Outposts of Empire Korea, Vietnam and the Origins of the Cold War in Asia, 1949-1954 bySteven Hugh Lee

Outposts of Empire Korea, Vietnam and the Origins of the Cold War in Asia, 1949-1954 by Steven Hugh Lee discusses the United States's attempt to set up an informal empire in Asia after World War II. An informal empire is where instead of direct Imperial control client states are set up who will follow the lead of the Imperial power. The book describes the outcome of these processes in South Korea and again in Vietnam before 1954. The book contrasts American attempts with forming this client state system with a actions of the British and Canadians.

This is one of the few books to consider Canadian foreign-policy outside of an internal perspective predominantly written by Canadians naturally. The author has done a substantial amount of archival research both Canada in the US.

The Americans had problems in setting up their client state system particularly with the South Koreans who often did things that the Americans did not appreciate. After the cease-fire was set up the Americans decided to exert control over the South Korean economy through control boards. This sort of nondiplomatic control is rarely mentioned in the literature.

An excellent book highly recommended.