China and Southeast Asia's Ethnic Chinese - by Paul Bolt (Hardcover)

About the Book

Bolt uses the relationship between China and Southeast Asia's ethnic Chinese as a case study, and he focuses on the potential role of a diaspora in the economic and political development of its homeland as well as the role of the state in dealing with transnational economic actors.

He examines China's post-1978 policy of attracting ethnic Chinese investment in light of historical relations between China and its diaspora community, demonstrating that China has, through various measures, consistently aimed at tapping the resources of Asia's ethnic Chinese. He then analyzes the contributions that ethnic Chinese have made to China's development, showing that such contributions have been tremendously important both in terms of the accumulation of capital and the transfer of business skills. Bolt probes how ethnic Chinese intervention in China's economy has affected the politics of the Chinese state. He concludes by looking at the international implications of Chinese development being spurred largely by a Chinese diaspora community, and he demonstrates how China's efforts to attract ethnic Chinese investments have complicated China's relations with Southeast Asia and led to discussions of a Greater China. An important analysis for scholars, researchers, and policy makers involved with contemporary Southeast Asian and Chinese political, military, and economic issues.

Book Synopsis

Bolt uses the relationship between China and Southeast Asia's ethnic Chinese as a case study, and he focuses on the potential role of a diaspora in the economic and political development of its homeland as well as the role of the state in dealing with transnational economic actors.

He examines China's post-1978 policy of attracting ethnic Chinese investment in light of historical relations between China and its diaspora community, demonstrating that China has, through various measures, consistently aimed at tapping the resources of Asia's ethnic Chinese. He then analyzes the contributions that ethnic Chinese have made to China's development, showing that such contributions have been tremendously important both in terms of the accumulation of capital and the transfer of business skills. Bolt probes how ethnic Chinese intervention in China's economy has affected the politics of the Chinese state. He concludes by looking at the international implications of Chinese development being spurred largely by a Chinese diaspora community, and he demonstrates how China's efforts to attract ethnic Chinese investments have complicated China's relations with Southeast Asia and led to discussions of a Greater China. An important analysis for scholars, researchers, and policy makers involved with contemporary Southeast Asian and Chinese political, military, and economic issues.

Review Quotes

.,."a succinct and well-documented account on an important subject...It can be beneficially adapted for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses dealing with the changing political economy of the Asia Pacific."-The China Quarterly

.,."a valuable book that sheds light on a question which indeed deserves further exploration."-The International History Review

?...a succinct and well-documented account on an important subject...It can be beneficially adapted for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses dealing with the changing political economy of the Asia Pacific.?-The China Quarterly

?...a valuable book that sheds light on a question which indeed deserves further exploration.?-The International History Review

?[t]his is a book valuable for students who want to know more about ethnic Chinese in Southeast Asia.?-IMR

?China and Southeast Asia's Ethnic Chinese is a well organized, well developed study.?-American Review of China Studies

"Ýt¨his is a book valuable for students who want to know more about ethnic Chinese in Southeast Asia."-IMR

..."a valuable book that sheds light on a question which indeed deserves further exploration."-The International History Review

"[t]his is a book valuable for students who want to know more about ethnic Chinese in Southeast Asia."-IMR

"China and Southeast Asia's Ethnic Chinese is a well organized, well developed study."-American Review of China Studies

..."a succinct and well-documented account on an important subject...It can be beneficially adapted for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses dealing with the changing political economy of the Asia Pacific."-The China Quarterly

About the Author

PAUL J. BOLT is Associate Professor of Political Science at the United States Air Force Academy. He has published extensively on Chinese diaspora and economic issues in journals, such as Diaspora and Asian Affairs.