The opinions of individuals with wide expertise
in their respective fields. The opinions are often issued in
response to immediate problems.
EAEC: FACT AND FICTION
21 pp (1996)
By Noordin Sopiee
RM 2.50
ISBN – 967947- 213-2
Calling the East Asia Economic Co-operation (EAEC) one of
the most deliberately misrepresented and misunderstood ideas
since World War II, the writer is hoping to set the record
straight on the EAEC. He quotes extensively from speeches of
the proponent of the EAEC, former Malaysian Prime Minister
Dr. Mahathir Mohamad who had exhorted Japan to join the
grouping as a partner and leader because Japan is the only
developed country in East Asia and the only Asian country
with the ability to help its fellow Asian countries. He
quotes statesmen who think the EAEC is natural, destined and
inevitable and then goes on to defend the concept against a
list of criticisms.
REGIONAL SECURITY:
How to advance US-Malaysia interests
Mohd Jawhar Hassan
1990 6pp RM2.50/$1.50 ISBN 967-947-113-6
This is the text of a luncheon talk delivered at the Fourth
Malaysia-US Colloquium held in Washington, in May 1990. The
author first touches briefly on what the strategic picture
in Southeast Asia is likely to be in the near future and
then goes on to examine the areas he thinks should be
focussed on in:
Advancing shared US-.Malaysia interests
The China factor
Strengthening Asean's security capabilities
The Cambodian conflict
Developing a larger regional framework for co-operation US
and Soviet presence in the region
The economic dimension
WHY JAPAN'S INDUSTRIES SHOULD SAY 'YES'
TO THE EAEG
Zainal Abidin Sulong
1991 8pp RM2.50/US$1.50 ISBN 967-947-136-5
The title is self-explanatory. The Malaysian proposal for an
East Asian Economic Grouping (EAEG) was not met with
enthusiasm bv Japan. The author who is chairman of ISIS
Malaysia and the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority
(MIDA), presents his case on why it would be to Japan's
advantage to be in this grouping. This paper was presented
at the 14th Joint Annual Conference of Jameca-Majeca in
Kyoto, Japan on June 6, 1991.
ECONOMIC LIBERALISATION IN POLAND
Jerzy Diet
1991 12pp RM2.50/US$1.50 ISBN 967-947-128-4
This paper looks at the transition from a state-run economy
to a market-type economy in Poland. It also analyses the
measures being taken towards economic liberalisation and
examines the problems involved. The author, a member of the
Polish Senate and Professor of marketing at the University
of Lodz, also highlights the governments dilemma - that the
move to a liberal market economy paradoxically calls for
strong state intervention, albeit of a temporary nature.
THE CHANGING ASIA PACIFIC ENVIRONMENT:
Quest for peace
Abdul Ghafar Baba
1992 5pp KM2.50/US$1.50 ISBN 967-947-155-1
The booklet, based on the text of a speech bv the author at
the Asia Pacific Roundtable in 1991, analyses the great
changes taking place in the global strategic environment,
with special emphasis on their relevance to the Asia Pacific
region. The author proposes steps that could be taken to
promote lasting peace and stability, both globally and
regionally.
NATIONAL UNITY:
Key to the ultimate Malaysian society
M. Ghazali Shafie
1993 llpp RM2.50/US$1.50 ISBN 967-947-166-7
The building of a nation out of diverse ethnic and religion
groups is a monumental task, and would have to take time.
While the author believes that a great deal still needs to
be done to achieve lasting national unity in Malaysia, he is
able to enumerate achievements of the part three decades.
The essay also discusses policy options available for the
future, in the context of Vision 2020 and Malaysia's place
in a changing international and regional orders.
ASIA-PACIFIC 2000
Challenges and Choices Facing Employers
Noordin Sopiee, Patrick Pillai and Kim Thiruchelvam
1995 14pp RM2.50/US$1.50 ISBN 967-947-046-6
This book focuses on four key trends affecting employers in
the Asia-Pacific region, especially in the developing
nations. Under market revolution, issues discussed include,
a new balance between the State and the market, the
diminished role of the State, increasing market reliance and
coping with new environmental, health and consumer concerns.
