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Setting Priorities in a Changing Asia
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17404 |
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Section : |
CURRENT ISSUES
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Date : |
1 / 1990 |
2,886 Words |
| Author
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Norman D. Palmer
Norman D. Palmer is professor emeritus of political science at
the University of Pennsylvania. |
For the United States, Asia is both far away and very near. Most Americans have only vague ideas about Asian geography, history, and culture, but they are beginning to realize that Asia impinges upon their daily lives in innumerable ways. In the 1980s this fact, at least, seems to have been implanted in their consciousness. But what does it mean for the United States? Should it be welcomed or feared? And within what frame of reference can "good" and "bad" news from Asia be comprehended and evaluated?
In the 1990s these questions will become even more relevant and more urgent. Interactions between the United States and Asia, and between Asians and Americans -already much more extensive than is generally realized - will undoubtedly increase. These will vary with respect to different countries and regions. They will be greatly affected by changes in particular countries and by the ups and downs in official relations.
The United States will be faced in the 1990s with the task of "getting its act together" in its approach to the changing Asian scene. Common criticisms are that it has never developed an overall strategy or policy toward Asia, that it has not made the necessary adjustments to the changing Asian scene, and that it has given too much attention to security concerns, narrowly conceived, and too little attention to the needs and realities of the Asian region. Asians are increasingly questioning the capacity of the United States to assist Asian countries in dealing with their basic security, economic, and developmental needs. Even the credibility of America's security commitments in Asia seems to be suspect.
Compounding the
... (1990 of 17887 Characters)
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