Globalization and Democratization in Asia: The Construction of Identity

Globalization is a defining feature of our times, covering everything from economic and political issues to the spread of American culture. Its status is controversial, however with some viewing it as leading to greater development for all, while others see it as a threat to national cultures and democratic political life. This book shows how simplified such binary views are, and examines how various globalizing forces have affected Asian societies. It discusses the relationship between globalization, identity and democratic developments in Asia both theoretically and empirically, and aims to understand how economic, political and social forces interact and are mutually reinforced in Asian societies.

Catarina Kinnvall is Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science, Lund University, Sweden. She has written extensively on globalization and identity in India and China. She is also the author of Cultural Diffusion and Political Learning: The Democratization of China and Globalization and the Construction of Identity: Democracy, Diversity and Nationhood in India.,
Kristina Jösson is a Lecturer at the Department of Political Science, Lund University, Sweden. She is currently researching how foreign ideas and policies are spread and translated into domestic practices, with special focus on the pharmaceutical sector in Laos and Vietnam.