Status and Security in Southeast Asian State Systems

This book concerns the changing nature of relationships between countries in Southeast Asia. The region serves as an excellent case study to discuss major transformations in the relationship amongst states. A diverse region in many areas, open to outside influence in many fields, but not without dynamics of its own, it has been through centuries the site of states with very differing levels of power and in a variety of forms. It has also been exposed to powerful neighbours, seawards empires and contending world powers. Adopting a historical approach, the author analyzes state relations against the background of regional and geopolitical developments from within and without. Asking questions such as "how can Southeast Asian states of the 21stcentury best preserve their security in the context of the 'rise' of China?" and "to what extent can they preserve their autonomy of action?", this book offers a long-term perspective on these issues. This inter-disciplinary study will be of interest to scholars and students of Southest Asian history and politics, world history and IR.