From Southeast Asia to Indo-Pacific Culture, Identity, and the Return to Geopolitics

by Acharya, Amitav

• ISBN13: 9789815162080
• ISBN10: 981516208X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2025-07-15
• Publisher: Penguin Books

Summary

AN AUTHORITATIVE ACCOUNT OF KEY GEOPOLITICAL CHANGES AFFECTING SOUTHEAST ASIA Southeast Asia was created by geopolitics, and it might die with it. An era of great power rivalry made the rise of Southeast Asia possible. It stimulated common purpose and unity among nations and led to the creation and consolidation of ASEAN. The question now is, will the return of geopolitics have a similar impact? This is no means assured. In fact, the opposite could happen. The new geopolitics is, after all, quite different from the old. Developments affecting Southeast Asia’ s reputation and appeal might destroy ‘ Southeast Asia’ not just as a distinct idea, but also as pawns in the hands of great powers. The fate of the region looks increasingly uncertain; the question arises: has Southeast Asia passed its ‘ use by date’ ?

Author Biography

Amitav Acharya is distinguished professor of international relations and the UNESCO Chair in Transnational Challenges and Governance at the School of International Service, American University, Washington DC. He won American University’ s highest honor, the Scholar-Teacher Award, for 2020. Before taking up his current appointment in 2009, Acharya held professorships at University of Bristol, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and York University, Toronto, and was a Fellow at Harvard University’ s Asia Center and John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Table of Contents

Introduction vii PART I: CREATING IDENTITY Chapter 1: History, Culture, and the Origins of Southeast Asia 1 Chapter 2: Bandung 55 and the Rise of Southeast Asia 23 Chapter 3: The ASEANists and the Emergence of Southeast Asian Identity 45 PART II: CONTESTING FREEDOM Chapter 4: Debating Human Rights 65 Chapter 5: Is Democracy Good for Development and Stability? 87 PART III: COPING WITH RIVALRY Chapter 6: Will ASEAN Survive Great Power Rivalry? 117 Chapter 7: A Region in Crisis 143 Chapter 8: Demons and Angels: The Future of Southeast Asia 157 PART IV: STUDYING SOUTHEAST ASIA Chapter 9: The Emergence and Evolution of Southeast Asian Studies 177 Chapter 10: The Indo-Pacific Idea: Myth and Reality 195 Notes 203