Amitav Acharya

Agency and Change in World Politics

Constructing Global Order

Barry Buzan

Presents a challenge to international relations scholars to think globally, understanding the field's development in the Global South alongside the traditionally dominant Western approach.

The Making of Global International Relations

Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world after China, India and the United States. It is also the world's largest Muslim majority country and the third largest democracy. Its economy is currently the 10th largest on the global scale. Indonesia is recognized as an emerging power, and a respected member of the international community. It plays an important role not only in the Asia-Pacific region, but also in the world at large. Indonesia has defied the grim predictions about its imminent collapse following the ouster of Suharto in 1998. Its ability to rebuild and reinvigorate itself into its current status is one of the most impressive stories of the late 20th and early 21st century. Its journey since the fall of Suharto is inspiring at a time when the world has seen many failing nations, recurring economic crises, and growing radicalism and terrorism. Yet, the Indonesian story receives far less attention than the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). The Indonesian story suggests a different pathway to emerging power status. This pathway is based not so much on military or economic resources. Rather, it lies in the ability of a country to develop a positive, virtuous correlation among three factors: democracy, development and stability, while pursuing a foreign policy of restraint towards neighbours and active engagement with the world at large. This is the key lesson from the story of Indonesia that this book seeks to present. It analyses Indonesia's foreign policy and international role under the democratic regime, with particular focus on its role as a leader of ASEAN, its relationship with the major powers of the Asia Pacific, and its place in the global order of the 21st century. Contents:Why Indonesia Matters?Democracy, Development and Stability: Creating a Virtuous CycleIndonesia and the Regional ArchitectureIndonesia and the Major PowersIndonesia as a Global ActorA Nation on the Move: Indonesian Voices Readership: General public, students, policy makers, and think tanks intellectuals. Key Features:First book that recognizes Indonesia as an emerging powerFirst book in a long time on overall Indonesian foreign policyAmong the first to study impact of democratization on foreign policy of IndonesiaKeywords:Indonesia;Rising Powers;ASEAN;Asia Pacific SecurityReviews: “Indonesia today offers an inspiring example of how democracy, development and stability can be made to work together to enhance a nation's prestige and influence on the global stage. Amitav Acharya's Indonesia Matters is an insightful account of the foreign policy of the world's largest Muslim country, demonstrating how democratic transformation strengthened Indonesia's leadership in ASEAN, the Asia Pacific, and the world at large.” Surin Pitsuwan Former Foreign Minister of Thailand and Secretary-General of ASEAN (2008–12) “Can a major new power rise in the community of nations without threatening its neighbours, destabilizing existing arrangements, and producing an arms race? This is a major question for this century, after the past one in which Germany and Japan established such alarming precedents. China and India do not provide much reassurance that we are wiser than we were. Indonesia, however, with one of the lowest arms expenditures in the world either per capita or in relation to GNP looks a promising case for an alternative model. This book is a very timely study of a critical issue for our times.” Anthony Reid Emeritus Professor College of Asia and the Pacific Australian National University “Amitav Acharya has produced a timely and illuminating examination of Indonesia's foreign policy since the establishment of democracy after Suharto's period in power. Drawing on extensive interviews and keen observations, Amitav skilfully traces the evolution of Indonesia's diplomacy from its modest regional roots to the rarefied world of global engagement. This is an important book and a necessary read for all those who follow Indonesia's remarkable ascent.” Kurt Campbell Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (2009–13) “Acharya has provided an excellent contribution in the discourse on Indonesia's foreign policy. He has shown the unique pathway of the country in achieving its current place in regional and global politics through the virtuous cycle of democracy, development, and stability.” The Indonesian Quarterly

Asia's Emerging Democratic Power

Indonesia Matters

This book presents a challenge to the discipline of international relations (IR) to rethink itself, in the light of both its own modern origins, and the two centuries of world history that have shaped it. By tracking the development of thinking about IR, and the practice of world politics, this book shows how they relate to each other across five time periods from nineteenth-century colonialism, through two world wars, the Cold War and decolonization, to twenty-first-century globalization. It gives equal weight to both the neglected voices and histories of the Global South, and the traditionally dominant perspectives of the West, showing how they have moved from nearly complete separation to the beginnings of significant integration. The authors argue that IR needs to continue this globalizing movement if it is to cope with the rapidly emerging post-Western world order, with its more diffuse distribution of wealth, power and cultural authority.

Origins and Evolution of IR at its Centenary

Paul-Henri Bischoff

Kwesi Aning

Recent scholarship in International Relations (IR) has started to study the meaning and implications of a non-Western world. With this comes the need for a new paradigm of IR theory that is more global, open, inclusive, and able to capture the voices and experiences of both Western and non-Western worlds. This book investigates why Africa has been marginalised in IR discipline and theory and how this issue can be addressed in the context of the emerging Global IR paradigm. To have relevance for Africa, a new IR theory needs to be more inclusive, intellectually negotiated and holistically steeped in the African context. In this innovative volume, each author takes a critical look at existing IR paradigms and offers a unique perspective based on the African experience. Following on from Amitav Acharya and Barry Buzan’s work, Non-Western International Relations Theory, it develops and advances non-Western IR theory and the idea of Global IR. This volume will be of key interest to scholars and students of African politics, international relations, IR theory and comparative politics.

