This collection of academic papers investigates the tension between traditional cultural frameworks and the adoption of modern administrative styles in the political leadership of various Asian nations. The volume, edited by A. R. Davis and convened by J. D. Legge, compiles scholarly contributions from the 28th International Congress of Orientalists held in Canberra in 1971. The contributors utilize historical analysis and comparative political theory to examine how established societal norms influence the efficacy and structure of contemporary governance in the region.

The subject matter points to a dense, specialist text intended for academics and researchers interested in the intersection of political science and regional history. The framing suggests a formal, scholarly contribution to the study of political modernization during the post-colonial era.