Asian Studies Commons^™

Why Chinese Neo-Confucian Women Made A Fetish Of Small Feet, Aubrey L. Mcmahan

Grand Valley Journal of History

Abstract for “Why Chinese Neo-Confucian Women Made a Fetish of Small Feet”

This paper explores the source of the traditional practice of Chinese footbinding which first gained popularity at the end of the Tang dynasty and continued to flourish until the last half of the twentieth century.[1] Derived initially from court concubines whose feet were formed to represent an attractive “deer lady” from an Indian tale, footbinding became a wide-spread symbol among the Chinese of obedience, pecuniary reputability, and Confucianism, among other things.[2]^,[3] Drawing on the analyses of such scholars as Beverly Jackson, Valerie Steele …

Socioeconomic Challenges Of Patients With Clinical Blindness In Rural China, Yuen Aimee Chan

Kaleidoscope

Clinical blindness of 20/200 vision or greater in both eyes is rampant throughout Africa. Remarkably, most of these cases are either curable or preventable. There are 45 million blind people in the world and those who live in sub-Saharan Africa have a mortality rate four times higher than other areas worldwide [1]. Unite For Sight (UFS) is a non-profit organization that promotes eye health and reduce preventable blindness in communities worldwide. UFS has assisted over 1,000,000 patients and has provided 32,000 sight-restoring surgeries free of charge [2]. An opportunity for combination of volunteer work with research will contribute to this …

To Asia With Love: Toward Experiential Asian Studies At Csb/Sju, P. Richard Bohr

Headwaters

No abstract provided.

On Chinese Foreign Policy: A Big Stick, An Equally Big Carrot, Hannah K. Fishman

The Macalester Review

This paper attempts to provide a framework for analyzing China's newfound assertiveness. Does a rising China pose a systemic threat to the world order, or will Beijing's rise be characterized by what policy officials refer to as a "Peaceful Rise"? This paper argues that China is "building a bigger stick and a bigger carrot" to increase its hard and soft power capabilities; however, this policy won't necessarily pose a threat. The United States must strengthen Western-central international institutions and guide Beijing into this framework if the US wants to see a "Peaceful Rise."

Japan As A Clean Energy Leader, Stefan N. Norbom

Gettysburg Economic Review

Over the past several decades, Japan’s energy strategy had positioned it as the world’s leader in clean and efficient electricity production and usage. This strategy, heavily dependent on nuclear energy, was essentially destroyed by one of history’s largest earthquakes, followed by a tsunami which overwhelmed five nuclear reactors on March 11, 2011. As of April 2012, all of Japan’s 54 nuclear reactors have been shut down and it is uncertain when and how many may be restarted. This paper examines Japan’s options for crafting a new way forward with an energy policy to power the world’s third largest economy while …

Introduction, Surat Horachaikul

Asian Review

No abstract provided.

Human Security And The Asean Charter: Perspectives And Challenges, Kasira Cheeppensook, Vira Somboon

Asian Review

This article explores the relevance of the concept of human security in ASEAN within the context of the development of the ASEAN Charter. Human security is a relatively new norm in ASEAN. It entered dialogue at the ASEAN level only recently, and has been discussed ever since. However, the ASEAN Charter does not mention human security despite its explicit codification of human rights, another human-centric norm. This explores the "meaning" of human security that ASEAN seems to share, and compares it with the meaning held by the UN and its organs. The article notes the different perceptions of comprehensive security, …

Thai Foreign Direct Investment And Human Security Implications: A Case Study Of The Xayaburi Dam In Lao Pdr, Naruemon Thabchumpon, Carl Middleton

Asian Review

The Xayaburi Dam is a 1,260 megawatts project proposed to be built on the Mekong River's mainstream in Xayaburi Province, Lao PDR. The projects lead developer is the Thai construction company Ch. Karnchang, the proposed financiers are Thai commercial banks, and 95 percent of the electricity generated would be exported to Thailand. This paper determines how the Xayaburi Dam could affect human security at the regional scale and in the locality of the project, and evaluates the extent to which decision-making through the intergovernmental Mekong River Commission and the energy planning process in Thailand has accounted for these potential changes …

A Refugee-Centered Perspective On Refugee Protection Mechanisms: The Case Of The Lao Hmong Refugees In Thailand, My Lo, Vira Somboon

Asian Review

Refugees are people seeking for stability and security in their life which the government of their own country failed to provide them. In many countries refugees are still treated as illegal migrants and are not granted the protection that they need to pursue a secure life with dignity. Failing to protect asylum seekers is a threat to human security and this problem should be addressed in the public sphere. Thailand has adopted many waves of refugees from neighboring countries but refugees who seek asylum in Thailand have never had the protection they deserve from the Thai authorities. The case of …

