1. Korea Cold War keeps Korea divided. Communist north (Russia), Parliamentary south (American). North Korea hoping to force national unity on communist terms invades the south in 1950. USA organized a UN defense of South Korea that drove back the invading forces.

2. Korea China’s communist government reacted by pushing the Americans southward. Fighting stalemated and ended with a 1953 armistice recognizing a divided Korea. North Korea became an isolated, dictorial state. South Korea allied to USA. Economy flourishes. –Steel and textiles.

3. Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore The nationalist regime (Kuomingtang) under General Chiang Kai-Shek was defeated in China by the communists, it fell back on Taiwan. Chinese imposed authoritarian rule over the majority of Taiwanese. The USA supported Taiwan against China until tensions lessened in the 1960’s.

4. Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore Taiwan achieved economic prosperity. –Agriculture and industrial production. –As time passes, the Taiwanese feel culturally independent from China. They are their own entity. Hong Kong remained a British colony until it returned to Chinese control in 1997. Singapore gains independence in 1959.

5. Politics and Culture Japan’s political approach featured close cooperation between state and business interests. Population growth slowed as the government supported birth control and abortion. Most elements of traditional culture persisted. –Poetry –Painting –Tea ceremonies –Theater –Flower arrangements

6. Economic Surge By the 1980’s, Japan was one of the two or three top economic world powers. Possible by government encouragement, educational expansion and negligible military expenditures. Workers organized in company unions that stressed labor-management cooperation.

7. Economic Surge Company policies provided important benefits to employees, including lifetime employment. Less class-conscious than the West. Leisure life limited. Women’s status remained subject to traditional influences. Competitive situations produced stress that could be relieved by heavy drinking and recourse to geisha houses.