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  • Opinion Document: Stereotypes and geostrategic reality: Polarization in Asia in the post-Cold War era

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12/12/2014

Opinion Document: Stereotypes and geostrategic reality: Polarization in Asia in the post-Cold War era

The USA victory in the Cold War was mainly due to the "Truman Doctrine" which favoured economic development and military protection to ensure it. Its main goal was the Western Europe revitalization through the "Marshall Plan". The same strategy was played successfully in Asia over Japan and other allies. Therefore, the Asian economic miracle, propelled by the mentioned strategy based on institutional building and economic development, also contributed to the American victory in the Cold War.
The countries which applied the American model grew economically, getting geopolitically strongest, while those of the Communist block wilted economically. The American strategy triumphed, with or without democracy, and that economic success was generally followed by a gradual openness to democracy. Where the economic and social development failed, the communism or tribal dictators got the power.The new "post-Cold War Strategy" raised democracy to a prime among the criteria, assuming as an axiom that democracy is the right vehicle that facilitates economic growing and ensures peace. That axiom is not consistent with the Asian experience, as we try to show in this article.

Author:  José Luis Pontijas Calderón

THIS DOCUMENT IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN SPANISH LANGUAGE

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