Social Welfare Of Burmese Refugees And Human Security, Naruemon Thabchumpon

Asian Review

This paper investigates the social welfare and social security situation of Burmese refugees1 living in temporary shelters along the Thai-Myanmar border. The study applies the human security framework and right to education framework to analyze findings from both documentary and field research in order to examine the accessibility and availability of existing welfare services, as well as to identify the potential implications and the sustainability of access to local Thai education, health, and judicial services of these refugees in the future. Overall, the paper argues that under the human security framework finding sustainable solutions to the current protracted situation may …

Predictors Of Chinese College Students’ Attitudes Toward Older Adults, Deana Andrade

Undergraduate Review

Historically, filial piety has been a fundamental tenet in Chinese culture. Respecting older adults was expected in society and is an important principle of China’s filial piety responsibility within its culture. However, demographic transformation and economic and social changes in rapidly modernizing societies challenge traditional values. Very little empirical research has examined the factors which influence the attitudes toward older adults among Chinese college students. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that predict attitudes of Chinese college students toward the aging population.

Gender Differences And Perspectives On Elderly Care In China, Stefanie Carreiro

Undergraduate Review

China not only has the largest population in the world but also the fastest population aging rate. The one-child policy was created in 1979 as a means to control the dramatic growth in China’s population (Hesketh, Lu & Xing, 2005). The first generation of children born into the one-child policy is coming to the age where they will need to consider how they are going to care for their parents. Often these individuals have the challenge of caring for four grandparents, a child as well as themselves and a husband or wife, otherwise known as the 4:2:1 phenomenon (Hasketh et …

Globalization And Its Effects On Chinese College Students’ Perspectives On Elderly Care, Juliann Manning

Undergraduate Review

In China, the need to care for the elderly population is increasing dramatically. China’s baby boomer generation is now aging, and in great need of assistance. As a result of China’s economic reform in the 1990’s, the country has undergone a rapid process of globalization that is now changing our world. Increased geographic mobility, longevity, the one-child policy, increased job opportunities, and the change of social roles in China are all factors that have resulted in decreased availability for adult children to take care of their aging parents. Attitudes and perspectives on elderly care have developed and varied as the …

India's Neoliberal Progress And Food Insecurity, Surat Horachaikul

Asian Review

Two decades ago India's then finance minister and current prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh set India on a new course of liberalization, privatization and globalization. This paper argues that the economic reform of 1991 was based on the concept of progress in the philosophy of neoliberalism, realized through the typical structural adjustment imposed by the World Bank and IMF, combined with Manmohan Singh's own vision of reform. This paper also evaluates the effects of neoliberal reform on food security in India. Despite high economic growth as measured by traditional GDP, food insecurity in India has shown little or no signs …

An Excuse For Common Goods: The Multipurposeness Of The "Human Security" Concept In Japan's Foreign Policy, Teewin Suputtikun

Asian Review

This article examines the functions of the concept of human security in Japans foreign policy. Tracing the process by which Japan internalized the idea into policy formation and public discourse, the article shows that human security as a concept has served multiple purposes in the national quest for appropriate international roles. On one hand, the concept is used to resist the twin forces pulling Japanese roles away from the desirable status quo. These forces are the external pressure for a more active military contribution from Japan; and the domestic constraint against contribution policy in general. On the other hand, the …

Human Security And Chinese Political Economy, Vorasakdi Mahatdhanobol

Asian Review

This article examines how China looks at the issue of human security and the change of their internal and external policies toward human security. Chinas repressive regime is now having a hard time maintaining itself while trying to enter into the world market. Opening up the country involves applying international versions of human rights for their citizens, adjusting their production system to suit international standards, cooperating with foreign countries, and so on. Changes that came with economic liberalization are shifting China into a new phase of development and governance with problems of ethnic conflict, corruption, and abuse of authority by …

Environment, Conflict, And Security Problems In Thailand's Tenth National Economic And Social Development Plan, Supamit Pitipat, Surat Horachaikul

Asian Review

This paper illustrates the connection between environmental problems, social conflict, and security problems, both individual's security and state's security. It argues that environmental and security problems are not a result of natural resource depletion, environmental degradation, or of a failed state only, but are also caused by the modern sovereign state exercising its rights to possess and manage natural resources over the rights of community. There are two factors that lead to social conflicts and that question the state's legitimacy, which will eventually become a legitimacy problem that challenges the state's security. These factors are: the lack of public governance …

Notes To Contributors

Asian Review

No abstract provided.

Contributors

Asian Review

No abstract provided.