Emerging approaches to theory and practice

Africa in Global International Relations

Yan Xuetong

Daniel A. Bell

Rajeev Bhargava

A free open access ebook is available upon publication. Learn more at www.luminosoa.org. The rise of China and India could be the most important political development of the twenty-first century. What will the foreign policies of China and India look like in the future? What should they look like? And what can each country learn from the other? Bridging Two Worlds gathers a coterie of experts in the field, analyzing profound political thinkers from these ancient regions whose theories of interstate relations set the terms for the debates today. This volume is the first work that systematically compares ancient thoughts and theories about international politics between China and India. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the growth of China and India and what it will mean for the rest of the world.

Comparing Classical Political Thought and Statecraft in India and China

Bridging Two Worlds

In the prevailing climate of uncertainty and apprehension about Southeast Asia's security outlook in the post-Cold War era, this study looks at the question of whether there is an impending arms race in the region. It examines the factors behind the recent trends towards increased defence spending and force modernisation in countries in the region and what efforts should and can be undertaken to ensure that this build-up does not become a threat to regional security and stability.

Prospects for Control

An Arms Race in Post-cold War Southeast Asia

Research Professor of International Studies Centre for the Study of Democracy Barry Buzan

Professor of Global Governance Amitav Acharya

Acharya and Buzan introduce non-Western IR traditions to a Western IR audience, and challenge the dominance of Western theory. An international team of experts reinforce existing criticisms that IR theory is Western-focused and therefore misrepresents and misunderstands much of world history by introducing the reader to non-Western traditions, literature and histories relevant to how IR is conceptualised.

Perspectives On and Beyond Asia

Non-Western International Relations Theory

This second edition of Constructing a Security Community in Southeast Asia takes the excellent framework from Acharya's first edition and brings it up-to-date, looking at ASEAN's comprehensive and critical account of the evolution of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) norms and the viability of the ASEAN way of conflict management. Key issues in determining the future stability of the Southeast Asian and Asia Pacific region are covered, including: intra-regional relations and the effect of membership expansion the ASEAN Regional Forum and East Asian regionalism ASEAN's response to terrorism and other transnational challenges debates over ASEAN's non-interference doctrine the 'ASEAN Security Community' and the ASEAN Charter the impact of the rise of China and India and ASEAN's relations with the US and Japan. The new edition will continue to appeal to students and scholars of Asian security, international relations theory and Southeast Asian studies as well as policymakers and the media.

ASEAN and the Problem of Regional Order

Constructing a Security Community in Southeast Asia

Aimed at readers interested in constructing a less West-centric, more global discipline of International Relations, this book provides a concise, thorough introduction to the thought and practice of international relations from premodern India, China and the Islamic world, and how it relates to modern IR.

Re-imagining International Relations

The age of Western hegemony is over. Whether or not America itself declines or thrives under President Trump's leadership, the post-war liberal international order underpinned by US military, economic and ideological primacy and supported by global institutions serving its power and purpose, is coming to an end. But what will take its place? A Chinese world order? A re-constituted form of American hegemony? A regionalized system of global cooperation, including major and emerging powers? In this updated and extended edition of his widely acclaimed book, Amitav Acharya offers an incisive answer to this fundamental question. While the US will remain a major force in world affairs, he argues that it has lost the ability to shape world order after its own interests and image. As a result, the US will be one of a number of anchors including emerging powers, regional forces, and a concert of the old and new powers shaping a new world order. Rejecting labels such as multipolar, apolar, or G-Zero, Acharya likens the emerging system to a multiplex theatre, offering a choice of plots (ideas), directors (power), and action (leadership) under one roof. Finally, he reflects on the policies that the US, emerging powers and regional actors must pursue to promote stability in this decentred but interdependent, multiplex world. Written by a leading scholar of the international relations of the non-Western world, and rising above partisan punditry, this book represents a major contribution to debates over the post-American era.

The End of American World Order

Given that the world has moved well beyond the period of Western colonialism, and clearly into a durable period in which non-Western cultures have gained their political autonomy, it is long past time that non-Western voices had a higher profile in debates about international relations, not just as disciples of Western schools of thought, but as inventors of their own approaches. Western IR theory has had the advantage of being the first in the field, and has developed many valuable insights, but few would defend the position that it captures everything we need to know about world politics. In this book, Acharya and Buzan introduce non-Western IR traditions to a Western IR audience, and challenge the dominance of Western theory. An international team of experts reinforce existing criticisms that IR theory is Western-focused and therefore misrepresents and misunderstands much of world history by introducing the reader to non-Western traditions, literature and histories relevant to how IR is conceptualised. Including case studies on Chinese, Japanese, South Korean, Southeast Asian, Indian and Islamic IR this book redresses the imbalance and opens up a cross-cultural comparative perspective on how and why thinking about IR has developed in the way it has. As such, it will be invaluable reading for both Western and Asian audiences interested in international relations theory.

Alastair Iain Johnston

Regional institutions are an increasingly prominent feature of world politics. Their characteristics and performance vary widely: some are highly legalistic and bureaucratic, while others are informal and flexible. They also differ in terms of inclusiveness, decision-making rules and commitment to the non-interference principle. This is the first book to offer a conceptual framework for comparing the design and effectiveness of regional international institutions, including the EU, NATO, ASEAN, OAS, AU and the Arab League. The case studies, by a group of leading scholars of regional institutions, offer a rigorous, historically informed analysis of the differences and similarities in institutions across Europe, Latin America, Asia, Middle East and Africa. The chapters provide a more theoretically and empirically diverse analysis of the design and efficacy of regional institutions than heretofore available.

Amitav Acharya

About

Books

Join the club