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Berita Volume Xxvii, Number 4 (Winter 2003), Ronald Provencher

Berita

Table of Contents

Editor's Note... 2

Nominations & Awards... 2

Periodicals... 2

Call for Papers... 8

Books... 8

Annual Meeting... 12

Prospectus... 12

Singapore Management University Report To Stakeholders 2003 - 2004, Singapore Management University

Report to Stakeholders

From what started as an idea and then became a blueprint only a few short years ago, SMU has already developed into a university highly regarded for its quality programmes, faculty and students – not only in Singapore, but in the region and beyond.

The so-called ‘SMU experiment’ in Singapore tertiary education has been looked upon with much curiosity and generated great expectations during this time. And this year the University celebrated one of its most significant and anticipated milestones: the graduation of our first batch of students. More than just graduates, these students – now SMU alumni – are …

Smu: We Mean Business: We Are Different, Singapore Management University

SMU Press Releases and News

We believe it takes a different type of person to excel in the new economy. Which is why SMU is a different kind of university. One with a progressive curriculum, unique teaching methods and a world-class faculty.

SMU advertisments, Ng Peng Fong, Marina Rumi Ibrahim, Elsie Lin, featured students doing hand stand, jumping and back bend.

Bodies In Motion: Contemplating Work, Leisure, And Late Capitalism In Japanese Fitness Clubs, Elise M. Edwards

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Review article of:

Laura Spielvogel. 2003. Working Out in Japan: Shaping the Female Body in Tokyo Fitness Clubs. Durham and London: Duke University Press.

Introduction, Kullada Kesboonchoo Mead

Asian Review

No abstract provided.

The “Great Game” For The Twenty-First Century: Islamic Extremism And Central Asia, Ian Sethre

Human Rights & Human Welfare

A review of:

Reaping the Whirlwind: The Taliban Movement in Afghanistan by Michael Griffin. London: Pluto Press, 2001. 272pp.

and

Jihad: The Rise of Militant Islam in Central Asia by Ahmed Rashid. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2001. 281pp.

and

Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia by Ahmed Rashid. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2000. 274pp.

Rethinking The Cold War And The American Empire, Soravis Jayanama

Asian Review

The end of the Cold War has renewed interest in Cold War historiography, leading to an explosion of academic literature in this field. A "new Cold War history" seems to be emerging, promising to offer a more international and less "orthodox" perspective, tapping on multi-archival sources. A spate of new works on the crucial and formative period of the Cold War (1945-52) has appeared, on the one hand, shedding a new light on the emergence of the postwar American empire and its foreign relations, and on the other hand, re-examining the role of the Soviet Union and its allies in …

Contesting Us Hegemony: A Case Study On Myanmar, Pin-Kwan Pratishthananda

Asian Review

In the "unipolar" world, the US claims to use its power to liberal states and civil societies. Myanmar is an anomaly, seemingly untouched by this influence. Since 1988, the military has vastly expanded its power and its roles in the society. The number of armed forces has increased. Intelligence gathering has proliferated. Military-created institutions have taken a larger role in the economy, generating more funds for various activities. The military has neutralized most of the ethnic insurgents, and created a wide range of organizations with roles in society. It has also inculcated an ideology in which the military is indispensable …

Toward A Theology Of Religion In An Asian Adventist Perspective, Nestor C. Rilloma

Journal of the Adventist Theological Society

No abstract provided.

Civil Society And Democratization In Asia: Prospects And Challenges In The New Millennium, Emma E. Porio

Sociology & Anthropology Department Faculty Publications

This paper examines the conceptual foundations of civil society and its role in shaping socio-political life in the past decade as well as their prospects and challenges for the next millennium. It argues that civil society is a key mediating force in changing the state- society dynamics, which in turn, is also being reconfigured by the globalization of social life and the rise of identity and resource claims from various groups. Furthermore, state- civil society engagements have been influenced by communication technologies, facilitating the efficient movement of information, capital, and human resources across groups and national boundaries. Finally, the growth …

Feminist Tigers And Patriarchal Lions: Rhetorical Strategies And Instrument Effects In The Struggle For Definition And Control Over Development In Nepal, Coralynn V. Davis

Faculty Journal Articles

This article offers an analysis of a struggle for control of a women’s development project in Nepal. The story of this struggle is worth telling, for it is rife with the gender politics and neo-colonial context that underscore much of what goes on in contemporary Nepal. In particular, my analysis helps to unravel some of the powerful discourses, threads of interest, and yet unintended effects inevitable under a regime of development aid. The analysis demonstrates that the employment of already available discursive figures of the imperialist feminist and the patriarchal third world man are central to the rhetorical strategies taken …

