Overview of international

Relations In SEA

Geopolitical importance of
Asia-Pacific
Worlds political , economic powers
are located : US, China, Russia, Japan
Area of economic dynamism and
growth
Political influence
Regional groupings
Cultural appeal

Major powers and

importance
China : huge in size, economic &
military power, extension of its
influence .
Russia : huge, size, military power,
extended geopolitical interests
India : huge, rising economy
Japan : economic power, stable
democracy, but regional diplomacy
declined , challenged by Chinas rise

Major powers and Southeast

Asia
Periods : end of WW2-1954; 1954-1975;
1975-1990; post Cold War era.
Main actors :US, USSR, china shaped
international relations of the region during the
Cold War.
The emergence of China challenged Western
dominance in SEA
Europes withdrawal / eclipse from the region
Japan a defeated power, but developed strong
economic relations with SEA as of 1970s.

Post WW2 political

developments in SEA
End of WW 2 brought changes to SEA :
De- colonisation, 2 types/ methods of
de-colonisation : violent and peaceful
political consolidation of states ,
nation-building in the region.
Relations with former colonial powers
and orientation of foreign policy
influenced by de-colonisation process
Consolidation of US role and position in
the region

Violent de-colonization &

impact
impact on political development and
foreign policy orientation
Indonesia: independence in 1945 not
recognised by the Dutch, fought a
revolution until 1949
profound impact on Indonesias
national identity, political development
and external orientationanti colonial
, evolved towards non-alignment

Violent de-colonization
(cont)
Vietnam experienced long years of war, intervention
of major powers ( France, US, USSR, China)
Phases of the war indicated external power interests
and their roles
VN war & Indochina conflict greatly influenced
shaping international relations in SEA until 1980s
Vietnams experience in de- colonisation affected
the countrys domestic and external orientation

sources of conflict &

instability
Vietnam War and Indochina conflict,
Communist Insurgencies,
separatism/ irredentism created
instability, a challenge to state security,
nation-building process
territorial disputes
New security issues in post Cold War era

Origins of Vietnam War

Began with Franco Vietnam war in 1946 ,
failure of negotiations led to creation of
French supported government in south
Vietnam
French defeat at Dien Bien Phu 1954
brought them to negotiation in Geneva
French exit from Vietnam, role taken over
by US , reduced presence of France in
SEA
Proxy war between Cold War major powers

SEA Divided
The Vietnam war & Cambodian conflict
divided SEA into ideological blocs
communist and non-communist throughout
the Cold War (ASEAN vs Indochina bloc)
shaped attitude & policies of ASEAN
towards Vietnam.
Rivalry among major powers to consolidate
influence in the region.
1986 introduction of doi moi changed
attitude, beginning of VN return to SEA.

foreign policy of SEA states

during the Cold War
Internal conditions/ factors influenced
foreign policy of countries in SEA,
options : alliance, non-aligned, proWest, communist, isolation etc.
Neutrality failed in Cambodia, Laos due
to external pressures & internal division
Role of personalities important in
shaping foreign policyidiosyncratic
factor.

Managing regional relations

Regionalism : ASA, MAPHILINDO, ASEAN
System of alliances and coalitions/ security
arrangements both at bilateral and
multilateral levels
Ex. SEATO, FPDA & bilateral alliances
between US, USSR and their client- states
Attempts at neutralisation of SEA
(ZOPFAN) , foreign policy of non-alignment
& neutrality

Post Cold War trends

Ideology no longer important in relations
among states & their foreign policies
Chinas engagement in SEA , reduction of
Soviet interest in SEA, US comeback,
Europes increasing interest in SEA
New preoccupation of states :
strengthening of bilateral relations,
regionalism, economic development,
democratisation , non-traditional security

Geo-strategic players
States having the capacity and
national will to exercise power or
influence beyond their borders in
order to alter the existing geopolitical
state of affairs.
Ex. US, China, Russia, India etc

Geo-political pivots
states whose importance is derived not
from their power and motivation, but rather
from their sensitive location and from the
consequences of their potentially
vulnerable condition for the behaviour of
geostrategic players.
Main determinants : geography, though
position in the system not fixed or
permanent
Ex: South Korea

Regionalism & integration

Acceleration of regionalism : improved
relations among regional countries
Expansion & consolidation of ASEAN & its
institutions
Re organisation of ASEAN : ASEAN
Secretariat in 1992 Summit, creation of
ASEAN Charter 2008
Increasing economic cooperation
greater security, defence cooperation ARF,
ADMM

Extra regional relations

ASEANs efforts to strengthen
relations with other countries/ region
Frameworks : ASEM, Dialogue
Partners, ASEAN Plus Three etc
The nineties were period of peace,
prosperity for ASEAN, highly
regarded by other regions
Changing regional balance?

Other issues of concern

Terrorism : impact on security in SEA, US
security interest in region, collaboration
among regional states , at the same time
highlight differences in security interest.
Democratisation process : Indonesia,
Thailand, Cambodia , regime contestation
in Myanmar
Problematic centre-periphery relations in
Thailand, Philippines

Socio-economic
development
Enhancing regional and sub-regional
economic development through various
organisations and cooperation framework
ASEAN based organisations and
initiatives
Creating regional consciousness, identity
Strengthening cultural and social ties as
part of ASEAN project

Political Stability in SEA

Political stability or instability of states
affect international relations in SEA.
Categories of stability of states :
Stable, fairly stable, unstable
Measuring stability : legitimacy of
government, political strength of
government, economic stability,
control of societal forces, availability
of instruments of enforcement

Conclusion
End of WW2 ushered in a new era in
international relations in SEA, became an
important theatre of conflicts
Vietnam war and rise of China greatly
influenced regional politics and security
during the Cold War.
end of Cold War contributed to regional
stability and improved regional relations
Focus on socio-economic development,
democratisation
Redefining major powers roles and interests
Regionalism accelerated .