Asian Studies

Answers to Questions
Book Overholt, William H. 2007. Asia, America, and the Transformation of Geopolitics. Cambridge Cambridge University Press.

What is the authors view of the future of East Asia
The end of the Cold War will usher a new age of confrontation and fear. The author offers the following scenarios (as to the future of East Asia)
Cold War institutions would remain in place. An uneasy balance between mutual economic progress and geopolitical competition is the likely result of conflicting political ideologies
There is a renewed Cold War. US-China military tensions will engulf East Asia. A US-Japan-Indian alliance against China will emerge. Taiwan will be drawn into the conflict
There is a partial withdrawal of the United States in the region. This could potentially entangle Sino-Japanese relations
Globalization will end. Reforms in China seem to indicate a vicious cycle of trade and investment protectionism. Stocks markets will collapse because of these policies.
What are his two most persuasive pieces of evidence for his views
The United States currently filed an economic complained against China in the World Trade Organization. The United States accused China of initiating protectionist reforms in the economy. In response to this complain, China promised to float the Chinese currency. However, China seems reluctant. In response, the US increased military aid to Taiwan
France and the Netherlands voted against the ratification of the European constitution (which will spell the end of globalization). The Doha trade round achieved nothing. In the US, advocates of protectionism are beginning to dominate the Congress.
Do you agree with the authors view of the future
The shifting of geopolitical alliances will occur in the future as this is a fact of history. Globalization however will not collapse in the next 50 years. Economic integration is the fact de jure goal of prosperity. Note that today, Europe is considered a single economic body moving towards political integration. The end of globalization is an illusion.