Transforming East Asian Domestic and International Politics: The Impact of Economy and Globalization : The Impact of Economy and Globalization

"This title was first published in 2002: This text attempts to bridge the gap between international relations and comparative politics, with particular reference to East Asia. The book begins with an exploration of the theme of globalization and the impact it has on the conduct of international relations and the process of domestic politics. It discusses the fact that domestic actors are unable to assume an insular political environment as previously, referring to the constant reception of stimuli which force adjustments to approaches in the conduct of domestic and international affairs. Globalization's ubiquitous presence reflects a changed reality for both state and non-state actors - no policy-maker can afford to ignore or underemphasize its role in shaping ior altering the course of public"--Provided by publisher Post-apartheid South Africa's foreign policy has accepted a range of leadership responsibilities within multilateral institutions. This book assesses how, in these various leadership capacities, South Africa has been able to 'punch above its weight' diplomatically: Pretoria's intervention, or support for a particular position, sometimes has been crucial in breaking a deadlock, or securing the cooperation of various parties. In addition, the authors note that South Africa has also used its profile to act as a voice for the vulnerable, smaller states in world affairs. Based on their assessment of globalization as a process that holds some benefits - but also many dangers - for developing countries, both the Mandela and Mbeki presidencies have used multilateral forums to push for a greater say by developing countries in global governance. This constitutes the reformist tendency in South Africa's foreign policy. This book examines whether Pretoria's multilateral diplomacy contributes to global transformation, or whether South Africa's policies help maintain a fundamentally flawed global order.

Author Biography: Philip Nel, Professor and Head of Dept. of Political Science, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa; Ian Taylor, Researcher and part-time lecturer, Dept. of Political Science, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa; Janis van der Westhuizen, Lecturer, Political Science Programme, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Natal (Durban)

Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of Tables List of Abbreviations List of Contributors Dedication Chapter 1: Introduction: Globalization and the Changing Nature of East Asian Politics Chapter 2: Globalization and the Developmental State: Reflections on the Asian Financial Crisis Chapter 3: Chinese Elite Conflict over Globalization Chapter 4: Political Culture as a Source of Japanese Immobilism in the New World Order Chapter 5: Globalization, Asian Political Culture and State Control Chapter 6: South Korea as a Middle Power: The Growing Globalization of South Korean Foreign Policy in the 1990s Chapter 7: East Timor Independence: The Changing Nature of International Pressure Chapter 8: Japan's Regional Environmental Foreign Aid: Responding to Global and Regional Realities Chapter 9: Prospects for a Regional Human Rights Mechanism in East Asia Chapter 10: Demilitarizing Okinawa: Globalization and Comparative Social Movements Index Machine generated contents note: I Reformist Initiatives and South Africa's Multilateral Diplomacy: A Framework for Understanding Philip Nel, lan Taylor andJanis van der Westhuizen 2 Working with The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: South Africa's Role in the Global Campaign to Ban Landmines Janis van der Westhuizen 3 In Debt We Trust: South Africa and the Global Debt Relief Campaign Janiv van der Westhuizen 4 The 'Mbeki Initiative' and Reform of the Global Trade Regime lan Taylor 5 Lever or Cover? South Africa, Multilateral Institutions and the Promotion of Human Rights David Black 6 Multilateralism and South Africa's Environmental Diplomacy Coris van der Lugt 7 Of Rogues, Rebels, Renegades and Reformers: South African Multilateralism in Context Janis van der Westhuizen, lan Taylor and Philip Nel Appendix Bibliography Index. Post-apartheid South Africa's foreign policy has accepted a range of leadership responsibilities within multilateral institutions. This text assesses how, in these various leadership capacities, South Africa has been able to "punch above its weight" diplomatically.