Minidragons: Fragile Economic Miracles in the Pacific aims to introduce one of the most significant international developments of the post World War II era-the dramatic socio-economic transformation achieved by Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.

The purpose of this book is to introduce one of the most significant international developments of the post World War II era-the dramatic socio-economic transformation achieved by Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. In less than three decades, these "minidragons" of Asia have become major economic players, not only in the economy of the Pacific rim, but in the global economic system as well. In the essays which follow, the nature of this transformation is charted; its causes are described; and some assessment is made of the factors that will shape the future of these "fragile economic miracles." This volume was originally conceived as a companion to the television series entitled Minidragons, an international co-production of Maryland Public Television (MPT) with NHK, Japan, and Film Australia.

First Published in 1990. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an Informa company.

This collection brings together a group of experts on Taiwan who attempt to analyze change on this dynamic island during the twentieth century. Thus, in contrast to many works on Taiwan, this collection reveals how important the Japanese colonial antecedents were to the formation of today's Taiwan and illuminates the complexity of the problems this island will face in the twenty-first century.