Understanding Australia's Neighbours
An Introduction to East and Southeast Asia

Understanding Australia's Neighbours is a comprehensive introduction to the study of Asia.

Nick Knight (Author), Michael Heazle (Author)

9780521157131, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 26 September 2011

288 pages
25.4 x 17.8 x 1.5 cm, 0.51 kg

Understanding Australia's Neighbours is a comprehensive introduction to the study of Asia. Written thematically, it provides comparisons between Asian and Australian societies and encourages readers to think about Australia's neighbours across a wide range of social, economic and historical contexts. Topics covered include: • The nature of tradition and modernity • Change to the family and religion • The role of colonialism and nationalism in political change • Nation-building • Economic development • International politics • Globalisation • Democracy and human rights. Fully revised and updated, it covers the region's response to the global financial crisis, war on terror and climate change. It features a brand new chapter on the rise of China, its changing dynamic with Japan and the US and what this means for the broader region and Australia. Written in an accessible and informative way, this is a book for all Australians who seek a better understanding of Australia's neighbours in East and Southeast Asia.

Introduction: thinking about Asia, thinking about Australia
1. The idea of 'Asia': Australia's 'Near North' - East and Southeast Asia
2. Tradition and modernity in East and Southeast Asia: the family
3. Tradition and modernity in East and Southeast Asia: religion
4. Colonialism in East and Southeast Asia: how important was the impact of the West?
5. Nationalism and revolution in East and Southeast Asia
6. Nations and nation-building in East and Southeast Asia
7. International politics and East and Southeast Asia: The Cold War and the Sino-Soviet split
8. Economic growth in East and Southeast Asia: the Japanese economic 'miracle' and the newly industrialized economies
9. Democracy, human rights, and development
10. Globalisation and East and Southeast Asia (with Daniel Halvorson)
11. China-Japan relations and US Power in the twenty-first century
12. Australia in Asia, 'Asia' in Australia.

Subject Areas: Ethnic studies [JFSL], Australasian & Pacific history [HBJM], Regional studies [GTB]