This lively and accessible new text provides a uniquely broad-ranging introduction to the governance and politics of Pacific Asia. Thematically structured around the key institutions and issues, it is genuinely comparative in its approach to the whole region. A range of representative countries (China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines) are used as key case examples throughout and each of them is subject to a detailed full-page country profile. Key features include: * 'Pacific Asia in Context' - comparisons with other parts of the world * 'Country Profiles' - essential facts on Pacific Asian countries * Boxed, on-page definitions for key terms * Annotated lists of further reading for each chapter * Study questions for each chapter . This diverse region is a fascinating area for study. Politics in Pacific Asia provides a framework to form a coherent understanding of the region's politics; it balances persistent patterns with the latest developments and general characteristics with the differing cultures, histories and institutions of individual countries.