Asia Pacific Governance: From Crisis to Reform

In 1997, the Asia Pacific region experienced an economic crisis that brought an added sense of purpose to the task of developing the institutions of good governance. Indeed recent events have threatened a combination of economic and security crisis. With half of the world's population now living in Asia, governments have had to balance the drive for economic success with the rapidly increasing demands on resources and services. Important questions are being asked about how governments can best legislate to account for the rapid demographic and technological changes in the region. How can they foster economic growth, while still providing justice and protecting social and cultural values? How can they ensure that their political reforms will provide for sound public management, a strong civil society, a sense of citizenship and the development of enduring institutions? How can nations best govern themselves in the face of demands for greater ethnic and local autonomy? How can they ensure that the military provides support for, rather than a threat to, democratic clean government? Uniting esteemed academics and practitioners from the region, Asia Pacific governance addresses these critical questions and presents a crucial and practical assessment of the key concerns.