East Asia is an area now attracting much interest internationally, not least because of the growing economic importance of the region. Taking economic development and the international environment in twentieth century East Asia as its major theme, the volume presents native views of the historical changes and transitions which have occurred in East Asia since the nineteenth century. Looking at the introduction of Western ideas to East Asia and the pursuit of cultural identity, the volume examines the ideals, conflicts and strategy in East Asia during the 1920's and 1930's. Including many papers from Asian scholars, this collection supplies fascinating insights into aspects of East Asian economic development which will interest scholars in a variety of related fields and provoke further research and debate.