An East Asian Development Model: Empirical Explorations

Abstract

This paper attempts to provide an empirical overview of the major issues brought about by recent studies of the East Asian development. Three main concerns are addressed. The first is the wider political economic context in which East Asia has progressed in the post-war era. The world economic system and its structural change, particularly the timing of its change at which East Asia was incorporated into the postwar America-dominated world system has been analyzed. It is assessed that the world economy’s timing was indeed unique and the ways American hegemony has practiced after the war was also quite unique. The geopolitical considerations that provided some room of manoeuvre of dependence was even considerable in shaping the relationships between East Asia and the world political economy. Under the above world constraints provided by such timing and the unique nature of the role of the U. S. in the region, the state structure and state-society relationships were also quite different from one might have observed in other part of the developing world. Therefore, the strategic shift of state policy on economic development from one phase to another has been rather smooth. Capitalist development via industrialization was then much more successful. Those state development strategies that were put forward by the relatively autonomous and ＂hard＂ states in East Asia have not been confronted by much severe oppositions from the local dominant classes. The most praised ＂right＂ development policies were made possible largely by effective mobilization of local and foreign、resources The states in East Asia might have been also greatly blessed with certain cultural factors that served as ＂comparative advantages＂ available for the economy to take off at the right moment. The ＂trigger＂ function of the major cultural factors in the East Asian development process-also has to be appreciated. As to what extent the three listed ingredients might have been combined together and in what order of importance should be a serious task lies before any serious social scientist to undertake.