Asian-Nation : Asian American News, Issues, & Current Events Blog

Academic Version: Applying my personal experiences and academic research as a professor of Sociology and Asian American Studies to provide a more complete understanding of political, economic, and cultural issues and current events related to American race relations, and Asia/Asian America in particular.

Plain English: Trying to put my Ph.D. to good use.

April 9, 2006

Written by C.N.

Asian Workers in the Middle East

For many Asian workers, their dream of a new and prosperous life do not lie in the U.S., but instead, in the oil-rich countries of the Middle East, such as the United Arab Emirates. But similar to what many migrant workers to the U.S. eventually learn, the reality is sometimes much different from their idealistic hopes:

When hundreds of workers angered Read More →

April 6, 2006

Written by C.N.

Hines Wardâ€™s Effect on Korean Society

Many cultures around the world display certain elements of ethnocentrism, as their citizens may feel that their ethnic group is superior to other racial, ethnic, or cultural groups. But in South Korea, one of their “adopted” and “homegrown” heroes, Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver Hines Ward, is causing Koreans to take a hard, critical look at their ethnocentrism:

even as Koreans Read More →

April 5, 2006

Written by C.N.

Viet Nam Becoming Too Capitalistic

It is rather ironic that one of the last remaining capitalist countries is being criticized for abandoning communist principles by its own citizens. That is apparently what’s happening in Viet Nam, where workers are protesting the erosion of worker rights and socialist ideals as the government focuses on joining the globalized capitalist economy:

In Vietnam, workers across the nation are organizing Read More →

April 4, 2006

Written by C.N.

Japan Suspends Loans to China

In a sign of the increasingly tense and even hostile relationship between the two Asian superpowers, Japan just announced that it will indefinitely cease providing loans to Japan:

Ties between Japan and China have deteriorated sharply in the past year. The two are feuding over maritime gas deposits, interpretations of World War II history and other issues. Japanese aid to China has Read More →

April 2, 2006

Written by C.N.

Asian Automakers in the U.S.

I’ve written before about Toyota being the first “foreign” automaker to compete in NASCAR, the “all-American” racing series. Despite Toyota and other Asian car companies having several factories in the U.S. that employ tens of thousands of workers, many Americans will forever consider them a foreign (and therefore ‘un-American’) company. Well, a new Christian Science Monitor article argues that Read More →

March 30, 2006

Written by C.N.

Hong Kong Movies Banned in China

Even though Hong Kong is technically a part of China these days, in many ways, the two lands remain separated from each other. One area in which that is plain to see is in regard to how many movies that are box office hits in Hong Kong are never shown in China:

Supernatural films are a staple genre in the Hong Read More →

March 29, 2006

Written by C.N.

Post-War Tensions Among Vietnamese Americans

In many ways, the legacy of the Viet Nam War still haunts the Vietnamese American community. As a result of their political refugee experiences, many Vietnamese remain strongly anti-communist and as a result, react fiercely at any hint that a fellow Vietnamese may potentially harbor any form of sympathy for communism. An intra-community squabble in St. Paul, MN illustrates Read More →

March 28, 2006

Written by C.N.

Leaving Kids Alone at Home

For many Korean parents, it’s common to leave their kids at home alone while they’re at work or running errands, etc. But as you can probably imagine, the norms about leaving kids at home here in the U.S. are much different. As the Pacific News Service reports, this cultural disparity has resulted in some serious consequences:

Often many immigrant families Read More →

March 26, 2006

Written by C.N.

Justice in Chinese Deliveryman Murder Case

Back in 2004, in the process of delivering a $10 Chinese takeout order, an 18 year old Chinese American deliveryman was lured into an apartment and then repeatedly beaten and stabbed to death by three young men. These three men were subsequently found guilty of murder and two of them were recently sentenced to more than 50 years in prison:

Prosecutors Read More →

March 23, 2006

Written by C.N.

Japan: World Baseball Classic Champions

Congratulations to Japan for beating Cuba and winning the inaugural World Baseball Classic championship. This was a tournament that included many of the best all-star players from around the world, with the U.S. fielding its own team of superstars (who ultimately and embarrassingly lost in the quarterfinals):

Despite having only two major leaguers, Japan won the tournament. Despite having no major Read More →

March 21, 2006

Written by C.N.

British Asian Divorcees and Technology

Divorced British Asians, much like their Asian American counterparts, are frequently caught between two worlds — their traditional Asian culture and contemporary British culture on the other. When British Asian marriages end in divorce, the divorcees frequently encounter a social stigma and ostracism from their Asian communities. That’s where technology and the Internet come in to help:

“The Asian success Read More →

March 19, 2006

Written by C.N.

Japan’s Proposed Anti-Discrimination Law

I’ve written before (see here and here, for example) that in many strange ways, Japan seems set on politically and culturally isolating itself from its Asian neighbors and in fact, on antagonizing them at almost every opportunity. Thankfully, a new proposed comprehensive law prohibiting discrimination against ethnic minorities in Japan seeks to point Japan in the opposite direction:

Japan’s constitution already Read More →

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April 9, 2006

Written by C.N.

April 6, 2006

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April 5, 2006

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April 4, 2006

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April 2, 2006

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March 30, 2006

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March 29, 2006

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March 28, 2006

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March 26, 2006

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March 23, 2006

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March 21, 2006

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March 19, 2006

Written by C.N.