This book provides a much needed re-examination of the theoretical claims and the empirical foundation of developmental state theory. This theory emerged in response to the failure of both neo-classical economics and dependency theory in accounting for the spectacular economic growth of Japan and other latecomer nations. Asian States argues that regardless of the merits of the developmental state as an explanation of economic growth, it falls far short of being an adequate theory of the state in Asia.

In this book the contributors critically review claims about agency, state-society and state-market relations that shape developmental projects. It broadens the analysis of state involvement in developmental projects and considers the variety of political and social bases for state projects across East and Southeast Asia in a theoretically sensitive, thematic and empirically rich way.