Date: Sun, 31 Aug 1997 15:49:08 -0700 (PDT) From: Dennis R Redmond <dredmond-AT-gladstone.uoregon.edu> Subject: M-TH: Query & Comment on East Asia Friends -- I have a question and a comment. 1. I'm looking for a serviceable Marxist text (or texts) which (1) analyzes the 1947-1997 economic boom in East Asia and (2) provides some insight and analysis of the Gojira-sized "keiretsu" groupings (bank-industry alliances), which generally dominate East Asian big business the same way the Morgans, Pierponts and other robber barons lorded over American industry in the late 19th century. Alice Amsden's "South Korea: Asia's Next Giant" is a nice start, but lacks a theoretical dimension. Any information on the Mitsubishi, Fuyo, Mitsui, Sumitomo and other keiretsu behemoths -- not necessarily how they started, but how they function today, how their internal stock-holdings and corporate politics jibe, and what they own in the Southeast Asian neocolonies -- would be more than welcome. 2. The currencies of the afore-mentioned East Asian neocolonies have been taking a record beating in currency markets recently. The Thai baht is down 25% and more, Indonesia and the Philippines have been roughed up, and the rot has spread to star IMF pupils Malaysia and Singapore. Now even Hong Kong is reported to be selling hundreds of millions of dollar reserves in order to keep the speculative wolves at bay. It's one of the great unfolding financial crises of the dawning age of global capitalism: the bottom line is, even export superstars like Taiwan and South Korea are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with stagnant world demand in an era when Eastern European and Chinese producers are ramping up production. Any thoughts on how this will play out? E.g. might Japan start to flex its not inconsiderable muscle, and begin to bail out its neighbors with the loot accumulated from 50 years of hyperaccumulation, much like West Germany is bailing out the entire Eastern European economy? Where is the Japanese Left on this one? -- Dennis Redmond Teaching Fellow Program in Comparative Literature University of Oregon --- from list marxism-thaxis-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005