Regional Diplomacy Research Articles

Human Rights Violations: The Entry Point for International Troops into Papua

This research explores human rights violations in Papua, focusing on the feasibility of international troop deployment as an intervention strategy against a backdrop of severe abuses such as extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests documented by organizations such as Amnesty International. The study aims to assess the potential role of international troops in safeguarding human rights and maintaining peace, using a qualitative methodology to analyze secondary data from human rights organizations and governmental sources to identify trends and challenges. The main contributions include highlighting gaps in existing interventions, proposing a conceptual framework for international troop deployment that considers legal, political, and ethical dimensions, and contextualizing issues of state sovereignty and regional diplomacy within the ASEAN framework. Specific findings indicate that while international troop deployment could enhance civilian protection and accountability, it faces significant barriers, including legal constraints related to international law, political resistance from local authorities and neighboring states, and ethical concerns such as the risk of escalating violence and undermining local governance. The study concludes by suggesting a balanced approach emphasizing dialogue, sustainable development, and cooperation within ASEAN to address human rights issues in Papua effectively.

The Evolving Role of Saudi Arabia in the Middle East: Challenges to Regional Diplomacy of MBS

The state's role in regional and international affairs shifts with the leadership change, particularly when the new leader is younger and more ambitious than his predecessors. The role of Saudi Arabia has been evolving with the rise of de facto leader Muhammad Bin Salaman(MBS). As a foreign policy tool, Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of MBS, has chosen a particular diplomatic approach to lessen conflict, promote regional peace and stability, and develop its economy in order to gain more clout in the Middle East. So, what is the unique diplomatic regional approach of MBS, and why is KSA, under MBS's leadership, still facing serious challenges in the region? This study briefly explores Muhammad bin Salman's diplomatic initiatives toward regional countries with strained relations. This study highlights the challenges the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia faces under Muhammad bin Salman's leadership in achieving diplomatic success with regional countries.

A hierarchical vision of order: understanding Chinese foreign policy in Asia; China's asymmetric statecraft: alignments, competitors, and regional diplomacy; The authoritarian century: China's rise and the demise of the liberal international order

A hierarchical vision of order: understanding Chinese foreign policy in Asia; China's asymmetric statecraft: alignments, competitors, and regional diplomacy; The authoritarian century: China's rise and the demise of the liberal international order

Addressing Human-Elephant Conflict in Sarpang, Bhutan: Challenges and Practices

Asian elephants face threats from human-elephant conflict (HEC), driven by habitat encroachment and fragmentation. In the foothills of the Himalayas, HEC affects a large number of people, causing significant damage to property and crops. Bhutan, sharing elephant habitats with India, faces similar challenges, particularly in the southern regions in Sarpang. We studied the HEC pattern and mitigation strategies adopted by people through a questionnaire survey. Our primary data from the Sarpang division showed that more than 40 % of households experienced HEC. The elephant largely affected maize and paddy along with cash crops such as areca nut, orange, ginger, and cardamom. The study revealed a strong association between crop-raiding incidents and cultivated areas, with most depredations occurring at night. The majority of respondents indicated that crop depredation has increased over the years, which could be linked to the degradation and fragmentation of forest habitat in the landscape. Mitigation measures, such as electric fencing, are preferred but underutilized due to financial constraints. The study emphasizes the need for transboundary cooperation between India and Bhutan, integrating traditional and advanced mitigation strategies, and community involvement. Effective communication, joint patrolling, and habitat restoration are the keys to managing HEC. Transboundary governance should include political and legal support, regional diplomacy, and innovative land use policies.

