Pacific Century: The Emergence of Modern Pacific Asia

by Mark Borthwick

The Asia-Pacific region is rapidly emerging as the global economic and political powerhouse of the twenty-first century. Looking at both Southeast and East Asia, this richly illustrated volume stresses broad, cross-cutting themes of regional history, with an emphasis on the interactions between cultures and nations. In this updated third edition, Mark Borthwick provides a significantly revised introduction, which places the contemporary rise of China within the context of the political, cultural, and economic evolution of the region since ancient times. He then considers more recent developments in their historical context, balancing national and international factors underlying Asia-Pacific economic growth and political change. New areas receiving attention in the third edition include Japan's recovery from economic stagnation, Japan's new political landscape, China's economic transformation and leadership in East Asian regionalism, the North Korean crisis, and the Asia-Pacific impact on the global economic system. The book also provides chronological updates for Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Borthwick concludes with an examination of the key domestic and international issues facing the nations of Pacific Asia and the growing influence of these nations on North America and the world economy.

Genres: History, Asia, Nonfiction, Textbooks

616 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1991

Reviews

[Leo Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Ian Morris' Why the West Rules -- For now at least , I've been taken by how rapidly economic power has been shifting away from the US, and drifting towards Eastern and South Eastern Asia. And, I have to say, I was a bit ignorant of the history of the Pacific rim.

As usual, the only way to cure ignorance is to learn. So I stumbled upon an old copy of The Pacific Century in a used book store. And was amazed by its content.

Like most books produced by PBS, the writing is clear, and the coverage broad. I was amazed to realize how long that the eastward shift had been going on, too. Even in the 80's, we were losing jobs to Asia. And the documentation of those trends is sort of "old news" by now. Japanese learning electronics from us, and then producing better products.

But the thing that interested me the most was the tight public/ private mindset that prevails in Southeast Asia. Unlike the USA, where companies often seem to feel like they are in a battle with governments, businesses in these Asian tigers actively work with the government. It seems an unspoken rule that both public and private are working towards one goal -- to increase the prosperity of all of their citizens. This is not to say that people in Asia are not as greedy as US businessmen. Instead, they seem bound by a more Confucian way of doing business. "The way of heaven." Which requires that a "ruler" -- or nowadays a business owner -- treat their people -- or employees -- with respect.

This, to me, is amazing. Since we Americans have often been told "Planned economies do not work." And we are told "Look at the Soviet Union." Which is scary.

But, it instead of the USSR, you were to look at Japan, South Korea, China or Singapore, though, the view is different. These planned economies are working to improved the lives for everyone. And not just the elite classes, which happens so often in America.

That said, there is plenty of food for thought here. Especially if you want to understand how truly destructive we Europeans and Americans could be in Asia. for instance, England and America made money in China in the late 18th Century working as a drug cartel, pushing mass quantities of opium into the country. And then going to war with the Chinese to keep those trade routes open. Pacific Century does a nice job outlining that conflict.

All in all, a great introduction. I wish the videos were still available (the book had them listed at learners.org, but they had been "retired" according to the blurb on the site. But even without them, I found the book an excellent introduction to some history and economics systems employed by these people with deep, complex and non-western histories.

Because, indeed, we are now entering the Eastern Century. And once again, we will be in a brave new world...

[Stefan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read portions of "Pacific Century" for my course on Asian economics and politics, but I was so captured by the material that I read far more than required. Despite some stylistic inconsistencies (each section was written by a different author), "Pacific Century" helped me developed a deeper and wider understanding of the region's modern history and its long, complex and fragmented rise to wealth. Definitely worth a cover-to-cover re-read sometime in the future. Even now, 2 months later, I can't believe I was stupid enough to sell it back!

[Unicorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Borthwick's strength lies in his meticulous organization of this text. It is neither strictly categorized around states nor chronology; rather, there is a more sophisticated movement between events and actors along regional themes. The content, despite the length, provides only an introduction to Pacific regional studies.

[AP · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm very interested in the eastward shift of economic power. Therefore reading a textbook, which is the companion to the PBS series about Pacific Asia, might teach me about how the east is resuming its prior place as the international economic center.