This insightful book draws upon a wide range of disciplines - political economy, geography and international relations - to examine how Asia has returned to its central position in the world economy.

As in the case of the hosting of the Olympic games, it is cities rather than states which compete, whether as financial centers, logistical hubs or platforms for coordinating international subcontracting. Analyzing the historical precedents of the Mediterranean maritime republics, the Baltic Sea Hanseatic League and the South China Sea mercantile kingdoms, the book delineates the way stable economic and legal institutions were developed largely beyond the purview of, and at times in conflict with, the State. Discussing the strong link between history and contemporary economic situation, The Asian Mediterranean will appeal to academics, including post-graduates students, of economics, geography, history, regional studies and Asian studies.

作者簡介

作者：（法國）弗朗索瓦·吉普魯（Fraancois Gipouloux） 譯者：龔華燕 龍雪飛

弗朗索瓦·吉普魯（Fraancois Gipouloux）教授為研究中國經濟的專傢，法國國傢科學研究中心主任。先後畢業於巴黎第七大學、北京語言學院、北京大學，曾任法國駐中國大使館商務副專員、香港特區法國現代中國研究中心（CEFC）研究員等多項職務。目前主持法國國傢科學研究院（CNRS）與東京大學共同支持的《人文社會科學的比較方法》研究計劃，同時也負責法國國傢研究署（ANR）支持的《東亞與東南亞的國際貿易中心》研究計劃。已齣版的書籍有：《19與20世紀的東亞》《衰退的日本？》《邁嚮市場經濟的中圍：改革時代的長徵》等。