Seeking Asian Engagement


Book Description

With the end of the Cold War, Australian foreign relations stand at a crucial juncture. What role should the alliance with the United States play ina region dominated by the rise of Asia, and in a world in which security is understood as much in terms of economic potential as of armaments? How much reliance should be placed on global regimes, and what part should Australia play in the formation of Asia-Pacific collaborative arrangements? This volume details the response of the Australianforeign policy making community to the challenges facing the country as it looks to the 21st century. Comprehensive accounts are provided of Australias defence policy, Australias policies on disarmament and arms control, Australias place in the world economy, Australias contribution to dealing with international environmental problems, and Australias vital bi-lateral relationships. The major focus of the book is on Australias policy of engagement with Asia. For the past five decades, the Australian Institute of International Affairs survey series, Australia in World Affairs, has been regarded as the authoritative account of Australian foreign policy making. This volume continues that tradition, and will be of interest to students of international relations, political science, history, and Asian studies.




Seeking Asian Female


Book Description

Steven is a 60-year-old white American man who works as a cashier in a garage and dreams of marrying a young Asian woman. Debbie, a Chinese American filmmaker, documents his obsessive search for potential brides over the Internet because she hopes to make an exposé about his "yellow fever." When Jianhua, or "Sandy," a 30-year-old woman from Anhui, China, agrees to Steven's online proposal and moves to California to be his fiancé, unexpected complications arise for all three: bride, groom and filmmaker. From one surprising turn to the next, as the two online pen pals attempt to overcome vast differences in age, language and culture for the sake of a real-life marriage, the filmmaker gets pulled deeper into their story. With comic and poignant twists and turns, this roller coaster relationship documentary becomes a challengingly honest love story for the ages. "Debbie Lum's brilliant, unpredictable, hilarious and poignant film, Seeking Asian Female, is a jewel. She follows a suspicious romance, to reveal dimensions not just of their hearts, but of her own--and with that, ours." Janet Grillo, Asst Arts Professor, NYU, Tisch School of the Arts, Undergraduate Film and Television Programs.




The Dark Side of Asian Women


Book Description

Are you fascinated by the allure of Asian women? Their commitment to family values and undeniable beauty make them highly sought after by men, particularly in the US. But, did you know that there is a side of Asian women that remains hidden from many? Unveiling the Veiled is the culmination of years of in-depth interviews with Asian women, encompassing their expectations, beliefs, and behaviors both before and after marriage. Through conversations with men who have married Asian women, a shocking truth has been unveiled - an obscure tendency that has transcended centuries and continues to persist, not only among Asian women in their native land but also among those residing in western countries. While these traits do transform in women who have spent many years outside of Asia, particularly those raised in foreign cultures, the strong bond they maintain with their families profoundly influences their subconscious. In order to dissect these paradigms and understand how Asian women truly feel, we compare younger and older generations, as well as women who have and haven't had contact with foreigners in their hometown. We aim to shed light on women who have been abroad and those who have engaged in relationships with foreigners. Unveiling the Veiled contains years of valuable information and countless face-to-face interviews. Our intent is not to discriminate against Asian women, but rather to shed light on their behaviors while uncovering the underlying reasons behind them. By exposing these truths, we hope to foster more honest and genuine relationships. Discover the captivating stories and emotional journey of Asian women in this revealing book. Gain insight into their unique experiences and challenges, from the perspective of those who have lived it firsthand. Whether you're an avid reader or simply seeking a deeper understanding of Asian culture, Unveiling the Veiled is a must-read.




Engaging the neighbours


Book Description

From modest beginnings in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has become the premier regional institution in Southeast Asia. The 10 members are pursuing cooperation to develop the ‘ASEAN Community’ and also sponsor wider dialogues that involve the major powers. Australia has been interested in ASEAN since its inauguration and was the first country to establish a multilateral link with the Association, in 1974. Australia and ASEAN have subsequently engaged and cooperated on many issues of mutual concern, including efforts to secure an agreement to resolve the Cambodia conflict (signed in 1991), the initiation of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation grouping (1989) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (1994), the conclusion of the ASEAN–Australia–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (signed in 2008) and the development of the East Asia Summit (from 2005). This book provides the first available detailed history of the evolution of Australia’s interactions with ASEAN. It assesses the origins and phases of development of Australia’s relations with ASEAN; the role ASEAN has played in Australian foreign policy since the 1970s; the ways in which the two sides have collaborated, and at times disagreed, in the pursuit of regional stability and security; and the key factors that will influence the relationship as it moves into its fifth decade.




