[World History Archives]

Political history of Asia as a whole

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   History of Asia in general
   The history of Nanhai (South China Sea) and the Spratly Islands

History of Asian internal political dynamics

Asians and Democracy
By Barry Wain. From Contours, Bangalore. 11 September, 1996. Asia's rising bourgeoisie not necessarily attracted to democracy.
Across Asia, Stirrings of Democracy; Stirrings Cast Doubt on Asians' Fabled Indifference to Democracy
By Keith B. Richburg, Washington Post, 16 December 1997. While a few regional leaders still advocate the idea of "Asian values," that prize stability and consensus while eschewing Western-style emphasis on political conflict, a more complex reality is emerging, a slow move toward more pluralism and openness.
Delegates to peace meeting harassed
From South China Morning Post 3 March 3 1998. Human rights advocates ridiculed the notion of "Asian values" as a Bangkok conference to discuss peace in East Timor was invaded by Thai police out of fears it could offend Indonesia during a visit to Jakarta by Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai.

History of external political penetration of Asia

Sheathing Asian Weapons
Christian Science Monitor, Editorial. 30 April, 1997. The US and the Asian arms race.
US calls for unrestricted presence
By Brendan Pereira, in Staits Times, 13 January 1998. At Fourth Pacific Dialogue, US calls for a flexible and unrestricted American military presence in Asia. U.S.' friends should help keep the the U.S. anchored in the region. U.S. accepts no military operational constraints in the region, and looks to alliance with Australia and China to dominate Asia.
Security Conference Focus on the Global South, Alternative Security Program
From Focus on the Global South, 10 June 1998. Limitations on traditional statist definition of security. Globalization as a threat to security in the new sense, which provides a rationale for external intervention.
Howard Doctrine: Resurrection of White Man's Burden
By Malaysian Parliamentary Opposition Leader and DAP Secretary-General, Lim Kit Siang in Petaling Jaya, 24 September 1999. The Howard Doctrine for Australia to be the United States' deputy international policeman for Asia [is] an arrogant resurrection of "White Man's Burden" and is highly offensive to Asians.
Hands off Domestic Politics, say Asian Nations
By Thalif Deen, IPS, 27 September 1999. Sri Lanka, India and China warn the United Nations to not interfere in domestic political issues at the expense of national sovereignty. Relevance of US-led military intervention in Kosovo without Security Council authorisation. A new balance between sovereignty and other values should be struck knowingly, and with eyes open.