Government Leadership and Coalition Efforts against Transnational Tobacco Corporations in Asia: A Supplementary Proposal

Abstract

This paper examines the current tobacco situation in Asia, focusing on the strategies of transnational tobacco corporations in the Asian tobacco market and on the role of government leadership. An approach is suggested that centers on regional coalitional efforts among the countries in Asia in cooperation with anti-tobacco groups in the US. We argue the current tobacco crisis of Asia cannot be unraveled by domestic policy alone. There needs to be clear government leadership and strong commitment to tobacco control including organized support for tobacco research and public education. In addition, it must be supplemented by the efforts of regional and international coalitions to be more effective. Tobacco control policy at the national level would be far more successful if government leaders and private organizations use their resources to change the public sentiment on smoking and thereby reduce tobacco use and its accompanying social and economic costs.