Viewed from strategic, political, social and economic viewpoints, Eastern and Southeast Asian countries have come to occupy an ever-important place in the world.
This book provides a survey of these regions from the 16th century to the present, focusing on areas within the boundaries of six contemporary states: China, Japan, Indonesia, Korea, Vietnam and Thailand.
New to this edition are chapters on the concept of Eastern Asia, regional institutions and regional identities, and the security architecture of Eastern Asia.
The book takes a multidisciplinary approach, dealing with sociology, anthropology, politics and economics, as well as world history.