Global Power Shifts and Strategic Transition in Asia


Book Description

Papers presented at the 10th Asian Security Conference, held at New Delhi on 4th February 2008.




Winning the Peace


Book Description

Winning the Peace seeks to explore and explain how Australian governments, during the modern period of Australia's engagement with Asia (from 1983 till today), have attempted to use their defence and foreign policies to shape the region. While there were certainly times of tension during this period, such as the spikes around the end of the Cold War and during the early years of the War on Terror, the region has been largely defined by peace. Because of this peace and thanks to Australia's relative size as a 'middle power', the government's attempt to change how other states act and think was not sought through the deployment or use of force but through military and diplomatic engagement and persuasion. Australia's smaller size also meant it had to be strategic in its efforts. It had to determine which changes were priorities, it had to re-organise and develop its resources, it had to deploy them effectively and efficiently, and it had to be able to sustain the effort in the face of competition and rejection. This book focuses on the three main 'campaigns' the Australian government has undertaken since the early 1980s to reshape the Asia-Pacific in pursuit of its national interests.




Europe and the Asia-Pacific


Book Description

The many points of contact and conflict about culture and identity that exist between Europe and the Asia Pacific are highlighted in this book. This work surveys a variety of issues relating to culture, identity and representation from an interdisciplinary perspective, with contributions from sociology, economics, history, politics, international relations, security studies, museum studies, translation studies and literary and cultural studies. Each brings a different perspective to bear on questions of culture and identity in the contemporary period, and how these relate to the politics of representation.




Why Men Like Asian Women- Dating an Asian Woman and Why I Married Her


Book Description

Why men like Asian women is a treatise on the trend of American and European men seeking Asian wives and companions. It is written from the author's experiences of dating and eventually marrying a Thai woman. Some call it Asian fetish, or yellow fever. I call it thickheaded bliss. Western women have a band saw edge about them, toliet seat up or down for Asian women...no problem.




Understanding Oceania


Book Description

This book is inspired by the University of the South Pacific, the leading institution of higher education in the Pacific Islands region. Founded in 1968, USP has expanded the intellectual horizons of generations of students from its 12 member countries—Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu—and been responsible for the formation of a regional elite of educated Pacific Islanders who can be found in key positions in government and commerce across the region. At the same time, this book celebrates the collaboration of USP with The Australian National University in research, doctoral training, teaching and joint activities. Twelve of our 19 contributors gained their doctorates at ANU, most of them before or after being students and/or teaching staff at USP, and the remaining five embody the cross-fertilisation in teaching, research and consultancy of the two institutions. The contributions to this collection, with a few exceptions, are republications of key articles on the Pacific Islands by scholars with extensive experience and knowledge of the region.




The Political Economy of Migration and Post-industrialising Australia


Book Description

During the 1980s and 1990s, Australia’s migration intake turned rapidly towards recruiting business professionals, managers and entrepreneurs to support the country’s entry into an economic system marked by global value chains. This book analyses the policy idea termed Productive Diversity, introduced by the Australian government as a way of conceptualising the belief that migrants would bring business acumen and a global outlook to help Australia compete as a trading nation. The book examines this germinal period of Australia’s economic reorientation through a close inspection of policy documents, parliamentary hearings, economic and migration statistics, and interviews with the architects of the policy. It provides a comprehensive account of how the policy framework emerged, how it was implemented, and studies the rationale in recruiting self-starters and managers to connect with global trade flows. This work will be of interest to students and researchers of migration studies, especially Australian migration, diversity policies, sociology, multiculturalism, economics, development studies, and Asia-Pacific studies. The methods and data will also be of value to political economists and policy makers.