Handbook of Public Policy in Asia

Edited by Ora-orn Poocharoen, Founding Director, Piyapong Boossabong, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Pobsook Chamchong, Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Local Governance, School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University, Thailand

‘The Handbook is an important and welcome addition to the literature on the theories, processes and practices of public policy. Poocharoen, Boossabong, and Chamchong have brought together a diverse range of scholars with expertise that speaks to the making and remaking of public policy in Asia. The collection introduces the reader to key issues and questions about “Asian public policy” and then explores these in chapters that focus on process, tools, themes, and of course countries. The book is very helpfully structured to move from the general to the particular, including discussing public policy in sections dedicated to East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. This book makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of public policy and will be essential reading for students and scholars alike.’

• ContentsPreface xvii1 Introduction to public policy in Asia 1Ora-orn Poocharoen, Piyapong Boossabong and Pobsook ChamchongPART I SPIRIT OF PUBLIC POLICY IN ASIA2 Paradigms of public policy and governance in Asia: from ancientadministration to smart sustainable futures 15Ora-orn Poocharoen3 Is there an Asian public policy process?: Understanding the institutionaland historical embeddedness of policy-making 34Vishal Narain4 Policy styles and norms in Asia: a critical and interpretive reflection 47Piyapong Boossabong, Noe John Joseph E. Sacramento and AntonioD. Salazar Jr.5 Asia’s global policy leadership in the twenty-first century: integration ofspirituality, science and policy 63Naresh Singh and Devesh Gupta6 Challenges of policy process in the face of technocracy and highinequalities across Asia 80Noe John Joseph E. Sacramento and Piyapong Boossabong7 Exploring the landscape of public policy knowledge production in Asia:some observations 94Theerapat Ungsuchaval, Wasin Punthong, Chumphol Aunphattanasilpand Chatchada Kumlungpat8 Beyond policy science and the emergence of critical policy studies in Asia 117Noe John Joseph E. SacramentoPART II PUBLIC POLICY ACROSS THE REGION: TOWARDS ASIA RISING?9 Public policy for sustainability in Asia 136Kris Hartley10. Crafting innovative policy design: practices from policy labs in Asia 150Pobsook Chamchong, Yay Chann and Antonio D. Salazar Jr.11 Inclusive development policy in Asia 169William P. Kittredge and Leilong Ma12 Public policy for enhancing well-being across Asia: mental health,happiness, and life satisfaction 184Arnut Promthed, Phanuphat Chattragul, Kasina Sundhagul andDaniel Chi-Fung Yeung13 The emergence of social enterprises and their role in public policy in Asia 206Dhino B. Geges, Noe John Joseph E. Sacramento and Niña Rose P. Robles14 Where are the women? locating women in the policy-making process inAsia 222Claire Ed Bacong15 From failed drug wars to faith-based rehabs: how cultural forces drivenarcotics policy directions in Asia 235Clyde Ben A. Gacayan16 Climate policy, justice, and electoral promises: comparative perspectivesfrom Asia 250Thida Chaiyapa, Watcharapol Supajakwattana, Anna Christi Suwardiand Hamad Hasul KhanPART III PUBLIC POLICY IN EAST ASIA17 Public policy in China: navigating political particularity and globalconvergence 278Ya Li and Jianzi He18 Public policy in Japan: the continuous search for a blend of Japan and theWest 291Koichi Kawai, So Morikawa and Shunsaku Komatsuzaki19 Public policy in Taiwan: harnessing technology and deliberativeparticipation 309Yu-Ying Kuo20 Public policy in South Korea: a politico-historical perspective on industrialand unification policy development 324Wasin Punthong and Purawich Watanasukh21 Public policy in Mongolia: addressing the nation’s dual identity as amodern state and a nomadic society 341Oyun-Erdene ChuluunbaatarPART IV PUBLIC POLICY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA22 Evolution of policy-making in Singapore: from pragmatism to citizen-centricity 357Celia Lee23 Public policy in the Philippines: taking the road less traveled towarddecentering experts and power 380Noe John Joseph E. Sacramento, Antonio D. Salazar Jr. and ClydeBen A. Gacayan24 Complex layering policy process in Indonesia: understanding ideationaltensions between state-centralism and liberalism 393Muhammad Hali Aprimadya and Yahya Zakaria25 Indonesian policy landscape: the emphasis on philosophy, religion andcultural foundations in policy-making 406Hanna Nur Afifah Yogar26 Unpacking the dynamics of public policy in Thailand: from centralizationto innovation 420Theerapat Ungsuchaval27 Public policy in Myanmar: within and beyond military interventions 440Tun Min OoPART V PUBLIC POLICY IN SOUTH ASIA28 Public policy in India: overview and insights on national intellectualproperty rights policy 459Ajay K Sharma29 Public policy in Bhutan: balancing global visions and aspirations of GrossNational Happiness 487Phuntsho Wangdi30 Public policy in Bangladesh: confronting top-down, incremental, andpolitical interference 501Naznin Islam and Maruf Hasan Rumi31 Public policy in Nepal: the transition towards empowerment andparticipatory governance 521Yay Chann and Hsu Myat Yadanar Thein