1st Edition

Southeast Asia and the Great Powers

By Nicholas Tarling Copyright 2010
    288 Pages
    by Routledge

    284 Pages
    by Routledge

    The success of regionalism in Southeast Asia depends on the attitudes of the states within the region but also on the attitude of those outside it. This book is an erudite and stimulating study on the latter. Placing these states in a long term historical context Tarling brings out the way in which the rivalries of those powers within the region and outside it have affected the states within the region. He also shows how divisions within the region, and within states in the region, offered invitations and opportunities for intervention from outside, and so perhaps gave Southeast Asia an importance in international relations it would not otherwise have had. Regional leaders appear in recent decades to have recognised what may be construed as one of the lessons of history; if Southeast Asia can provide security for the Straits route, and stable conditions for trade and investment, it might enjoy both peace and a measure of prosperity.

    Southeast Asia and the Great Powers is an important read for students and scholars of the history and international relations of Southeast Asia.

    1. Introduction  2. India  3. Britain  4. France  5. Japan  6. Russia  7. The United States  8. China  9. Australia and New Zealand

    Biography

    Nicholas Tarling is a Fellow of the New Zealand Asia Institute at the University of Auckland, New Zealand and one of the world’s leading authorities on the history of Southeast Asia. His publications include Southeast Asia: A Modern History,  Imperialism in Southeast Asia: A Fleeting Passing Phase, Nationalism in Southeast Asia: If the People Are With Us, Regionalism in Southeast Asia: To Foster the Political Will.

    "[T]his is a meticulously researched work, as evidenced by the numerous endnotes and citations...it is a rich mine of facts and insights both on South East Asia and the policies and actions of the 'great powers' with respect to it. The book is a handy reference work for someone seriously interested in South East Asia and the major powers' policies and actions in and towards it." - Rodolfo C. Severino, South East Asia Research, Vol 18. No 4 (December 2010)