A fascinating and engaged polemic that addresses issues of East Asian politics, especially as they involve the United States. Examining international politics through the optic of cultural relations, the author uses East Asia to develop notions of 'moral realism,' 'cultural realism,' and 'postmodern realism' that are more post-western than anti-western. In this way, he regains a critical edge often lost in current cultural studies scholarship.

- William Callahan, University of Durham,

A powerful work as well as a masterful polemic against received interpretations of contemporary East and Southeast Asia. This is a powerhouse of a book that will undoubtedly open a sorely needed debate on the state of the world.

- Jonathan Friedman, directeur d'études, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris; professor of social anthropology, Lund University,

A compelling blend of astute political analysis based on a detailed understanding of different political regimes and processes in Asia. Fire on the Rim should be read by everybody who has a serious concern with democracy and social justice as necessary preconditions of sustainable economic development.

- Bryan Turner, University of Cambridge,