suicide Problem In Contemporary Japanese Society: Its Economic And Social Backdrop And Religious Reactions / Michiaki Okuyama ; Constructing And Controlling People's Power From The Grassroots.- Philippine Social Movement Activism In A Historical Perspective / Dominique Caouette. -- Part Iv: Commentary. What Do Social Scientists Do When They Do Comparative Work? / Lilian Mathieu. Bernadette Andreosso-o'callaghan, Frédéric Royall, Editors. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 301-302) And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xviii Collective Action and Relatively Powerless People in Europe and Asia....Pages 1-10 Front Matter....Pages 11-11 Economic Change and Social Dynamics: Converging and Diverging Trends Across Different Economies....Pages 13-30 European Integration, Social Cohesion, and Political Contentiousness....Pages 31-52 Images and Frameworks of Collective Action in China....Pages 53-69 European Governance and Democracy....Pages 71-86 Agricultural Markets and Food Riots: The European Union and Asia Compared....Pages 87-110 Front Matter....Pages 111-111 Marginalization and Transnationalizing Movements: How Does One Relate to the Other?....Pages 113-124 Transnational Collective Action and the European Network of the Unemployed....Pages 125-141 Front Matter....Pages 143-143 The British and French Hunger Marches of the 1930s: An Exclusive Mode of Protest, a Cultural Transfer, and a Fulcrum of Success....Pages 145-161 Comparing Mobilizations Against Three Social Reforms in the 2000s in Belgium....Pages 163-178 Employment Status and Political Participation: Does Exclusion Influence the Protest Behavior of the Young Unemployed?....Pages 179-195 Practical Uses of Administrative and Cultural Categories Across the Field of Pro-Gypsy Activities in France Today: Activist Constructions and Adaptations to Political Categorizations....Pages 197-212 Challenges of Social Engagement: NGO Work in the People’s Republic of China....Pages 213-227 The Suicide Problem in Contemporary Japanese Society: Its Economic and Social Backdrop and Religious Reactions....Pages 229-242 Constructing and Controlling People’s Power from the Grass Roots: Philippine Social Movement Activism in a Historical Perspective....Pages 243-282 Front Matter....Pages 283-283 What Do Social Scientists Do When They Do Comparative Work?....Pages 285-295 Back Matter....Pages 297-306