1. Essay Questions. Choose one from the following.
1. There were both economic miracles and mixed successes (or even complete failures) in Asian
development story. How significant was the role of a leader in changing a country’s future trajectory
against the given domestic and international circumstances? Compare and contrast the role of
political leadership and their government policies for economic development by selecting at least
one successful and one unsuccessful case. What would you have done differently if you were the
leader of the Asian country of your choice at that time? Why?2. Could Asian countries (and Australia) keep their foreign policy sovereignty in the face of the rising
tension between the superpowers such as the United States and China (and to a lesser extent
Russia)? What would be your recommendations to policymakers in the ‘middle-power’ states such
as Australia to navigate the current global turbulence while keeping national sovereignty to protect
national interests?
3. This is an empirical essay. Pick one high-income economy, one middle-income or low-income