INDONESIA'S ATTITUDE IN FACING THE SOUTH CHINA SEA CONFLICT, POLICY ANALYSIS AND IMPLICATIONS

Background. The South China Sea conflict is one of the complex and challenging geopolitical issues in the Southeast Asia region. This study aimed to analyze Indonesia's attitude in dealing with this conflict, with a focus on foreign policy and its implications for regional stability. Research Method. This research uses a type of legal research that is normative in nature (normative legal research) and through a foreign policy analysis approach. Findings. The factors are diplomacy and negotiation policy, Indonesia's role in ASEAN, efforts to strengthen maritime cooperation, external actor involvement, the need for a just and sustainable settlement, impact on regional stability, and protection of national maritime interests that influence Indonesia's attitudes and the strategies taken by the Indonesian government in managing this conflict. The impact of Indonesia's attitude towards political and security dynamics in the Southeast Asia region. Conclusion. Indonesia has an important strategic role to play in addressing the South China Sea conflict as the largest maritime nation in Southeast Asia. Indonesia's presence in regional diplomacy and efforts to mediate the conflict are key to achieving a sustainable solution.

Malaysia's Diplomatic Choices, Dynamics and Mechanisms Towards Northeast Asia - An Explanation Based on Neoclassical Realism

Regional diplomacy serves as a foreign policy tool utilized by states towards specific regions. However, the regional diplomacy of small states within a particular region in International Relations (IR) has often received less attention and scholarly scrutiny. Drawing from neoclassical realism, this paper introduces "security needs" at the systemic level and "interest preferences" at the unitary level as primary explanatory variables. The findings reveal three main models of regional diplomacy for small states: "active regional diplomacy," "preventive regional diplomacy," and "composite regional diplomacy." Small states employ various modes of regional diplomacy to attain diverse objectives in foreign development. Analysis of the 1.0 and 2.0 periods of Mahathir's administration illustrates Malaysia's adoption of "active regional diplomacy" and "composite regional diplomacy" in cultivating relations with Northeast Asian countries. This foreign policy implementation not only fosters Malaysia's effective cooperation with nations like Japan and South Korea but also maximizes the advantageous resources of Northeast Asian countries to bolster its own development. Additionally, it steers Malaysia clear of taking sides in the intense competition among major powers, expands diplomatic avenues, and bolsters its diplomatic initiative. However, in the post-Mahathir era, the deterioration of Malaysia's relations with North Korea and tensions with China have somewhat impacted the overall stability and harmony of Malaysia's relations with Northeast Asian countries.

China’s Asymmetric Statecraft: Alignments, Competitors, and Regional Diplomacy by Yuxing Huang

China’s Asymmetric Statecraft: Alignments, Competitors, and Regional Diplomacy <i>by Yuxing Huang</i>

ASEAN’s Structural Limitations and Heterogeneous Perceptions of China’s Expansion: Raising Trade and Regional Diplomacy

ASEAN’s Structural Limitations and Heterogeneous Perceptions of China’s Expansion: Raising Trade and Regional Diplomacy

China’s Asymmetric Statecraft: Alignments, Competitors, and Regional Diplomacy, by Yuxing Huang

China’s Asymmetric Statecraft: Alignments, Competitors, and Regional Diplomacy, by Yuxing Huang

Myanmar and the Responsibility to Protect: Principles, Precedents, and Practicalities

Abstract Since its admission as a member of asean in 1997, the human rights situation in Myanmar has been a major concern of the organisation. asean has had to respond to external reactions and pressures calling for decisive action on various crises in Myanmar, notably the 2007 Saffron Revolution, the 2008 Cyclone Nargis humanitarian disaster, the clashes between Rakhine and Rohingya in 2012, and the military operations against the Rohingya in 2017. In the aftermath of the 1 February 2021 coup in Myanmar, asean once again confronts the challenge of expectations to prevent further atrocities in the country. Myanmar’s internal situation has occasioned debate on norms and principles in the asean Charter, and tested the limits of asean’s decision-making processes. Through its Myanmar experience, asean has set new precedents in its regional diplomacy toward defiant members. However, asean’s leverage and limitations in its Myanmar response will continue to be confined to the diplomatic, humanitarian and peaceful interventions related to the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) that are being currently employed in the post-2021 coup situation.

