The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. LXXI, Part 1-2, 1983 - Khamkoo

214 J e.lf rey Sng
David Wurfel notes, jn· a very interesting paper, that if we compare the
Philippines wi~h Thailand a~d Malaysia, eCQnomic growth has b~en the slowest for the
former in both the 60s and the 70s. Eve!l though the Philippines is the most indus-·
trialized of the three countries, growth .in manufacturing has been the poorest too.
However, the author suggests that economic performance is less likely to provide a
basis for legitimacy in the Philippines than in Thailand or Malaysia.
I
Chapter v_ on Southest Asia and . Canada is likely to be more interesting to
Canadians than to Southeast Asians and, among Canadians, to officials more than the
general intellectual public. . The final chapter on China and Southeast Asia is potentially
more interesting to Southeast Asian intellectuals and officials than .Canadians,
although Kwok B. Chan's paper seems to have been written more for Canadian
consumption since Southeast Asians won't find anything new in the paper. He Zhao
Fa's paper on the state of Southeast Asian Studies in.China is informative. However,
one should note that Chinese academies are probably among the least knowledgeable .
about Southeast Asia. The Chinese political leadership has access·to more reliable and
intimate information from overseas Chinese occupying strategic positions in the social
and economic fabric of Southeast Asian countries.
Singapore
· . Jeffrey S11g
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