Michael Backman

Michael Backman (born 19 September 1967) is an Australian-born writer who now resides in London.

Much of his writing relates to Asia's economies, business, culture and politics.

Michael Backman has written widely about the ills faced by Asia's economies, arguing for greater scrutiny and transparency and denouncing official corruption.

He argues that a free and well-resourced media is one way in which greater transparency and accountability can be brought about.

His bluntness coupled with his knowledge of Asia has drawn both public praise and opprobrium from political leaders and others in Asia.

Another recurring theme of Backman's is that business people seeking to do business in Asia must understand the cultural and political context of Asia and not just business per se.

Accordingly, his books have included chapters on the role of women in Asia, Islam, executions, and so on.

Another theme is that Asian leaders must be accountable for their actions - to the citizens they are supposed to serve and that this is best guaranteed by an independent judiciary and a free media.

Backman's main book on corporate governance in Asia – Asian Eclipse – was described by one commentator in Hong Kong's South China Morning Post as "the most corrosive, devastating attack on Asian business practices I've ever seen. It was a real eye opener. I thought it was amazing stuff."

Backman has said that legal advice prevented him from going even further.

The Economist named it as one of the "finest" non-fiction books of the year.

Said The Economist, "Backman really understands why business evolved the way it did in Asia".

Praise also came from some surprising quarters.

Thailand's then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra included the book in his list of 109 books that all Thais should read.

His books have been translated into Chinese, Indonesian and Spanish as well as being available in English.

Backman has also played a role in the debate over his native Australia's relationship with Asia.

Rowan Callick writing in the Australian Financial Review described Backman as "the brilliant young writer on regional business strategies" and one of the fresh names to drive debate over Australia's future role in Asia.

Backman is not without his critics.

The support he has offered Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has been criticised for example.

But then perhaps not surprisingly, Backman's support was quoted approvingly in a speech by Malaysia's then Transport Minister Ling Liong Sik.

Backman has said that he first developed his interest in Asia while at university in Australia.

Many of the other students were from Asia, particularly from Malaysia.

He first came to notice with the Australian Government's publication in 1995 of 'Overseas Chinese Business Networks in Asia' of which he was the principal.

Although a government publication, it received wide international media coverage such as in the Financial Times.

A reviewer in Fortune magazine recommended it in favour of John Naisbitt's Megatrends Asia.

The Australian trade minister cited the report in the Far Eastern Economic Review as one of his favourite books of the year.

Backman left the Australian government shortly after to write more books.

These have looked at culture, politics and business in Asia.

A recent book, Asia Future Shock looks at what Asia will be like in the coming decades.

Backman has frequently criticised media restrictions in Asia.

He has blamed many of Asia's political and economic problems on a lack of transparency and accountability.

He said in a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra in 1999 in the middle of the Asian economic crisis that "If Asia had a little more bluntness – a little more truth – it would not be in the economic mess it is now."

In October 2003 in Singapore's Today newspaper, he wrote that the Singapore government should loosen up media restrictions.

The column attracted many letters to the editor in favour from Singaporean readers.

But shortly after Singapore's Minister for Information Lee Boon Yang accused Backman in a speech at a Singapore Press Club luncheon at Raffles Hotel of seeking to intervene in Singapore's domestic politics.

He said that Backman had "knowingly crossed the line" with his remarks.

Lee's claim was widely ridiculed, and was the subject of an editorial in the Wall Street Journal which said that Lee's assertion that Backman had sought to intervene in domestic politics showed that Singapore was politically repressed.

It also said that the fact that Today published Backman's column showed that some in the Singapore media agreed with him and wanted to carve out more independence.

The affair was taken up by international media freedom watchdog Reporters Sans Frontières (Reporters without Borders) in its 2004 report on Singapore.

Said the report: