Analysts have been confounded in attempts to explain Asian development, without resources and colonies, without internal violence, and broadly distributing wealth as they have grown. Existing theories of development offer little guidance. Even explanations that look to the special circumstances of Asian countries have their weaknesses. McCord considers some of these ideas, so as to draw from them common themes. He identifies a common group of socioeconomic values and policies shared by most of these nations, and these, he shows, tell us much.