In the 21st century, the Indo-Pacific region has become the new centre of the world. The concept of the 'Indo-Pacific', though still under construction, is a potentially 'pivotal' site, where various institutions and intellectuals of statecraft are seeking common ground on which to anchor new regional coalitions, alliances. and allies to better serve their respective national agendas. This book explores the 'Indo-Pacific' as an ambiguous and hotly contested regional
security construction. It critically examines the major drivers behind the revival of classical geopolitical concepts and their deployment through different national lenses. The book also analyses the presence of India and the U.S in the Indo-Pacific, and the manner in which China has reacted to
their positions in the Indo-Pacific to date. It suggests that national constructions of the Indo-Pacific region are more informed by domestic political realities, anti-Chinese bigotries, distinctive properties of 21st century U.S hegemony, and narrow nation-statist sentiments rather than genuine pan-regional aspirations.
The Rise and Return of the Indo-Pacific argues that the spouting of contested depictions of the Indo-Pacific region depend on the fixed geo-strategic lenses of nation-states, but what is also important is the re-emergence of older ideas - a classical conceptual revival - based on early to mid-20th century geopolitical ideas in many of these countries. The book deliberately raises the issue of the sea and constructions of 'nature', as these symbols are indispensable parts of many of
these Indo-Pacific regional narratives. Despite the existence of diverse nation-statist, pan- and sub-regional discourses, the narratives of the most powerful states still dominate 21st century Indo-Pacific statecraft. The term 'Indo-Pacific' has the potential of unsettling various existing bilateral and
multilateral geopolitical equations within the Indian Ocean region. Despite substantial heterogeneity in Indo-Pacific regional imaginations, the most dominant 'stories' and 'maps' are crafted and disseminated by the most dominant nation -in this case, the U.S- as it grapples with new ways of retaining its hegemony into the 21st century.
Author(s): Timothy Doyle, Dennis Rumley
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Year: 2020
Cover
The Rise and Return of the Indo-Pacific
Copyright
Preface
Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
1: Introduction: Constructions of the Indo-Pacific Region
Structure of the Book
Constructing the Indo-Pacific
The Epistemological Continuum: Essentialist and Constructivist Methodologies Combined
2: Maritime Regional Theories: Oceans and Seas
Introduction: Regions, Oceans, and Sea Spaces
The Social Construction of Maritime Space
Indo-Pacific as Region, Oceanic Neighbourhood, Non-Realist, Differentiated Regional Oceanness
Realist Constructions of Indo-Pacific
Universalist, Non-Differentiated Constructions of Oceanic Space: The Indo-Pacific as Liquid Continuum
Conclusion
3: The Return of Traditional Geopolitical Thought: The Rise of the Indo-Pacific Concept
Traditional Geopolitical Ideas
Traditional Geopolitical Ideas: Adoption, Adaptation, and Diffusion
The Diffusion of Traditional Geopolitical Thinking to Indo-Pacific States
The United States
Japan
China
India
Indonesia
Australia
Africa
Conclusion: A Way Forward
4: The New ‘Multiplex’ Cold War in the Indo-Pacific
Introduction
The New Cold War
The End of the American World Order
Residual Attitudes, Institutions, and Territorial Conflicts
Geopolitical Self-Images, the Rules-Based Order and Perceived Spheres of Influence
Europe and NATO Expansion
The Return of Global Russia
The US Pivot to the Indo-Pacific
Japan’s ‘Militarization’: Reactivation of a Regional Cold War?
Indian Ocean Competition
The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue
THAAD: A Regional New Cold War?
The Cyber and Chemical Cold War
The New Cold War: Implications for the Indo-Pacific and South Asia
Post-Cold War Strategic Partnership Diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific
Conclusion: The Indo-Pacific New Cold War Matrix
5: The US ‘Pivot’ in the Indo-Pacific
Introduction
Geopolitical Transitions, Realist Traditions, and Critical Geopolitics of ‘Fear’
The Obama Pivot, Zones, and the ‘Liquid Continuum’
The Trumpian Turn: Alliances Rather Than Zones
Conclusion
6: The Role of India in the Indo-Pacific
Introduction
India’s Post-Cold War ‘Strategic Geographies’ and Geopolitical Visions: Dynamics and Dialectics of ‘Indo-Pacific’
Differentiated Neighbourhood: Region as ‘Neighbour’
Project Mausam
India–US relations
India and Africa
India and Iran/Middle East
Conclusion: India and Its Broader Neighbourhood—Major Strategic Players and Multilateral Institutions
7: Regional Middle Powers and the Indo-Pacific Strategic Narrative
Introduction
Indo-Pacific Middle Powers
Middle Power US Alliances and Chinese Strategic Partnerships
A Hierarchy of Regional Great Power–Middle Power Strategic Linkages
The Core Middle Powers and the Indo-Pacific Strategic Narrative
Australia and the Indo-Pacific Narrative
Indonesia’s middle way
Malaysia’s Equidistance
Philippines Pragmatism
Singapore’s Strategic Neutrality
South Korea’s Equidistant Diplomacy
Thailand: Bamboo Swirling in the Wind
Vietnam: Multipolar Balance
Conclusion: Middle Powers and the Indo-Pacific Narrative
8: The Rise of China and the Indo-Pacific
Introduction
China’s Inexorable Rise
The Rise in China’s Economic Power
Chinese Rejuvenation (Fuxing)
China’s Reform Agenda
A Chinese Model of Great Power Relations
China as a ‘Revisionist’ State
China and US Trade Linkages with Indo-Pacific Middle Powers
China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the Indo-Pacific
The South China Sea Dispute
Conclusion: The Future for a Risen China in the Indo-Pacific
China and the Indo-Pacific Concept
9: Conclusion: Continuities, Change, and Challenges
Introduction
The Indo-Pacific Great Powers
China and the United States in the Indo-Pacific: A ‘Thucydides’ Trap’?
The Indo-Pacific Middle Powers
The Challenge of the Anglosphere?
A Vision of Regional Architecture in the Indo-Pacific Region: The Indian Ocean Rim Association—an Exemplar of Institution Building for Indo-Pacific Futures?
Renewed Interest in the Grouping and New Focus Areas
Maritime Security and Coast Guard Cooperation
The Blue Economy, IORA, and the Indo-Pacific
Future Directions for IORA
More Inclusive Membership
Better Leveraging Relationships with IORA Dialogue Partners: Embracing Indo-Pacific Partners
Links between Security and Economic Agendas
The Importance of Academic Diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific: Building Regional Epistemic Communities
Concluding Remarks
Bibliography
Index
