Global Exposure in East Asia

Ming-Chang Tsai is Research Fellow at the Research Center for Humanities and Social Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taiwan.

’The rise of East Asia has long been studied at the macro-structural level, but in this important book Ming-Chang Tsai turns his more anthropological lens on the micro-level interactions that are transforming the people themselves. By empirically examining what he terms "global exposure" - a highly stratified system of cross-border contacts with other cultures - Professor Tsai is able to make fine-grained distinctions about globalization's effects on citizens from China, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, based on such differences as social class, country of origin, and the degree of cross-cultural contact.’ Richard P. Appelbaum, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA ’Ming-Chang Tsai's theme is global exposure in everyday life. Starting out from Michael Billig's influential notion of banal nationalism, the volume provides rich insight into what we might call banal globalism. In its empirical and regional focus, and in its emphasis upon the effects of globalization at the level of the individual and experience, this is a welcome counterweight to much of the literature on globalization, which often tends towards abstraction, and even speculation. Empirically informed and carefully researched, this volume will appeal to students of East Asia and globalization scholars alike.’ Alan Scott, University of Innsbruck, Austria and University of New England, Australia ’Scholars interested in the complex connections between global exposure and national cultures and societies will want to read this fine book by Ming-Chang Tsai. Nicely focussed on four countries of East Asia, the detailed empirical analyses and engaging discussion will be of interest to Asia specialists as well as comparative social scientists anywhere.’ Leslie Laczko, University of Ottawa, Canada

• Global Exposure in East Asia