Asia in Transition

Arpita Basu Roy, Anita Sen Gupta, Suchandana Chatterjee and Priya Singh

Arpita Basu Roy, Anita Sen Gupta, Suchandana Chatterjee and Priya Singh

Asia as an idea has been constantly evolving and changing over the years making the conception of an integrated Asia hard to define. Asia is rather a conglomeration of diverse regions and the idea of an Asian “culture” and a set of Asian “values” as a singularly defined coherent alternative does not exist. Similarly, Asia does not adhere to a particular notion of an ideal state. The “Asian Century” was essentially formulated on the basis of developments in certain parts of Asia—the remarkable economic growth in East and South East Asia; the emerging significance of China and India in global affairs and the rapid positive demographic trends as compared to those in the rest of the world. Asia’s success story, however, has overlooked failed states, struggling economies, dysfunctional infrastructures and disparities in the distribution of resources. Large parts of Asia continue to be mired in issues of sectarian violence, governance, legitimacy, dignity and security of human life, racism and intolerance—all in a stark contrast to the expectations of Asia as an emerging model. Based on the projections of the Asian performance in various spheres, the papers in this volume engage with a number of issues like pan-Asianism, reform movements across Asia, routes and roads, infrastructure and technological development, leadership and legitimacy, governance and institutions and the rise of China.

Arpita Basu Roy, Anita Sen Gupta, Suchandana Chatterjee and Priya Singh are Fellows at the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, Kolkata.


Contents


Contributors

Introduction

1. Revisiting the Power-Shift to Asia
Samir Kumar Das

2. Measuring Asia’s Globalisation
Kriengsak Chareonwongsak

3. Towards the Articulation of an Asian Identity:
The Highlighting of Links between the Indian and
Chinese Philosophy and Religion
Ithamar Theodor

4. Navigating the Asian Transformation
Pratnashree Basu

5. Afghanistan’s Importance in the Asian Century
Wadir Safi

6. Central Asia as a Crucial Sub-Region of the
Asia-Pacific: Prospects and Challenges
Elnara Bainazarova

7. Connecting India to the New Silk Road through Kyrgyzstan
Y. Emre Gürbüz

8. Social Life of Development Programme among the Ninja
Miners in Zaamar, Mongolia
Munkh-Erdene Gantulga

9. The Middle East in the Asian Century: Economically More
Integrated with Asia; Politically Torn between East and West
Nicola Nasser

10. Peace Icons of Asia: Analysing Aung San Suu Kyi’s Role in
Promoting Peace and Democracy in Myanmar
Amrita Dey

11. Evolution of Education in Singapore
Shrimanti Ghosal and Sanjana Chatterjee

12. Changing the Development Model:
Towards Green Growth in Vietnam
Nguyen Xuan Trung

13. Engaging Asia: The Australian Predicament
Subhadeep Bhattacharya

Arpita Basu Roy, Anita Sen Gupta, Suchandana Chatterjee and Priya Singh