Nation-Building, Free Trade, & International Economics in US-Asia Relations | Discussion

  • Ha-Joon Chang is a prominent economist; according to him, today’s “Free Trade” acolytes have got it all wrong when it comes to economic development and aid in the developing world. In your words, what is his basic argument? Do you think his argument applies to the United States, too, as Trump is trying to implement it? Why or why not?

The basic argument of Ha-Joon Chang focuses on the idea it is beneficial to let the economic system get mature before they are exposed to intense competition. It is what he calls “infant economy argument”. This line of reasoning can hardly be applied to the United States as President Trump is trying to implement it since the economy of this country is by no means young. In other words, it will not benefit from protection against competition

  • Do a little bit of Internet research, and write here a basic definition of nation-building. What is it? What are some examples of successful, and failed, nation-building? How are “economic” issues involved?

According to the Council on Foreign Relationships of the UN, nation building is “the process of establishing civic order and governmental functions in countries that are emerging from a period of war or other types of upheaval” (“UNITED NATIONS: Nation-Building”). It is argued that Kosovo is an example of successful nation-building, while Somalia is an example of the opposite. Economic issues are important for this process since it provides the much-needed backbone of the newly formed nation.

  • Gregg Brazinsky offers a case study of one of America’s “success stories” in nation-building. This story is usually told as a case of successful East Asian “culture” (one of the great Asian tigers!), and of American aid/enterprise (“Free Trade”!) helping an economically “closed” Asian people and culture. His article challenges this myth by showing how South Korean officials had a very different economic view of how South Korea should develop—and did this successfully without simply following US formulas. How did South Koreans and Americans view the ROK economy differently, and how does this complicate any simplistic, stereotypical pro-“Free Trade” view of how the ROK developed with US aid and advice?

The South Korean government believed that the economy of the country should be developed independently and rejected any connections to Japan which it saw as the former colonizer. Contrary to that, the US government wanted to integrate the Korean economy into a wider framework. This challenges the simplistic view on its development: it is the Free Trade that made the ROK economy strong, but foreign investment and relative isolation that allowed it to mature.

  • Identify at least two concepts or quotes from the readings that you would like elaborated in class and why.

I would like to examine the concept of “junta” more. I cannot see why it could not have been substituted with “military group”. I wonder what makes “junta” different from any other group that performs a coup. Another concept that I think deserves extra attention is the idea of Asian tigers: rapid economic growth is nothing new in the global economy; so, why are these countries seen as exceptions?

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]
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