Nepal’s Water Diplomacy: Relationship with her Neighbours

Water is the most important natural resource of Nepal. Its importance and demand have been increasing over time, not only in Nepal but also in all of the South Asia region. The Ganges River Basin is the most populous region in the world. People living in and around the Basin rely mainly on the Ganges River to meet their growing water requirements. However, the Ganges River is mostly fed by the rivers that originate in Nepal and Tibet Autonomous Region of China. This paper explores the possibility of Nepal using water as a driver for the development of the region as part of its regional diplomacy.

Singapore in 2022

As in 2021, Singapore in 2022 remained largely in crisis mode despite resolving the keystone issue of political succession, with a prime-minister-in-waiting clearly in place. Still, COVID-19, together with the continued US–China economic and political conflicts, the negative fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the anticipation of a possible recession in 2023, continued to cast dark clouds over Singapore and its politico-economic future. These developments were somewhat counterbalanced by positive developments in regional diplomacy, which acted as possible shock absorbers of negative fallout from outside the region. Still, Singapore appears to be at a crossroads, with political changes at home being challenged by external developments, and with the shape of things to come in Singapore remaining largely unknown.

Book Review: China’s Asymmetric Statecraft: Alignments, Competitors, and Regional Diplomacy

Book Review: China’s Asymmetric Statecraft: Alignments, Competitors, and Regional Diplomacy

Nigeria’s Sub – Regional Diplomacy: Nigeria’s role in promoting West African Institutions

The study examines Nigerian subregional diplomacy: study of Nigeria’s role in promoting West African Institutions The study focuses on Nigeria’s relations with West African institutions such as the Lake Chad Basin Commission, the Gulf of Guinea Commission and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The authors consider in detail Nigeria’s national interests vis-&amp;#224;-vis West African institutions and Member States. To achieve the objective of the study, the authors pay particular attention to Nigeria’s bilateral relations with neighbouring States and cooperation with African institutions. The study is based on the theory of political realism, which implies constant competition among States defending their national interests. In the process of studying this problem, the authors apply institutional, analytical and problem-chronological methods. The main conclusions of the study are the establishment of Nigeria’s role in the settlement of border and territorial disputes, which enabled the state to interact and cooperate with its neighbours, the importance of Nigeria’s contribution to the peacekeeping of the region, Identifying the stability of Nigeria’s foreign policy towards both Africa as a whole and neighbouring States, analysing the main problems of the West African region, which is the basis of Nigeria’s subregional diplomacy: insecurity, political instability and economic imbalance. Moreover, the authors provide critical analysis of Nigeria’s institutional cooperation. The relevance of the study is due to the growing political and economic influence of Nigeria on the African continent.

BOOK REVIEW: China�s Asymmetric Statecraft: Alignments, Competitors, and Regional Diplomacy, by Yuxing Huang

BOOK REVIEW: China�s Asymmetric Statecraft: Alignments, Competitors, and Regional Diplomacy, by Yuxing Huang

Act East Policy: A Review of India's Trade, Investments, Cultural Exchange, and Strategic Alliances

India's Act East Policy (AEP) is a comprehensive foreign policy initiative that has gained momentum over the past few decades. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the AEP, focusing on its key components, including trade, investments, cultural exchange, and strategic partnerships. The AEP, launched in the early 1990s, represents a significant shift in India's engagement with the Asia-Pacific region, emphasizing economic cooperation, cultural diplomacy, and strategic collaborations. This paper explores the evolution of the AEP, its historical context, and its impact on India's relationships with countries in the East and Southeast Asian regions. The researchers examine the growth in trade and investment ties, highlighting the increasing economic interdependence between India and its eastern neighbours. Furthermore, this review discusses the cultural exchange initiatives that have fostered people-to-people connections and increased mutual understanding. The AEP's role in strengthening India's strategic partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region is a significant aspect of this analysis. We discuss India's engagement with major players like Japan, Vietnam, and the ASEAN nations, along with the implications for regional stability and security. This review synthesizes the existing literature on India's Act East Policy, offering insights into its successes, challenges, and potential for further development. By analysing trade statistics, investment patterns, cultural exchanges, and strategic alliances, this paper provides a holistic view of the AEP's multifaceted approach to regional diplomacy and cooperation.

