A changing Asia

Abstract

Asia has experienced dramatic changes over the last six decades. It has transitioned from war to peace, from conflict to cooperation, and from economic stagnation and impoverishment to dynamic growth and prosperity. Concurrently regional order in Asia has evolved from a purely instrumental order to one with important normative-contractual features. This article identifies key changes in Asia and explores the following questions: What explains war and peace in post-1945 Asia? Will a changing Asia become more war prone or will peace continue? What explains the type of cooperation and order in Asia and how these have evolved? The main argument is that contestations, advances, and setbacks in making states and nations along with changes in state capacity have been the primary drivers of war, peace, cooperation, and order in post-1945 Asia. As state-making and forging legitimate nations are still unsettled projects in many Asian countries, including key ones like China and India, they will continue to be key drivers of domestic and international politics in the foreseeable future. Along with the emphasis on economic development and growing economic interdependence, state and nation making dynamics will modify and complicate the dynamics presumed to emanate from the rise of Asian countries.

• Asia-Pacific
• peace
• regional order
• war

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Muthiah Alagappa

Muthiah Alagappa is presently Distinguished Senior Fellow at the East—West Center in Washington, DC. From January 2012 he will be the first holder of the Tun Hussein Onn Chair in International Studies at ISIS Malaysia.