Under technology revolution, the key challenge is for
employers to integrate technology into their production,
management and information systems. Under globalisation,
there are the issues of cross-country labour mobility and
the use of labour standards and economic protectionism.
Finally, economic and gender disparities are discussed under
economic deprivation and inequality.
THE REVOLUTION IN EAST ASIA
Noordin Sopiee
1996 17pp RM3.00/US$1.50 ISBN 967-947-221-3
The writer describes three basic dimensions to a quiet
cumulative revolution that has been taking place in East
Asia, which may have equally, if not more, profound
consequences for the world as the revolution in Eastern
Europe and the former Soviet Union. The basic dimensions of
the East Asian Revolution are: the economic revolution; the
political revolution; and the psychological-cultural
revolution. Under the economic revolution. he discusses the
dynamism revolution which saw almost every economy in East
Asia making dramatic strides to become dynamic economies;
the size revolution which saw East Asia becoming an economic
giant in the 1990s; and the integration revolution, which
sees East Asia as the fastest integrating region in the
world in terms of trade and investment. Under the political
revolution, he discusses the peace revolution, the human
rights revolution, and the democracy revolution. And under
the psychological revolution, he discusses the regional
consciousness revolution, the confidence revolution and the
self-worth/assertiveness revolution.
PROSPECTS FOR REGIONAL CO-OPERATION AFTER
THE OSAKA SUMMIT
Noordin Sopiee
1996 8pp RM3.00/US$1.50 ISBN 967-947-222-1
The writer believes that as a result of the remarkable
results achieved at the Osaka Apec Summit, the future of
regional co-operation in the Asia-Pacific will be promising.
The Summit:
Established a pace-setting style of democratic leadership
and consensus-building;
Was able to counter the wrong turn taken during the Seattle
Summit in 1993;
Invented and institutionalised the "concerted unilateral
approach," whereby each Apec member will voluntarily submit
its own plan for full liberalisation by a targeted period;
Produced in ten Asian economies a much greater sense of
confidence and comfort about the entire Apec process;
Restored to Apec a badly-needed sense of realism;
Resulted in concrete and specific steps which are not to be
easily dismissed.
THE PRIMACY OF ECONOMICS AND THE CENTRAL
STRUGGLE OF OUR TIMES
Mohamad Noordin Sopiee
1987 9pp RM2.50/US$1.50 ISBN 967-947-046-6
ISIS Director-General Dr Noordin Sopiee makes a case here
for the Soviet Union and the United States to help build up
a creative global interdependence. Pointing out that
economics will increasingly be the primary determinant of
history and that military power will have declining utility
in the coming century, he argues the irrationally of the
arms race at a time when both superpowers should be looking
towards gaining superiority on the economic battlefield.
SECURITY ISSUES IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC
Sir Ewan Jamieson
1987 l2pp RM2.50/US$1.50 ISBN 967-947-048-2
In this survey of the issues confronting the South Pacific
-- a region where some dramatic changes have taken place
recently -- the writer examines the effects of ANZUS
disconnection, the withdrawal of the New Zealand battalion
from Singapore, the coup in Fiji, the French connection,
Maori activism, the Soviet impact and the American factor.
THE SITUATION IN CHINA:
Causes and consequences
Robert A Scalapino
1989 8pp PM2.50/US$1.50 ISBN 967-947-092-X
In this concise and balanced paper presented shortly after
the June 4 killings in Tiananmen Square, Prof Robert A
Scalapino presents an assessment of both the deep-rooted
reasons behind the tragedy and the broader implications it
holds for China. He warns of two major crises that cannot be
avoided in China - the crisis of leadership and crisis of
policy - and concludes with observations about China's
current position in the world and Sino-American relations.