Indonesia and the Third Indochina War: The End of Containment

Abstract The Third Indochina War called forth dramatic changes in the international relations of Southeast Asia. Foremost among these changes was a shift in the geopolitical orientation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (asean). The organization’s founders established asean in 1967 to contain Chinese influence in Southeast Asia. But in the wake of the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia in late 1978, asean forged a tacit alliance with the People’s Republic of China to pursue a campaign of rollback against Vietnam. This article argues that asean’s volte-face and China’s reentry into networks of regional diplomacy depended upon a shift in Indonesian threat perceptions. As political Islam displaced Chinese communism as the key threat fixating Indonesian policy, the Suharto regime abandoned its longstanding attempts to integrate Vietnam into the architecture of regional order and instead accommodated itself to a Thai-led effort to enlist China as a counterweight against Vietnam. The reorientation of Indonesian diplomacy reveals the dynamics of a phenomenon that anthropologist Heonik Kwon has called the “decomposition” of the Cold War – the geographically and temporally uneven erosion of the Cold War as a social reality and the gradual elaboration of a post-Cold War era.

The Afghan Debacle and the Taliban Triumph: What India Expects

The re-emergence of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan is a major setback for India's ambitions in the region. The paper elucidates the implications of the resurgence of the Taliban triumph in Afghanistan on India. The long-standing bilateral relations between India and Afghanistan are analyzed. The present threats emanating from Afghanistan, namely the possibility of security issues brewing up in Kashmir, the humanitarian crisis, and the large exodus of refugees, are examined. Lastly, the paper provides insights into India’s role in establishing peace in Afghanistan by shifting from its previous approach and focusing more on regional diplomacy.

Feminisms and Politics in the Interwar Period

The primary goals of the Little Entente of Women were to hammer out a common agenda and joint strategies for the promotion of women’s demands in the respective countries, and to create favorable conditions for socioeconomic, cultural, and political cooperation among the member states. This article addresses the latter goal of the LEW, based on the position that its objectives were deeply political, interwoven with contemporary political challenges in the region, and intersected with the foreign affairs policies of the associated countries. To support this position, the article explores the historical and political circumstances at the foundation of the LEW, the entanglements of its feminist strategies with regional diplomacy and politics and, lastly, focusing on the “Greek case,” the relationship between the foreign policy of the Greek state and the political initiatives of the Greek LEW member.

Recommendations on Japan’s Foreign Policy towards the “Indo-Pacific” Regional Diplomacy

Following the overlapping interest on political, economic and security issues in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, an Indo-Pacific strategy started to gain importance in recent years as the region’s strategic importance in terms of maritime security was realized. The power dynamics in the region are expected to affect Japan’s security and prosperity as well. Therefore, the questions of how the regional order will be structured and how to deal with the swing states were included in Japan’s diplomatic agenda. This research project aims to introduce 16 policy recommendations for Japan’s Indo-Pacific diplomacy as a part of the “Ministry of Foreign Aff airs of Japan’s Foreign Abstracts 20 Relations and Security Research Project” to strengthen Japan’s foreign relations with the powers in the region, especially with ASEAN, Australia, and India, to promote a liberal, open, free, rules-based order that is in line with Japan’s interest in responding to China’s growing influence. This project will provide a new diplomatic approach for Japan by describing appropriate measures to be taken in consideration of requirements, concerns and possible reactions of the countries concerned. Furthermore, the Japan-U.S. alliance will be tackled and emphasized along the way as recommendations are listed and the questions of why this alliance is benefi cial for economic development and why it is necessary for Japan to gain sympathy from other countries in the region in order to build and strengthen the foundation of their Indo-Pacific strategy and to improve Japan’s influence on the region will be explained.