A lot of discussion on the SE/East Asian "meltdown" appears on the IPE
site. E.g., Henwood and others have speculated on the possible
long-range significance of the concurrence of Asian financial crisis,
Clinton's "fast track" setback, and the weakness of the U.S.'s
coalitional position re Iraq. I too have found curious the absence of
WSN discussion on the Asian financial situation, as well as on these other
and related issues. Among other things, comparisons/contrasts with
financial/economic crisis and restructuring in Latin America would seem
important. There are obvious contrasts--at least pertaining to the
strongest of the East Asian countries in terms of state organizational
capacities and economic infrastructure. Even so, there are
obvious new questions about the limitations of the East Asian "model"
and the economic, social, and political ramifications, not only for Asia's
tigers and cubs but for Latin America, Africa, and the rest of us.
I look forward to seeing discussion of these and related issues.
Rick Tardanico
On Sat, 22 Nov 1997 kjkhoo@pop.jaring.my wrote:
> Hi WSNers,
>
> I note there has been a complete absence of discussion on the meltdown
> affecting virtually all of E and SE Asia. We, in this region, are met with a
> barrage of instant analyses from economists, market analysts to journalists.
> Hard to make sense of it all, especially since not so long ago many of the same
> were touting the region. In an anthropological vein, what is happening might be
> likened to a 'total event', totally confusing in its multi-strandedness.
> Knowing only my little corner of the turf, and with insufficient in-depth
> knowledge of the rest of it, I am unable to make much sense of the overall
> shape. Hence, I turn to the list for enlightenment.
>
> I recall that many months ago there was considerable discussion of Asia in the
> world(-)system, globalization, etc. The recent events would seem to be almost a
> test case for any number of approaches -- from the analyses of Emsden on E
> Asian economic growth, to the World Bank's 'market-friendly' approach, to the
> variants of world system and globalization approaches, to even more classical
> marxian approaches to finance capitalism, 'real' and 'unreal' (?) economy, etc.
>
> Would anyone care to offer an analysis of the Asian meltdown in the theoretical
> framework(s) in use by WSNers, or whatever? It does seem a shame that what
> threatens to be a critical event in the development of the contemporary world
> system (used loosely) should pass by without discussion.
>
> Khoo KJ
> Malaysia
>
>
>
>