Book Review: Asia
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1478-9299.2007.00132_5.x |
| Date | 01 May 2007 |
| Published date | 01 May 2007 |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
285
matic boundaries, given in the appendix of the
many of the chapters do not shy away from pre-
book, invite for a reinterpreting of ideological
senting social and historical reasoning to explain
party constellations identified in earlier expert
the difficulties in using foreign models in the
surveys. In sum,Warwick’s study adds a new per-
Chinese context – which often is the fault of
spective to the analysis on coalition politics that
many books of this kind.
combines rational choice and behaviouralist
The latter chapters deal with approaches to
perspectives.
strategic management.The Li et al. chapter is very
instructive in discussing the practicalities of util-
Marc Debus
ising guanxi as a structured marketing approach.
(Konstanz University)
Williamson, on the other hand, attempts to tease
out a comparison between China and the UK,
with respect to examining the interaction of man-
We welcome short reviews of books in all
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politicalstudiesreview.org/.
cusses differences in domestic business styles
in three major centres, Beijing, Shanghai and
Guangzhou.
The sheer pace of change in China’s manage-
Asia
ment and regulatory environment means that
the high degree of specificity drawn from this
Challenges for China’s Development: An
edited book may not be relevant in the near
Enterprise Perspective by David H. Brown
future. Yet, there are important and useful dia-
and Alasdair MacBean (eds). Abingdon:
logues, tangible advice and, for many chapters,
Routledge, 2005. 180pp., £80.00, ISBN 0 415
insightful domestic perspectives, which will be
34133 7
beneficial for academics and businesspeople who
China’s present reforms have been conducted
want to be immersed in the dialogue of China’s
against the backdrop of rapid economic growth
development from a public and private enter-
and social change. Tangibly, this means Chinese
prise standpoint.
enterprises must likewise quicken to the pace of
Reza Hasmath
reform. Set in this background, Brown and
(University of Cambridge)
MacBean bring together practitioners and schol-
ars to examine present and future trends in China
from a management perspective. Based on contri-
Clan Politics and Regime Transition in
butions from a 2003 conference, throughout
Central Asia by Kathleen Collins. Cambridge:
eleven chapters, topics such as State Own Enter-
Cambridge
University
Press,
2006. 376pp.,
prise (SOE) reforms, corporate governance, value
£50.00, $90.00, ISBN 0 521 83950 5
creation and organisation culture are discussed in
depth.
The post-communist trajectories of Central Asian
The first few chapters highlight issues of cor-
states have befuddled a number of commentators.
porate governance and the subsequent problems
The reason for such confusion has more often
of achieving an adequate level. Wei-qi and
than not been associated with the difficulty of
Lawton’s chapter on SOE reform and governance
conceptualizing the informal political actors per-
is particularly useful in clarifying the main prob-
vading the regional social, economic and political
lems, but also suggesting practical and realistic
relations. In this respect, Collins has provided
reforms within the domestic framework. In fact,
probably the most sophisticated account to date of
© 2007 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2007 Political Studies Association
Political Studies Review: 2007, 5(2)
286
A S I A
the clan networks spanning the Central Asian
to all those fascinated by the dynamics of post-
states.While establishing the relationship between
Soviet transitions and comparative politics.
clan politics and the entrenchment of authoritar-
Emilian Kavalski
ian regimes in the region, she also traces the
(University of Alberta)
historical and conceptual context of such infor-
mal networks.
Seeing the State: Governance and Govern-
Collins’ achievements, therefore, derive from
mentality in India by Stuart Corbridge,
her decision to take the notion of ‘clan’ seriously.
Glyn Williams, Manoj Srivastava and René
In this respect her book makes two main
Véron. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,
contributions. On the one hand, she elaborates
2005. 317pp., £19.99, ISBN 0 5215 4255 3
the relevance of the meanings and practices of
clan politics to the general literature on political
Since the publication of Barbara Harriss-White’s
science. On the other, while observers of Central
fascinating book, India Working, there is an emerg-
Asian politics have used the term descriptively,
ing field of study in social science that may
Collins applies it analytically and establishes its
be termed economic anthropology. Economic
conceptual clarity to the dynamic contexts of the
anthropology is a micro-level analysis of the chal-
region. Clan networks, thereby, are presented as
lenges of economic liberalisation that local-level
neither exotic, nor primordial, nor inherently
actors face in an era of globalisation.This work is
undemocratic. Instead, they reflect idiosyncratic
a notable...
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