Understanding Australia's neighbours : an introduction to East and Southeast Asia

The East and Southeast Asian region is of immense economic, strategic and cultural significance to Australia. It has also been important in defining Australia's national identity, and is the origin of many of Australia's immigrants. Australians therefore need to have some understanding of their northern neighbours, and to be able to think about them in an informed way. They need to do so not only to be able to understand the region in which they live, but also to better understand themselves. This book facilitates this process by providing comparisons between Asian and Australian societies. The reader is encouraged to think about Australia's neighbours across a wide range of social, economic and historical contexts. Written in an accessible and informative way, this is a book for all Australians who seek a better understanding of Australia's neighbours in East and Southeast Asia. Frontmatter 1 Title page 3 Copyright 4 Contents 5 Illustrations 6 Acknowledgments 7 Maps 8 Introduction: Thinking about Asia, thinking about Australia 11 1 - The Idea of 'Asia': Australia's 'Near North' – East and Southeast Asia 15 2 - Tradition and Modernity in East and Southeast Asia: The family 32 3 - Tradition and Modernity in East and Southeast Asia: Religion 50 4 - Colonialism in East and Southeast Asia: How important was the impact of the West? 68 5 - Nationalism and Revolution in East and Southeast Asia 86 6 - Nations and Nation-Building in East and Southeast Asia 106 7 - International Politics and East and Southeast Asia: The Cold War and the Sino-Soviet Split 125 8 - The Rise and Decline of the Japanese Economic 'Miracle' 142 9 - The Newly Industrialising Economies of East and Southeast Asia 159 10 - Democracy and Human Rights 175 11 - Globalisation and East and Southeast Asia 194 12 - Australia and Asia, 'Asia' in Australia 211 Bibliography 229 Index 248 Plate section 259 "The East and Southeast Asian region is of immense economic, strategic and cultural significance to Australia. It has also been important in defining Australia's national identity, and is the origin of many of Australia's immigrants. Australians therefore need to have some understanding of their northern neighbours, and to be able to think about them in an informed way. They need to do so not only to be able to understand the region in which they live, but also to better understand themselves. This book facilitates this process by providing comparisons between Asian and Australian societies." "This is a book for all Australians who seek a better understanding of Australia's neighbours in East and Southeast Asia."--BOOK JACKET Intended primarily for Australians interested in learning about East and Southeast Asia, this book, based on approaches adopted by the social sciences and history, offers an introduction to informed ways of thinking about the region. Themes covered include the family, religion, Asia's colonial history, nationalism, revolution, nation-building, international politics, globalization, democracy and human rights, and Australia's relations with East and Southeast Asia. BEFORE WE BEGIN to study something called 'Asia' we have to decide what it is we are studying.