Asian Economic Miracle

The Asian Economic Miracle refers to the development and industrialization of backward
countries in East Asia. With this term, the "Four Asian Tigers" which includes Taiwan, Hong
Kong, South Korea, and Singapore are recognized and popular.
In the 1960s, the global economy began to recover from its collapse during World War II
and the Korean War in 1950-1953. The emergence of advanced technology,
telecommunications, and the development of water and air transportation has provided great
benefits and advantages to the "Four Asian Tigers".
The Four Asian Tigers are also called the Four Asian Dragons. Each of these countries
has its own characteristics such as high savings rates, an educated population, and focus on
exports.
The governments of Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore have not
hesitated to invest in industrialization. They provided tax incentives to foreign investors who
wanted to invest in them, they also built industrial estates that resulted in the growth of their
respective economies. And most importantly, these governments ensure the compulsory
education of the youth in their respective countries to ensure the future of the labor force.
Eventually, these countries will become exporters of items from toys and textiles to person al
technology and plastics.
Hong Kong was formerly a colony of the United Kingdom and now a Chinese Special
Administrative Region. Hong Kong's economy really began to take shape in the 1950s, and was
named the first country in the "Four Asian Tiger". Low wages for workers or better known as
cheap labor and tax incentives to foreign investors have encouraged large companies to invest
in this country. In the mid-1980s, the Hong Kong government developed city-wide constructions
including public housing, commuter train lines, and skyscrapers funded by the city-state's new-
found wealth. In the mid-1980s Hong Kong's economy grew and its Gross Domestic Products
(GDP) hit 180 times. Because of this it was formerly called world's wealthiest country.
Government support, lack of debt and strong regulation of political institutions mean its
economy continues to grow.
The second country in the "Four Asian Dragons" is Singapore. Singapore is a
parliamentary representative republic. Similar to Hong Kong, Singapore's economic growth and
development took root and began in the world of finance. Its ports are impressive and its
position on the Asian continent is also very strategic. Due to its good position, the Singapore
government and its institutions have easily made Singapore the capital of the trade hub in Asia.
As a matter of fact, from the mid-1980s to the present, Singapore has been one of the world’s
foremost currency exchange centers and foreign investment continues to increase year by year.
So far, Singapore has the largest Gross Domestic Products (GDP) in the "Four Asian Tigers".
The third country in the "Four Asian Tigers" is Taiwan. The Taiwanese government has
offered types of assistance in the nation with full exertion and has shown laws and projects so
as to improve and deal with the nation's rapid development. Taiwan has been governed by the
Republic of China since the finish of World War II in 1945. Taiwan’s closeness to China has
allowed the island to flourish together with its neighboring countries. Chinese investors have
played a big role in Taiwan's economic growth. As a result, the government of Taiwan was able
to build high speed trains which is an advancement in transportation, skyscrapers and a stable
educational system. In the 1960s Taiwan's GDP alone was $ 170, it doubled in the 1970's and
doubled in the 1980s. Currently, Taiwan's Gross Domestic Product is reaching $ 22,469.
Although it is not the most developed economy in the four countries, it is the most notable
growth in the "Four Asian Tigers".
The fourth country in the Asian Tigers is South Korea. In 1960 the second republic in
South Korea was established with a democratic ruling. This country was formerly an agricultural
country. In the 20th century, South Korea was spent much on modern driving industries such as
robotics, software development, and electronics. According to the World Bank South Korea's
Gross Domestic Products grew by 10% per year between the 1960s, 1980s and 1995.
Currently, it is recognized as one of the most advanced economies on the Asian continent.

