An Overview of Asia

Overview of Asia
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Overview of Asia
* The Demographics of Asia
Asia is known as the largest continent across the globe. Recent data show that the population in Asia consists of 4,641,054,775 people and changes by 0.86 increase yearly. The total fertility rate in Asia is 2.1. It represents the aggregate number of children that a woman should give birth to for all generations to replace themselves without requiring global immigration. A value above 2.1 will cause the population to increase significantly, while a value below 2.1 will result in a rapid decline in the native population. The total fertility rate in Asia has significantly reduced (ASai Demographics, 2023). For instance, in 1955, the fertility rate was 5.8 births per woman. In 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, and 2000, the total fertility rate was 5.6 births, 5.8 births, 5.7 births, 5.1 births, 4.1 births, 3.7 births, 3.5 births, 2.9 births, and 2.6 births per woman respectively. Also, in 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, the total fertility rate was 2.4, 2.3, and 2.2. and 2.2 births per woman, respectively.
The life expectancy at birth for both sexes in Asia combined is 74.2 years. It represents 76.4 years of life expectancy at birth for females and 72.1 years of life expectancy at birth for males. The life expectancy at birth in Asia has been continuously increasing. For instance, the life expectancy for both sexes in 1950 was 42.3 years, representing a life expectancy at birth of 43.2 years for females and 41.5 years for males (Asia Demographics, 2023). In 1955, the life expectancy for both sexes was 44.6 years, representing a life expectancy of 45.6 and 43.7 years for females and males, respectively. In 1960, the life expectancy for both sexes, for females and males, was 46.5, 47.4, and 45.6 years respectively. The life expectancy at birth for both sexes, for females and males, in 1970 was 56.4, 57.5, and 55.3 years respectively. Moreover, the life expectancy at birth in 1975 for both sexes, females and males, was 59.2, 60.5, and 58.0 years respectively. In 1980, the life expectancy at birth for both sexes was 61.5, 63.0, and 60.0 years respectively. In 1985, the life expectancy at birth for both sexes, females and males, was 63.5, 65.0, and 62.0 years respectively. The life expectancy at birth for both sexes, females and males, in 1990 were 65.0, 66.7, and 63.4 years respectively. In 1995, the life expectancy at birth for both sexes, females and males, was 66.6, 68.5, and 64.8 years respectively. Moreover, the life expectancy at birth in Asia for both sexes, females and males, in 2000 was 68.3, 70.1, and 66.7 years respectively (Asia Demographics, 2023). In 2005, the life expectancy at birth for both sexes, females and males 70.0 years, 72.0 years, and 68.2 years respectively. In 2010, the life expectancy at birth for both sexes, females and males, was 71.8, 74.0, and 69.8 years respectively. The life expectancy at birth for both sexes, females and males, was 73.3, 75.5, and 71.3 years respectively. Lastly, the life expectancy in 2020 for both sexes, females and males, was 74.2, 76.4, and 72.1 years respectively.
The infant mortality rate was 21.8 per 1000 live births. The deaths of children below five years were 26.9 per 1,000 births in 2020. Since 1950, the infant mortality rate and deaths of children below five years have decreased (Asia Demographics, 2023). For instance, in 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, the infant mortality rate in Asia was 154.53, 144.53, 136.41, 112.82, 100.04, 89.61, 77.95, 67.48, 62.21, 54.55, 45.8, 37.11, 29.5, 24.93, and 21.75 per 1,000 live births. On the other hand, the deaths of children aged below five years old in 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 were 234.32, 216.93, 204.8, 167.4, 143.78, 127.36, 108.9, 92.82, 84.28, 73.07, 59.97, 47.27, 36.72, 30.74, and 26.86 deaths per 1,000 live births.
The urban population in Asia has been increasing since 1955. Approximately 47% of the population in Asia lives in urban areas, which accounts for 2,174,484,000 people. Asia's population density in 2019 was 148 individuals per Km2.
* The Political Systems of East Asian Countries
The countries in East Asia are China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, North Korea, and Mongolia. The political systems of East Asian countries are understood by focusing more on the party system because the bureaucratic and military organizations have significant roles to play in politics (Newman, 2014). The political systems of East Asian countries have focused mainly on the unitary power centers (Yung-Myung, 2003). The political systems are known as the unipolar systems related to how political power and institutions are organized. The East Asian countries have a unitary political power. The power concentrates on one center and has an individual ruler, a coalition of economic, bureaucratic, and political elites, and a monolithic party. The unitary power center is challenged from within or without the power center. However, East Asia's power center has been strong enough to sustain and control its basic resources despite the various changes in numerous instances.
The East Asian Countries sustain the unipolar systems between the society and state and within the ruling bloc. The power is concentrated in the contemporary apparatus, enabling the East Asian states to regulate and manage the fragmented and underdeveloped civil society successfully.
The communist systems of some East Asian Countries such as China, North Korea, and Vietnam are concentrated in a monolithic party that is interconnected with the state and dominates and controls the civil society. The capitalist countries in East Asia are Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan (Yung-Myung, 2003). The countries took a leadership role in implementing economic development programs, which rendered the "developmental state" concept a powerful analytical equipment for expounding the countries' political economy. Therefore, the political systems in East Asia comprise similar characteristics of power concentration within the groups holding power.
The unipolar systems in East Asia are classified into the one-party regime, personal or one-person rule regime, oligarchical unipolar system, and soft versus hard authoritarian regimes. The one-party regime is a political system whereby a single political party, known as the quasi-Leninist or Leninist, dominates a country and society. The one-party regime is grouped into Nationalist and communist (Yung-Myung, 2003). Vietnam, North Korea, and China belong to the one communist group, while Taiwan and Singapore belong to the Nationalists. The personal or one-person rule regime is a political regime whereby one individual controls other institutions, political parties, and power. This type of political system abounded in the least developed economies in East Asia countries. For example, South Korea has been a dominant party since the liberal party was established in 1951.
The Oligarchical Unipolar System applies to the Japanese political system because it has developed a defective liberal-democratic organization. Although Japan has a pluralistic political regime which is known as a liberal democratic power, Japan's power is mainly concentrated and distributed in small conservative circles. Thus the Japanese regime is well known as unipolar. Soft versus hard authoritarian regimes is differentiated from totalitarianism and democracy (Yung-Myung, 2003). It is well known as a system with low levels of citizens' political participation and the state's penetration into society. The soft and hard authoritarianism systems comprise persuasion, material incentives, and propaganda as the main political and social control methods. On the other hand, hard authoritarians utilize more extensive and explicit physical repression for political and social control.
* Economies of East Asian Countries
East Asia has experienced increased levels of industrialization, enabling the countries to progress from low to middle economies. The East Asian countries have successfully addressed the developmental challenges experienced by other developing countries. Since the start of the 20th century, rapid changes have been identified in nations such as Japan, Taiwan, China, and South Korea, representing East Asia as the largest and best economies (Sahut & Teulon, 2021). The countries have attained success by implementing effective developmental strategies and utilizing their policies in different regions, which portrays success in these countries (Jun 2012). Most of the success in these countries is connected to outward industr...