From development to democracy : the transformations of modern Asia / Dan Slater, Joseph Wong.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Slater, Dan, 1971- author.

Wong, Joseph, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

City planning.

Asia--Politics and government--20th century.

Asia.

Asia--Politics and government--21st century.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (368 p.) : 11 b/w illus. 1 table.

Edition:

1st edition.

Place of Publication:

Princeton, New Jersey : Princeton University Press, [2022]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

"Over the last century, many Asian countries have experienced a remarkable transformation, including rapid economic growth, industrialization and urbanization, and spectacular development. One of the world's poorest regions has become its richest. Terming those countries in Asia that have experienced this growth "developmental Asia," Slater and Wong explore the puzzle of why only about half of the region has moved from authoritarianism toward democracy (despite the global correlation between development and democratization) and why we see no clear connection between levels of economic development and levels of democracy (as existing theories of democracy would expect). The authors' central argument is that Asia's most common pathway to democracy has been democracy through strength, with incumbent authoritarian regimes opening themselves up to free and fair electoral competition as a way of shoring up their own power-an argument that contrasts sharply with the conventional notion that dictators only give way under the most extreme, even existential pressures. With a focus specifically on the countries that did democratize, the authors demonstrate through detailed historical case studies that the strength of authoritarian regimes before democratization is reflected in democratic success afterwards. The authors also consider the implications for those states that have failed to democratize, most notably China. The result is a sweeping regional history that offers new insights on when and how democratic transitions happen, and what the future of Asia might look like"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments

1 Democracy through Strength

2 Shaping Developmental Asia

3 Japan

4 Taiwan

5 South Korea

6 China to 1989

7 Developmental Militarism

8 Developmental Britannia

9 Developmental Socialism

Conclusion

Notes

References

Index

A Note on the Type

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780691231075

0691231079

OCLC:

1323252865