Information Regimes During the Cold War in East Asia

The Information Regime is a concept developed by Morgan and his contributors to understand the use, abuse, and control of information in East Asia during the Cold War period. Information regimes were not state-centric and many of the contributors to this book focus on examples that were not so, allowing us to see that the East Asian Cold War was not really cold but was the epicentre of an active, contentious birth of information as the defining element of human interaction.

Format: Hardback
Length: 190 pages
Publication date: 13 October 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In the context of the Cold War, Morgan and his contributors introduce the concept of the Information Regime to gain a deeper understanding of the utilization, misuse, and control of information in East Asia. The Cold War itself underwent a transformative shift, as did the art of statecraft. Information emerged as the most valuable commodity, playing a pivotal role in societies worldwide. This was particularly evident in East Asia, where the military alliances established after World War II were put to rigorous tests. The adversarial relations between the United States and the Soviet Union, as well as internal pressures within their alliances, ultimately led to the People's Republic of China's departure from Moscow. During the 1950s and 1960s, Japan appeared poised to shift its allegiance away from Washington.

However, it is important to note that information regimes are not solely state-centric, as emphasized by several contributors to this book. By focusing on examples that deviate from this norm, we gain a broader perspective that reveals the East Asian Cold War as a vibrant and contentious birthplace of information as the defining element of human interaction.

This book serves as a valuable resource for historians specializing in East Asia and the evolution of information management in the twentieth century. It sheds light on the complex dynamics of information warfare, the role of propaganda, and the strategies employed by governments to shape public opinion and control information dissemination. By examining the Information Regime in East Asia, scholars can gain a deeper appreciation of the historical context and the enduring impact of information on shaping world events.

Weight: 466g
Dimension: 162 x 240 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367499433