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"Asia can be a crazy place" and conducting business in this region often means "grappling with cronies, corruption and conglomerates" according to author Michael Backman. In his book Asian Eclipse, he takes us over the proverbial Chinese wall to reveal the bribery and corruption rife in the Eastern corporate world.
Delving into what constitutes "Asianness," he exposes a highly complex corporate landscape--one where Confucian thinking pervades all aspects of business culture; bankruptcy is considered an affront to one's ancestors; the media are threatened with closure for reporting on "sensitive" issues; patriarchal management and nepotism are the norm, often ending in costly family disputes; and auditing and corporate governance are new concepts! With a thorough analysis of the different Asian markets, he lays bare the structurally inherent flaws that led to widespread economic crises from 1997 to 1998. In his view, "the real Asian 'miracle' is that the economic collapse didn't happen earlier".
Packed with detail, this book should be the bible for anyone
considering doing business in Asia, but is also accessible to the lay
reader. The chapters end with excellent case-studies that provide rare
and fascinating insights into some of the more shady corporate
practices in the region, including President Soeharto's ventures, and
also the contributors to Clinton's 1996 campaign funds. Backman
recounts many incidents from firsthand experience, reflecting the
wealth of knowledge he has accumulated from his extensive time in Asia.
--Neelam Dongha
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
"One of the finest general non-fiction books of the year."--The Economist
"A goldmine of facts...it should be required reading for every foreign banker and fund manager arriving in Southeast Asia."--Philip Bowring, Columnist, International Herald Tribune
"Timely and highly readable, a must for anyone in Asia daring to get into a business deal, make a deposit in teh bank, or even buy a share."--Anthony Paul, Editor-at-Large (Asia), Fortune
"Backman is a keen observer of the Asian scene...This is a hard hitting book. It doesn't hesitate to name Asian names and companies."--Frank Ching, Far Eastern Economic Review
"Asian Eclipse is one of the most enjoyable I have read of the genre...highly readable... any foreign banker or investment manager on the way to a posting in the region would do well to get a copy."--Malcolm Surrey, South China Morning Post
"...a treasure trove of detail...The research and reporting is impressive and up-to-date...a pleasure to read, rich in anecdotes and never boring or academic."--Ricardo Saludo, Asiaweek
"...as a chronicler of Asian corporate practices, Backman has done an admirable job...this is arguably the most entertaining and eye-opening book so far written on corporate cronyims in Asia."--Vikram Khanna, The Business Times (Singapore)
"Backman's brisk analysis...should be required reading. The real strength of Asian Eclipse is its accessbility to non-specialists through its startling insights into the business interests, machinations and relationships...Backman's excellent and extensive case studies are aimed at pointing out the pitfalls of foreign investors."--Gavin Greenwood, The Independent
From the Inside Flap
Asia's vast markets
suggest great promise but many business people and investors have found
only disappointment in the region. Asian Eclipse presents a daring and
entertaining account of the realities of business in Asia today.
The exotic East, the mystical Orient... the book has none of this. Instead Asian Eclipse shines a light of rare intensity on Asia's economies, subjecting them to the degree of scrutiny and transparency that any economies with aspirations of modernity must be prepared to accept.
Among the hard-hitting chapters in this revised paperback edition are:
- An entirely new chapter on the bright and dark side of the Internet and e-commerce in Asia
- The realities of corruption in Asia - Bureaucrats, Bribery, and Bankruptcy
- What's Wrong with Japan?
- China: Rising Star or Black Hole?
- The casinos that are Asia's stock markets
- The corruption and nepotism of Indonesia's senior political families
Other books present only the good news and the cliches - the billion
consumers, the enormous potential - but Asian Eclipse balances the good
news with the dark side, what can and often does go wrong and why. The
cronies, the conglomerates, and the poor corporate governance - the
author is unrelenting in his searching analysis. No one should invest
or attempt business in Asia without first reading Asian Eclipse.
From the Back Cover
"One of the finest general non-fiction books of the year."--The Economist
"A goldmine of facts...it should be required reading for every foreign banker and fund manager arriving in Southeast Asia."--Philip Bowring, Columnist, International Herald Tribune
"Timely and highly readable, a must for anyone in Asia daring to get into a business deal, make a deposit in teh bank, or even buy a share."--Anthony Paul, Editor-at-Large (Asia), Fortune
"Backman is a keen observer of the Asian scene...This is a hard hitting book. It doesn't hesitate to name Asian names and companies."--Frank Ching, Far Eastern Economic Review
"Asian Eclipse is one of the most enjoyable I have read of the genre...highly readable... any foreign banker or investment manager on the way to a posting in the region would do well to get a copy."--Malcolm Surrey, South China Morning Post
"...a treasure trove of detail...The research and reporting is impressive and up-to-date...a pleasure to read, rich in anecdotes and never boring or academic."--Ricardo Saludo, Asiaweek
"...as a chronicler of Asian corporate practices, Backman has done an admirable job...this is arguably the most entertaining and eye-opening book so far written on corporate cronyims in Asia."--Vikram Khanna, The Business Times (Singapore)
"Backman's brisk analysis...should be required reading. The real strength of Asian Eclipse is its accessbility to non-specialists through its startling insights into the business interests, machinations and relationships...Backman's excellent and extensive case studies are aimed at pointing out the pitfalls of foreign investors."--Gavin Greenwood, The Independent
About the Author
Michael Backman is a
leading researcher and written on corporate Asia and is known for his
detailed and uncompromising anlaysis. He writes several regular columns
on corporate Asia and is the author of numerous articles that have
appeared in The Times of London, the International Herald Tribune, the
Asian Wall Street Journal, the Far Eastern Economic Review, the
Melbourne Age, the Australian Financial Review, and the Business Times
of Singapore, among others. He is also the principal author of the
highly acclaimed Overseas Chinese Business Networks in Asia published
by the Australian Government. He is a frequent speaker at international
seminars and conferences and a regular commentator in the media on
business matters.
Mr Backman was trained as an economist. He currently divides his time between Paris and Asia and was born in Australia.