A Revisionist History Of Thai-Us Relations, Kullada Kesboonchoo Mead

Asian Review

This paper breaks with the traditional approach to the study of Thai- US relations, and provides a different narrative. It takes a revisionist approach: the world after the Second World War cannot be simply viewed in bipolar terms. It examines how Thailand's political structures and political developments were influenced by its relationship with the leading superpower. The main goal of the US was to protect and enhance its business interests and as one element of its strategy to achieve this, it assigned a particular role to Thailand. The paper identifies various periods of Thai-US relations from the end of the …

The Trouble With Hegemony: Hegemonic Destabilization Theory, Jan Nederveen Pieterse

Asian Review

This paper revisits hegemonic stability theory to examine whether hegemony, in terms of its major justifications, applies to the United States in the present period. The paper finds that over time, particularly since the end of the Cold War, the role of the United States has increasingly changed from hegemonic stabilization to destabilization. While hegemonic destabilization such as the unleashing of finance capital and military preparedness out of proportion to existing threats, has been noticeable since the Reagan period, recent American policies of aggressive unilateralism and deficit spending have been increasingly destabilizing. This holds implications for how we understand hegemony: …

"September 11" And The Changing Dynamics Of Malaysia-Us Relations, Khadijah Md. Khalid

Asian Review

The events of September 11 have changed US relations with Malaysia and the Southeast Asian region in general. Although Malaysia has been a long-term ally of the US, relations have been complicated by prime minister Mahathir Mohamad's anti-Western stand. Malaysia-US relations reached an all-time low during the East Asian economic crisis which began in 1997. Subsequently, Mahathir has been more conciliatory towards the US. However, the hawkish aggression of the US in Afghanistan and Iraq is again putting pressure on Malaysia-US ties. There is a risk that the US is forsaking its role as a beacon of democracy in the …

The Resurgence Of Us Influence On Thailand's Economy And Southeast Asia Policy, 1990-2001, Ukrist Pathmanand

Asian Review

This article offers an unconventional approach to the study of US-Thai relations. The conventional approach emphasizes political, military, and security affairs but ignores the interrelationship between the economic and political roles of the US in Thai policy making. This study emphasizes the US economic influence in two periods: during the period of anti-communism in the Cold War era, and again during the financial crisis of 1997 onwards. The first of these periods was set within the context of the Cold War. The US promoted liberal development policies as part of anti-communist strategy. The second of these periods was set in …

The Far South Of Thailand In The Era Of The American Empire, 9/11 Version, And Thaksin's "Cash And Gung-Ho" Premiership, Surat Horachaikul

Asian Review

Though Islam is a political factor throughout Southeast Asia, this paper argues that Islamic fundamentalism does not necessarily govern political life. It also questions generalizations about the increase in political Islamic fundamentalism in the region perceived by the press and American sympathizers. By sketching the roots of the violent conflict in the far south of Thailand, the predominantly Muslim region of the Kingdom, it argues that the violence has been caused not only by Islamic militants consisting of Thai terrorists and Muslim separatist groups who have sought foreign assistance and fought against the Thai state's oppression but also by the …

Cultural Diversity And Coexistence In Asia, Amara Pongsapic

Asian Review

When the world was divided into capitalistic-democratic and socialist-communist regimes, most states in both camps as well as Third World countries adopted nationalism as a necessary ideology. National integration was perceived as not only necessary but possible only in a homogenous society. In many countries, cultural diversity existed but was not recognized in nation-building processes. After the fall of communist regimes at the turn of the decade, cultural pluralism became obvious in USSR and Eastern European countries. After 1989, in Eastern European countries where diversity was recognized, the concepts of civil society and good governance were promoted. Economic and social …

Contributors

Asian Review

No abstract provided.

Questioning The Universality Of Human Rights, Paul J. Magnarella

Human Rights & Human Welfare

A review of:

Universal Human Rights? edited by Robert G. Patman. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2000. 244pp.

and

Dealing with Human Rights: Asian and Western Views on the Value of Human Rights edited by Martha Meijer. Bloomfield, CT: Kumarian Press, 2001. 183pp.

and

The Philosophy of Human Rights by Patrick Hayden. St. Paul: Paragon House, 2001. 686pp.

The Study Of The Role And Effects Of Vocational Education On The Local Economic And Social Development In China, Chich-Jen Shieh

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

This study examined the relationship between vocational education and the development of regional social economy, as related to the background of the current reform of the vocational and educational system in China. It also reviewed and analyzed the reform of vocational educational systems in six regions in China. In particular, this study investigated the interrelationship between labor force resources, urban and rural vocational education and the development of social economy. The special phenomena accompanying vocational education and the economic development were illustrated. Research explored the importance and impact of vocational education on the economic and social development.

From this study, …

Singapore: Of Dreams, 'Tough Minds And Warm Hearts', Eugene K. B. Tan

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

No abstract provided.

Singapore: The Feel Good Factor - A Vital Element In The Meticulous Preparations For Leadership Change, Eugene Kheng Boon Tan

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

No abstract provided.

