Word: cohenable
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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...
...Cohen is a Distinguished University Professor of History at University of Maryland with an extensive background in Asian-American relations, having published several works on the subject, including America’s Response to China (2000) and East Asia at the Center (2000). Cohen based his latest work, The Asian American Century, on the Reischauer Lectures he delivered at Harvard in April 2000. In a compact 150 pages, Cohen attempts to breeze through three hefty topics: the history of American intervention in East Asia, the “Americanization” of East Asian culture, and finally...
...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 abroad have adapted McDonald’s to suit local cultural tastes. In fact, these fast food chains have become so integrated into Chinese society...
Other voluntary American imports include baseball, art, jazz, Hollywood and missionaries. Cohen asserts that American efforts to impose cultural change in Asia have failed, but does cite Japan as a positive example of forced “Americanization.” Though he admts that some Japanese are saddened at the loss of native culture, he argues that “we must remember what the Japanese have gained as part of their Americanization: the right to think critically, to read whatever they want, to choose whatever mix of cultures they please. Obviously, they think the price is right...
...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...