The collapse of the USSR and other Eastern European regimes

The collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and its allies in Eastern Europe
gave US Capitalist and Imperialist a chance to dominate the world.
One of the key factors in the collapse of the Soviet Union and its allies was the policies
and reforms of Michael Gorbachev. Michael Gorbachev abandoned the Brezhnev Doctrine
which said that the Soviet Union (along with its military) had to intervene in socialist countries
under threat. Michael Gorbachev instead established the Sinatra Doctrine as opposed to the
Brezhnev Doctrine in which the Soviet Union allowed countries including its Warsaw Pact allies
to define and form their own form of government. Michael Gorbachev's Sinatra Doctrine is the
biggest reason why the USSR and its allies in Eastern Europe dissolved and collapsed.
Michael Gorbachev's other policies such as 'Glasnost' and 'Perestroika' also led to the
collapse of the Soviet Union and its allied nations. Glasnost is a policy of open discussion of
social and political issues that began with the democratization of the USSR. Perestroika, on the
other hand, is a political and economic policy. As a result of this policy, economic control
became decentralized and brought the Soviet Union into the same economy as capitalist
countries such as Japan, Germany, and the United States.
Gorbachev's policy of "Glasnost" and "Perestroika" was indeed a major factor in the
collapse of the USSR. The economy of the Soviet Union really weakened especially its military
strength as the US economy and military strength continued to rise and grow. The goal of
glasnost and perestroika (openness and restructuring) is to promote economic development in
the Soviet Union through freedom in daily life. But the opposite happened, instead of the
economy growing, it weakened and did not change anything. The freedoms granted by
Gorbachev such as freedom of speech were used to expose his misfortunes. Poverty in
Gorbachev's time was revealed. Gorbachev's policy of "Glasnost" and "Perestroika" was indeed
a major factor in the collapse of the USSR. The economy of the Soviet Union really weakened
especially its military strength as the US economy and military strength continued to rise and
grow. The goal of glasnost and perestroika (openness and restructuring) is to promote
economic development in the Soviet Union through freedom in daily life. But the opposite
happened, instead of the economy growing, it weakened and did not change anything. The
freedoms granted by Gorbachev such as freedom of speech were used to expose his
misfortunes. Poverty in Gorbachev's time was revealed.
The fall of the Berlin wall marked the fall of communism in Eastern Europe. Reforms and
revisions to communism also arose. In Poland, strikes and rebellions against communism
spread. After the rebellion in Poland, Slovaks and Czechs Czechoslovakia also demanded
political reform. The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia has been transferred to the Havel
government. The Communist Parties Bulgaria and Albania also ended and lost control to the
east. Another reason for the collapse of communism in the USSR and its allies in eastern
Europe was the war in Afghanistan in 1979. The USSR besieged Afghanistan to support
communism in that country. Ronald Reagan as president of the United States in 1980 really
hated the Soviet Union and even compared it to the empire of evil.
The United States saw that the USSR could not stand its support for Afghanistan so
America made modern weapons such as missiles to sink the USSR economy and backed away
from supporting Afghanistan. Gorbachev realized that they could no longer continue and
support the war, so the USSR soldiers withdrew. Gorbachev has been in contact with the United
States to limit the amounts of nuclear weapons being manufactured to save money and revive
the economy.
Aside from the collapse of the Berlin wall, Gorbachev was the main reason why
communism had already collapsed in the USSR and Eastern Europe. Gorbachev's rule in the
USSR was flawed, causing its people to turn away from communist ideology. Due to the reform
and revisionism, the USSR and communism were completely dissolved in Eastern Europe and
the US capitalist and imperialist took control.

Third wave of democracy

In 1970s, 1980s up to 1990s, more than 30 countries in Latin America, southern Europe, East
Asia, and Eastern Europe moved from authoritarian to democratic systems of government. This
worldwide democratic revolution is likely the most significant political phenomenon in the late
20th century. In The 3rd Wave of democracy, Samuel P. Huntington breaks down the causes of
these democratic transitions, assesses the possibilities for strength of the new democratic
governments, and investigates the chance of more countries getting democratic rule.
Countries in the 3rd wave of democratization have presented competitive elections before
launching basic institutions of a contemporary state such as institutions of civil society, the rule
of law, and the accountability of government officials.
The third wave of democratization took root in the 1970s in southern Europe including Portugal,
Spain, and Greece until it spread to Latin America. In Ecuador, the military withdrew and had
elections in 1971 and formed a civilian government. After a few years, Peru had a civilian
government and elected a civilian president. In the early 1980s, Argentina, Bolivia, El Salvador,
Honduras, Uruguay, and Brazil also moved to democracy. In the late 1980s, Asian countries
were also affected by the third wave of democratization and they followed this system of
governance.

What specific reactions were developed by political scientists and scholars in line with
their approach to the field? Elucidate and outline examples.
The reaction of some comparativists in line to this study is their conclusion on how the system of
government is changing through political leaders, institutions and the support of the people. For
example, the collapse of the USSR. According to the study, it collapsed due to the revisionism
of its leader and reform of policies contrary to the communist leadership. The institution
weakened and the people lost support.
Another example of revisionism is communism in China. In 1949, it was a stable socialist
country but in 1978 there were economic reforms that almost embraced capitalism.