Legal Issues Under Wto Rules On The Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (Cepa) Between Mainland China And Hong Kong, Henry S. Gao

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

On 29 June 2003, the Central Government of the People's Republic of China (the Mainland) and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) signed the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA). As the first Regional Trade Agreement (RTA) for both sides, the CEPA provides a model for China to use the arrangements allowed under the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to further trade liberalisation and promote economic development. This is a commendable endeavour. However, due to the complexity of the relevant rules of the WTO, caution must be exercised in the formulation and implementation of …

Strategic Development Of Airport And Rail Infrastructure: The Case Of Singapore, Sock-Yong Phang

Research Collection School Of Economics

This article recounts how a number of strategic infrastructure investment decisions in airport and rail development taken by the Singapore government were at variance with recommendations emerging from cost-benefit analysis, but were considered necessary to support external competitiveness. This link between infrastructure provision and economic development may require decision makers to assess the trade-off between prudent macro-economic planning and efficient micro-economic management for major projects. In the case of airport hubs, the most difficult assessment might be the game consideration of how much, and how far ahead, excess capacity is needed to ensure the dominance of the hub.

Zhong Hui’S Laozi Commentary And The Debate On Capacity And Nature In Third-Century China, Alan Kam Leung Chan

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Zhong Hui (a.d. 225-264) was a major, albeit neglected figure in third-century Chinese intellectual history. Author of a Laozi com mentary, a work on the relationship between "capacity" (cai yf) and "nature" (xing f-fe), two treatises on the Yijing HH, and other writings, Zhong Hui played a significant role in the development of xuanxue -P (learning of the mysterious Dao), which, as is well known, came into prominence during the Zhengshi JEin reign (240-249) of the Wei H dy nasty (220-265) and dominated the Chinese intellectual scene well into the sixth century Zhong Hui was highly regarded by his contemporaries …

Effects Of Electronic Trading On The Hang Seng Index Futures Market, Joseph Fung, Donald Lien, Yiuman Tse, Yiu Kuen Tse

Research Collection School Of Economics

This paper investigates the effects of the migration of the Hang Seng Index futures from open-outcry trading to electronic trading. Using trade data over a window of six months we find evidence that, after the migration, the bid-ask spread of the futures contract decreases and the contribution of the futures price in information transmission increases. Furthermore, the asymmetry in volatility spillover reduces and the open interests of the futures market become smaller. These results suggest that the anonymity in trading and the higher speed of order execution in the electronic trading system attract informed traders to the futures market and …

The East Asian Model Of Economic Development And Developing Countries, Jong H. Park

Faculty Articles

This paper examines the debate on the East Asian model of economic development in light of the different approaches undertaken by different groups of countries (economies) in Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia. The common strengths and weaknesses shared by the East Asian countries (economies) have helped to reinforce the misconception that there is a single East Asian model of economic development. There are, however, significant differences in economic structures as well as development experiences among the East Asian economies, especially between the economic development paradigms of Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia. Nonetheless, one single common thread underlies the differences in …

Food Groups And The Risk Of Colorectal Carcinoma In An Asian Population, Adeline Seow, Stella Quah, Denis Nyam, Paulin Tay Straughan, Terrence Chua, Tar-Choon Aw

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

BACKGROUND. Singapore Chinese have experienced a rapid transition toward a pattern of disease in which lifestyle-related, chronic, degenerative diseases are major public health concerns. The rates of colorectal carcinoma have increased 2-fold over the last 3 decades. It has long been known that dietary factors play a role in the risk of this disease, although studies in Asian populations, with their unique dietary intake, have been few.METHODS. The authors conducted a population-based case-control study that included 121 Chinese patients with colorectal carcinoma and 222 healthy control participants who provided information on usual intake of major food groups in the preceding …

The Culture Of Technology Of Singapore, Alwyn Lim

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

The objective of this paper is to map the sociological context in which the cultural economy of technology of Singapore exists. Taking a socio-histori cal perspective, this paper argues that the development of Singapore as a technological 'intelligent island' must take centre stage in relation to the soci ological analysis of modern Singapore's political, economic, and socio-cultural structure. This involves a critique of theories of the information society and empirical research on East Asian developmental states. The aim is to chart the development of technology in Singapore, from its founding as a colonial port-city to its current status as an …

Legal Environment For Technology Transfer In Taiwan, Kung-Chung Liu

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

In an effort to become an industrialized country, Taiwan, the Republic of China (ROC) has relied heavily on technology transfers and investment from abroad. The Taiwanese government adopted a heavy-handed policy of regulating investments made by foreigners and overseas Chinese in 1954. These policies include the Foreigner Investment Act (FIA) and the Overseas Chinese Investment Act (OCIA), which require all foreigners and overseas Chinese to obtain the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) approval prior to making any investments.1 Such investments may also be in the form of patents, trademarks, copyright, know-how, and other intellectual property (IP).2 In 1962, the Technology …