East Asia - The Politics of Confucius and Capitalism (Paperback)

The politics of East Asia - China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan - has a growing influence on the modern world. Yet what do we really know about the ancient tradition of political thinking there? Hahm Chaibong expertly guides us through the political thought of the region. Starting with the feudal system of ancient China, the book discusses the rise of Buddhism and the re-emergence of Confucianism as a political force. In the twentieth century, Hahm also considers the May Fourth movement in China, and also how ideas of liberalism, Marxism and nationalism were appropriated and interpreted by East Asian thinkers. Finally, the book analyses current political thinking in and about East Asia, from identity politics to the 'Asian Values' debate. This fascinating book is a must-read for students of the history and politics of East Asia, and an important addition to the World Political Theories series.