Ian Buruma's God's Dust: A Modern Asian Journey is an exploration of the effects of Westernization and development on eight nations of Asia. Buruma uses the differences between "the village" and "the city" to symbolize the effects of Western development and progress (mainly in the city) on the native culture (mainly represented by the village). The basic question of the book is "What happens to people when the loyalties and traditions of the village break down and are replaced by the complexities of the modern world [as symbolized by the City]"? (xii). In general, Buruma believes that development, progress, and political change (especially change leading toward democracy) have had balanced results in these Asian nations. He writes of the despair of one Thai woman with respect to Westernization and the resultant "loss of traditional values, the destruction of the Village, the emptiness of capitalist development" (60), etc. But Buruma says this is a negative simplification of what has actually happened:
For every image of loss can be countered with an example of gain. The mountains of Khao Kor have no trees, but the political destiny of Thailand is no longer decided by gunfire in the mountains. More and more, it is decided by debate, choice, politics. . . . Thais have lost something in their quest for material well-being. But they have managed to retain the thing that is most precious to them, their self-respect (60).
Buruma's attitude is one of acceptance of what has happened to these nations. He means to counter the argument that Westernization and development have thoroughly corrupted Asia, changing everything for the worse, destroying the native culture (the Village) and supplanting it with Western values, products, ideals and politics (the City). In place of such criticism, Buruma argues that all change brings some negative effect, that overall the effect has been positive, that the culture generally prevails in the attitude...