On Sun, 14 Sep 1997, Doug Henwood wrote:
> Any thoughts on whether the financial crises in Thailand and Malaysia mark
> the end of the Asian miracle, or are just a little bump in the road with
> minimal real world fallout?
I could prattle, but I really have no idea. I do know that for the past
few years SE Asia has been doing more trade internally than with any
outside bloc; to say that it's all a periphery-core relation with Japan
would be to oversimplify, considering the product mix involved.
Any serious consideration of Doug's question finally compels a study of
Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad, Malaysia's quite messianic PM. The absolute
sovereign who gave the world Versailles had nothing on _this_ guy,
who's moving to make over this mostly Muslim state of 20 million into
Silicon Valley & Sons by 2020.
Since this mega-project is probably sucking investment capital out of
Thailand, the fate of both countries may be wrapped up equally in
Mahathir's limitless vision.
If you don't mind some Pentium chip TIMEese, the gent is waiting for you
at www.wired.com/wired/5.08/malaysia.html. Hang onto your checkbook.
valis
Occupied America
