The Asian experience with globalization posed a curious dilemma: initially, the more you open up, the more you again; conversely, the more you close, the more you lose. China and India are vivid examples of the countries that benefited from the opening up strategy. Myanmar and North Korea are classic examples of closed states that failed without and North Korea are classic examples of closed states that failed without learning from their neighbors. However, the current crisis demonstrated the opposite dilemma: the more you open up, the more the risks of contagion. Clearly, the forces of vested interests that are hurt by globalization will rally under nationalism, cultural identity and fundamentalism. These are powerful forces that cannot be underestimated.