From simmering tensions in the South China Sea, to fledging democracy in Myanmar, and developing relationships between China and Pacific Island nations – the Asia-Pacific region is a rapidly-changing region presenting serious challenges for policymakers.
These challenges are the focus of the new issue of the Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies journal. The special issue – guest edited by Dr Nicholas Farrelly, Dr Amy King, Professor Michael Wesley and Professor Hugh White of the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at The Australian National University (ANU) – brings together world-leading academics to address international relations and public policy challenges facing the region.
Dr Farrelly, co-founder of the Southeast Asia society and politics blog New Mandala, said the new issue focuses on some key concerns for the region’s policymakers.
“Our special issue showcases top expertise on the Solomon Islands, Myanmar, Indonesia and China. The twelve articles deal with local, regional and global perspectives on security in these four different countries.”
Authors in the new issue include Trevor Wilson, Tyrell Haberkorn, Ed Aspinall, Susan Harris-Rimmer, Greg Fealy, and many more. As always, all articles are open-access published, meaning they are permanently free to read and download.
Dr Farrelly said the articles shine a light on the challenges ahead for the region’s policymakers aiming to balance a fast-moving region with lasting peace and prosperity.“Looking at security from the ground up, we hope these articles encourage readers to consider the ways that Australian policy interacts with the world around us. It is the integration of different levels of analysis that makes this special issue so exciting.
“We expect it will give readers some insights about Australian academic analysis of the Asia-Pacific’s biggest security challenges. There is no escaping the stark conclusion that maintaining peace in this region will not be easy.”
Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies is published three times a year by Wiley-Blackwell. The journal is based at Crawford School of Public Policy at ANU.
Full list of articles in this issue:
Inside Myanmar’s turbulent transformation: Nicholas Farrelly and Chit Win
Strategic choices in Myanmar’s transition and Myanmar’s national security policies: Trevor Wilson
The new nationalism in Indonesia: Edward Aspinall
Indonesia’s ‘great power’ aspirations: a critical view: Greg Fealy and Hugh White
How are foreign policy decisions made in China? Linda Jakobson and Ryan Manuel
Northeast Asia’s new ‘history spiral’: Amy King and Brendan Taylor
China as a global force: Feng Zhang