Word: cohenã
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...Cohen??s second premise relies on his appraisal of the past century’s Asian-American relations. According to Cohen, America first established its role as the dominant power in East Asia when it defeated Japan after WWII, followed by involvement in Taiwan, South Korea and Vietnam. From this brief historical run-through, Cohen comes to the sanguine conclusion that “America, despite all the faults of which we who live in it are aware, remains a beacon of liberty and prosperity to the people of East Asia, as to much of the rest...
...prominent themes underlie Cohen??s analysis of America’s historical, cultural and political influence on Asia. First, he claims that the popularity of American culture in Asia did not occur through coercion but was a choice made Asians themselves, who “manipulated Americans as best they could, and selected those parts of American culture they believed would improve the quality of their lives.” As evidence, Cohen cites James L. Watson’s well-known study of McDonald’s in East Asia, Golden Arches East. Watson argues that countries...
Obviously, it cannot be denied that some of America’s involvement in Asia was beneficial. But this observation is not particularly compelling, and Cohen??s oversimplification of the issue ultimately undermines its merit. It seems like Cohen??s picture of American involvement in East Asia is overly optimistic, glossing over complicating conflicts and problems. Nor does Cohen adequately address why America has strayed from its supposed role as the liberator in Asia. His lack of support invites skepticism and prevents him from making a truly unique contribution to the discourse on Asia-America relations...
...rival the popularity of Britney Spears in Asia? Whereas American culture in Asia is seen as a force of modernization, it seems that Asian culture in America is limited to the realm of kitschy pop culture, like the Chinese characters and designs that bombard shoppers at Urban Outfitters. Cohen??s desire to demonstrate the growing Asian influence on America often leads to exaggeration...
...Though Cohen??s attempt to address the interactions between Asian and American cultures is admirable, the task is too formidable and complicated to be contained in a book of this short length. The work’s brevity and broad scope undermine its ability to delve into the complexities that constitute the raw material for making a compelling argument on Asia-American relations...