Social science, like all other sciences, is supposed to explore the substance below the surface of things. However, populism discourse in general is stuck on the surface, focusing on style, outlook and appearance.

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has, from the point of view of the big powers, become an important factor in the balance of power struggle. Political as well as economic reasons seem to suggest closer relations with the People’s Republic of China.

In recent years, there has been a powerful trend on the global scene and above all in the Asian region for the private sector in general and private industry in particular to assume a growing, and indeed leading, role in economic and industrial development. This article reviews some recent...