Through a detailed study of relevant concepts and theories in Confucianism and John Dewey’s pragmatist philosophy, this book illustrates the possibility of Confucian democracy and offers an alternative to Western liberal models. Sor-hoon Tan synthesizes the two philosophies through a comparative examination of individuals and community, democratic ideals of equality and freedom, and the nature

Earthenware is the most important material in Southeast Asian archaeology, yet there has been little published work aimed at understanding and dating earthenware artifacts and materials on a regional basis. This volume draws together essays from Southeast Asia’s top archaeologists, and includes contributions from every country in the region.  

The role of ethnic Chinese business in Southeast Asia in catalyzing economic development has been hotly debated – and often misunderstood – throughout cycles of boom and bust.This book critically examines some of the key features attributed to Chinese business: business-government relations, the family firm, trust and networks, and supposed ‘Asian’ values. The in-depth case

One of the clichés that Singaporeans hold most dear is that their lives are a pursuit of the five ‘c’s: cash, cars, condominiums, credit cards and club memberships. Over the last thirty years, Singapore’s PAP government has ‘delivered the goods’ to the people, and this is recognized as a prime reason for its legitimacy. Delivering

There are competing theories to explain the reasons behind the international competitiveness of manufacturing in Asia. Analysing these different theories will bring important lessons, not just for Asia, but for developing economies the world over.This lucid book studies industries and firms in East Asia and examines the major determinants of their economic performance. With contributions

Researching Migration and the Family draws together a range of methods and practices of value in empirical research on the nexus between “migration” and “family”. The volume first locates these methods within the broad context of the issues surrounding migration and the family in Asia and Europe, giving an overview of the recent issues surrounding

Between 1880 and 1930 colonial Singapore attracted tens of thousands of Chinese immigrant laborers, brought to serve its rapidly growing economy. This book chronicles the vast movement of coolies between China and the Nanyang, and their efforts to survive in colonial Singapore. Focusing in on one particular occupation, of rickshaw coolie, this study unveils the

For most of its modern history, to speak of Singapore was to speak of the Singapore River, physical centre of the city and site of the greater part of the colony’s entrepot trade. The river has been transformed over the last 25 years from a polluted industrial sewer choked with traffic to a clean, placid

“Toponymics”, or the study of place-names, provides us a fascinating means of getting “under the skin” of places. Toponyms provide clues to a wide variety of social, cultural, economic and political phenomena and how they change. They may also serve commemorative functions and reflect the power of elite groups to shape landscape meanings. This book