Business Diplomacy Today Podcast

Business Diplomacy Today addresses contemporary international relations and geopolitics, looking at the issues from a business perspective. It helps business leaders anticipate changing political and societal trends, build and leverage political networks and take a proactive stake in societal and political matters that influence their business environment.

Episode #029: Asia After Europe

In Episode 29 Matthias Catón is joined by Sugata Bose, Gardiner Professor of Oceanic History and Affairs at Harvard University. Following Sugata’s recent publication “Asia After Europe: Imagining a Continent in the Long Twentieth Century”, Matthias and him discuss the how Asia’s history has been defined by Europe and what the current century brings.

Matthias and Sugata’s discussion delve into history, identity and European focus in Asia; looking at ideas of Asian countries psot-independence, prospects of a multipolar region and Asia’s need to detach themselves from a Eurocentric vision of universalism.

With Sugata’s expertise in international history, the episode also looks at economic and business implications for the path of Asia, both as a continent and individual countries. Sugata provides his opinions on aggression and conflict in the region, utilising relations between India and China as a prime example.

This episode is valuable for those interested in an analytical view to Asian history – how did colonialism shape Asia? Why did post-colonial states in Asia adopt European values? What do current geopolitical events in the region mean for its future?