Asian Geography and Ethnography - Lecture Notes PDF
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This document covers the economic, political, and social development of Asian countries. It examines internal and external factors influencing these developments, such as location, size, climate, and trade. Specific challenges like poverty, population, and employment in Asian countries are explored, alongside proposed solutions. The document also differentiates between developed, developing, and underdeveloped countries in Asia, and touches upon the meaning of development and the efforts required to develop these countries.
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Asian Geography and Ethnography The course deals with the economic, political, and social developments of Asian countries as influenced by internal factors like location, size, land, climate, etc., and external factors like invasion, trade, globalization, etc.. It focuses on...
Asian Geography and Ethnography The course deals with the economic, political, and social developments of Asian countries as influenced by internal factors like location, size, land, climate, etc., and external factors like invasion, trade, globalization, etc.. It focuses on specific problems and issues facing several governments of Asia and at the same time offer possible suggestions and solutions to such major concerns like poverty, population, employment, education, health, etc. in the context of Asian setting. At the end of the course, students will be able to formulate possible suggestions and solutions regarding the challenges in Asia, and instill a constant sense of observation for the development prospects in the region. Asian Geography and Ethnography Before the war (WWII, 1940-1944), the most intensive work in the underdeveloped countries of the world was done by “cultural anthropologists”. They described the structure of institutions and attitudes by which people lived, worked, and survived. After the war, it was the “economists” who have taken the lead in studying the dynamic problems of underdevelopment, development, and planning for development. World Political Situation after the War: Liquidation of the colonial power system Colonies replaced by independent states Lifting of countries out of stagnation and poverty State planning to bring about economic developments The rise to power of the Soviet Union The emergence of Communist China The rise in territories and population under Communist governments The ensuing “Cold War” Struggle for security and power Neutrality (political allegiance) of underdeveloped countries The endeavor for poor countries in saving them from Communism The “Free World” or “The Free Asian Countries”, denote that the people are not free in the ordinary sense of the world, but that a country’s foreign policy is not aligned to Communism Categories of Countries (Economic) DEVELOPED “Industrialized Country” “More economically developed country” A country that has a mature and sophisticated economy, usually measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and/or average income per resident. They have advanced technological infrastructure and have diverse industrial and service sectors. A country with a lot of industrial activity and where people generally have high incomes and or higher degree per capita income levels. Developed Countries in Asia Bahrain Japan Cyprus South Korea Israel Taiwan Kuwait Hongkong Oman Macau Qatar Brunei Saudi Arabia Singapore United Arab Emirates DEVELOPING Countries that are less industrialized and have lower per capita income levels. Emerging and Developing Marshall Is.Countries in Asia : Micronesia Mongolia China Samoa India Solomon Is. Philippines Palau Indonesia Tonga Malaysia Tuvalu Thailand Vanuatu Vietnam Sri Lanka Bhutan Fiji Kiribati Maldives UNDERDEVELOPED A country characterized by chronic widespread poverty and less economic development than other nations. These countries have very low per capita income and many residents live in very poor conditions, including lacking access to education, health care and other social activities. Some underdeveloped countries in Asia : Afghanistan Cambodia Nepal Kyrgzstan Laos Burma Pakistan Bangladesh Timor-Leste North Korea Tajikistan Reasons for being categorized as Underdeveloped country: Unemployment Pollution Poor political system Terrorism Corruption Low literacy rate Lack of education Unreliable Judiciary Power/Water shortage Inefficient Law Enforcement Poor Health Care system Poverty Inflation Development Process of moving away from “underdevelopment” Rising out of poverty Movement of “upwards of an entire system (social, political, economic) Underdeveloped A country has numerous undesirable conditions for work and life Outputs, incomes, and levels of living are low Mode of production, attitudes and behavioral patterns, are disadvantageous There are unfavorable institutions ranging from state level to those governing social and economic relations in the family and community Planning for Development The search for a rationally coordinated system of policy measures that can bring about development Upward Development – the direction of greater desirability from the development point of view Downward Development – a movement that is undesirable for development
