Merchant Princes of the East: Cultural Delusions, Economic Success and the Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia

Merchant Princes of the East is an original and searching analysis of the economic success of Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia. Focusing on companies, associations, social relationships and markets, this book challenges cultural explanations of that success. It is suggested that values, institutions and actions often interpreted and presented as definitive components of Chinese culture are not peculiar or unique to Overseas Chinese, and may also be turned against material progress. The final chapter draws upon the arguments developed earlier in the book to consider the significance of the links between China and the Overseas Chinese both for China and for the Far East as a whole. Following on from the author s two previous successful books published by Wiley, The West Pacific Rim and The Creations of Wealth in China, Merchant Princes of the East covers a wide range of issues of interest to students and graduates of economics, geography, anthropology, social psychology and ethnic and cultural studies, as well as to those with a specialist interest in the Far East.