Malaysia and the Developing World

As Malaysia's economy grows and flourishes, strong new links are being forged with other developing countries in the region and beyond. This book traces the ways in which age-old organizational, political, religious and trade networks between Nusantara, the Malay World, and Central Asia, East Africa and the Middle East have changed in recent years. The book argues that these old links are being revived by new forms of globalization, modernization and knowledge transfer that are developing and implementing non-western models of governance, often in direct reference to Islam. The book goes on to explain how, as Malaysia develops new links with Indian Ocean countries, many of them Muslim countries, a new style trading network is being formed, a network with Islamic characteristics, which echoes Indian Ocean Islamic trading networks of earlier times. The book provides detailed case studies of Malaysia's trade links with Indonesia, Egypt, Pakistan and Central Asia, and concludes by assessing how Malaysia's new style network is likely to develop and influence wider global networks. Written with a depth of knowledge reflective of the author's many years of research throughout the area, this book gives a real insight into how Malaysia's mentalities, traditions and ways of thinking are being applied to its interactions with its immediate neighbours and the wider world.