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Asia's Cauldron

The South China Sea and the End of a Stable Pacific

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Asia's Cauldron

By: Robert D. Kaplan
Narrated by: Michael Prichard
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About this listen

Over the last decade, the center of world power has been quietly shifting from Europe to Asia. With oil reserves of several billion barrels, an estimated 900 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and several centuries' worth of competing territorial claims, the South China Sea in particular is a simmering pot of potential conflict. The underreported military buildup in the area where the Western Pacific meets the Indian Ocean means that it will likely be a hinge point for global war and peace for the foreseeable future.

In Asia's Cauldron, Robert D. Kaplan offers up a vivid snapshot of the nations surrounding the South China Sea, the conflicts brewing in the region at the dawn of the 21st century, and their implications for global peace and stability.

To understand the future of conflict in East Asia, Kaplan argues, one must understand the goals and motivations of its leaders and its people. Part travelogue, part geopolitical primer, Asia's Cauldron takes us on a journey through the region's boom cities and ramshackle slums: From Vietnam, where the superfueled capitalism of the erstwhile colonial capital, Saigon, inspires the geostrategic pretensions of the official seat of government in Hanoi, to Malaysia, where a unique mix of authoritarian Islam and Western-style consumerism creates quite possibly the ultimate postmodern society; and from Singapore, whose "benevolent autocracy" helped foster an economic miracle, to the Philippines, where a different brand of authoritarianism under Ferdinand Marcos led not to economic growth but to decades of corruption and crime.

At a time when every day's news seems to contain some new story - large or small - that directly relates to conflicts over the South China Sea, Asia's Cauldron is an indispensable guide to a corner of the globe that will affect all of our lives for years to come.

©2014 Robert D. Kaplan (P)2014 Tantor
Asia Freedom & Security Political Science Politics & Government Southeast Asia World Singapore Military China War Middle East Self-Determination Authoritarianism Imperial Japan Russia Africa Imperialism National Security Iran Thought-Provoking Magic Ancient History Witchcraft Socialism Latin American Capitalism

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Critic reviews

"A riveting, multitextured look at an underexamined region of the world and, perhaps, at the 'anxious, complicated world' of the future." ( Booklist)
All stars
Most relevant  
Well researched and easy to comprehend. Great writing and storytelling to boot. Of course as the author said it is only a period piece so much of it will not be relevant forever.

Very interesting analysis of SEA geopolitics

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Narration was good and easy to follow.

in this books structure I particularly liked the way the region was broken down and discussed. it enabled one to focus on a country or area of personal interest with ease.
very enjoyable thank you.

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just ignore his subtle ideological biases (we all have our own). Overall a thorough, well presented and balance perspective on E and S.E Asian history, political motivations and pragmatic socio-economic realities. Well worth a read.

Good look at the realities of geopolitics in E.A

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The narrator has the exremely irritating habit of repeated mispronunciation, most noticeably of the words "Malay" and "Hokkien" as "may-lay" and "hoe-kee-en". This rapidly became very distracting (not to mention the abomination of names like Mahathir as Ma-ha-theer etc). It would behoove those reading these texts to spend a few minutes to find out how most, particularly those people themselves, pronounce these names in English (which generally matches the British pronounciation). One is left with the impression of complete ignorance of the subject matter under discussion.

The content itself was good and, other than pronunciation, well-read by the narrator.

Good insights into South-East Asian geopolitics

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