Review of Alice Lyman Miller and Richard Wich, Becoming Asia: Change and Continuity in Asian International Relations since World War II, Foundation Books, New Delhi, 2012, pp. xiv+314, Rs. 995.00 published in The Book Review, Vol XXXVII, No. 2-3, SAARC Special Issue, February-March 2013, 62-63.
The book begins with the wartime conferences which laid down the contours for a post Second World War world. It then moves on to the Chinese Civil War beginning with the differing readings of the event and the consequences of the victory of the Chinese Communist Party. This is followed up by the US occupation of Japan, process of reconstruction which is ably assisted by the `Gift of the Gods' in the form of the Korean and the Indo-China wars. The decolonization process fuelled by nationalism; the US Alliance system and the Sino-Soviet alliance form the bulwark of the next three chapters. The Vietnam War and the strategic realignment heralded by the Sino-American rapprochement is the highlight of the next two chapters. This is followed up with a chapter solely devoted to a phenomenon which has a huge role in propelling the region to the global stage, namely the `Rise of China'. The final and the penultimate chapters of the book look at the future of the region in the background of the Taiwan issue, the continued simmering tensions in the Korean peninsula, the Japanese rise coupled with domestic demands to revisit Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution and the tensions in South Asia between India and Pakistan. The authors ponder on how all these issues will impinge on the 'Asian Century'.
One of the greatest strengths of the book is that-given the command of the authors over the subject-it manages to condense differing, divergent readings of an issue very concisely and authoritatively into a few pages. The chapter on the `Chinese Civil War' is a case in point. The authors after providing the reader with an overview of the two differing accounts of the Chinese civil war and its course, conclude (p. 35) that the 'most effective approach to explaining the Chinese civil war is to combine both external and domestic factors, taking due account of the goals and actions of all four actors (United States, Soviet union, Chiang Kai-Shek's KMT and the Chinese Communist Party), not just those of the two domestic antagonists or those of the two external powers.'
Alice Lyman Miller and Richard Wich both of whom have been lecturing for several years on Asian international relations at various American universities have done yeoman's service to the field of international relations by publishing this masterly account of Asia since the Second World War. Miller and Wich have in a comprehensive manner captured the growth of the region from a geographical expression at the end of the World War II to a region which is seen as a global power center in its own right.
As pointed out by the authors, (pp. 2- 7) there are two simultaneous and interweaving narratives through the course of the book. The first is the Cold War competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to enlist the support of the region's countries into their respective blocs. The second narrative is the rising nationalism resulting in the establishment of independent nationstates in the region. In the book, the Cold War and the resultant great power politics as well as rising nationalism are important actors determining the course of events.
As pointed out by the authors, (pp. 2- 7) there are two simultaneous and interweaving narratives through the course of the book. The first is the Cold War competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to enlist the support of the region's countries into their respective blocs. The second narrative is the rising nationalism resulting in the establishment of independent nationstates in the region. In the book, the Cold War and the resultant great power politics as well as rising nationalism are important actors determining the course of events.
The book begins with the wartime conferences which laid down the contours for a post Second World War world. It then moves on to the Chinese Civil War beginning with the differing readings of the event and the consequences of the victory of the Chinese Communist Party. This is followed up by the US occupation of Japan, process of reconstruction which is ably assisted by the `Gift of the Gods' in the form of the Korean and the Indo-China wars. The decolonization process fuelled by nationalism; the US Alliance system and the Sino-Soviet alliance form the bulwark of the next three chapters. The Vietnam War and the strategic realignment heralded by the Sino-American rapprochement is the highlight of the next two chapters. This is followed up with a chapter solely devoted to a phenomenon which has a huge role in propelling the region to the global stage, namely the `Rise of China'. The final and the penultimate chapters of the book look at the future of the region in the background of the Taiwan issue, the continued simmering tensions in the Korean peninsula, the Japanese rise coupled with domestic demands to revisit Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution and the tensions in South Asia between India and Pakistan. The authors ponder on how all these issues will impinge on the 'Asian Century'.
One of the greatest strengths of the book is that-given the command of the authors over the subject-it manages to condense differing, divergent readings of an issue very concisely and authoritatively into a few pages. The chapter on the `Chinese Civil War' is a case in point. The authors after providing the reader with an overview of the two differing accounts of the Chinese civil war and its course, conclude (p. 35) that the 'most effective approach to explaining the Chinese civil war is to combine both external and domestic factors, taking due account of the goals and actions of all four actors (United States, Soviet union, Chiang Kai-Shek's KMT and the Chinese Communist Party), not just those of the two domestic antagonists or those of the two external powers.'
Another strength of the book is that the authors go much further than only putting forth differing views from which an event, say the Chinese Civil War or the Korean War, has been viewed. Importantly, the authors drawing upon important statements, archival material that has become available since the end of the Cold War highlight the revisions such material necessitates to the traditionally held view of the events under discussion.
Thus the book is far from being only a narration of key events and debates. It delves into the rationale and thinking that went into fashioning the decisions made by various actors involved in the various crises the book deals with, whether it be the Chinese Civil War, the Korean War or the Indo-China Wars. Though one cannot possibly fault the authors for this, use of a better font by the publishers would have made the book much easier to read. One can see that much thought has gone into the production of the book. Excellent placement of maps and quotes from historical documents being referred to by the authors add much value and will be appreciated by the readers. The microscopic font could have been in a bid to keep the thickness of the volume to a manageable size, one hopes it has not compromised on accessibility of this otherwise excellent book to a wider audience.
Unlike European nations' experiment with the European Union, Asian powers have not made much progress towards developing multilateral institutions. Though ASEAN is pointed out as an exception to this rule, the grouping has not transformed into a security body given that its members continue to hold dearly to the Westphalian system (p. 270). However, as the authors concede, the difference between Europe and Asia cannot be divorced from their historical contexts. While centrality to the Westphalian system led to two debilitating wars being fought in continental Europe in a span of three decades, for Asian countries their sovereignty was gained after centuries of domination and exploitation by foreign powers. Establishing an organization which deals with security issues and possibly chips away at their individual sovereignty would therefore be a complicated process for the Asian countries as compared to European nations.
Students of international relations would do well to read the book which in addition to making them wiser on the history and dynamics of the region, will serve them well in providing a useful historical perch from where to assess and probably appreciate and understand the changes underway and tensions in the region in a better manner.
Students of international relations would do well to read the book which in addition to making them wiser on the history and dynamics of the region, will serve them well in providing a useful historical perch from where to assess and probably appreciate and understand the changes underway and tensions in the region in a better manner.
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