International Relations of Asia, Second Edition (Asia in World Politics) - Hardcover

Want to know where the Asia region is headed? This comprehensive and well-written volume provides a clear picture of its political, economic, and social dynamics by the top scholars in the field. It has justly become the most widely used textbook for Asian international relations courses. -- Susan Shirk, University of California, San Diego; former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs David Shambaugh and Michael Yahuda have edited what is clearly going to be the seminal work linking key international relations concepts with Asia-Pacific policy trends. Renowned chapter contributors bring unmatched levels of expertise to key contemporary issues shaping the region. This book combines a rich and intricate blend of theoretical perspectives with keen empirical insights that will enhance our understanding of where Asia is going and what might be done to overcome multiple and complex challenges to its stability and prosperity. The perspectives it offers on Sino-American relations, regional history, and order-building and transregional dynamics are particularly illuminating. This book is required reading for all scholars, students, and analysts who study and assess international relations and Asia-Pacific politics. -- William Tow, chair, Department of International Relations, Australian National University These essays by leading scholars combine interpretive richness and factual depth. Taken together, they provide a one-stop education on the dynamics of the globe's most dynamic region. -- Richard C. Bush, director, Center for East Asia Policy Studies, The Brookings Institution Heads are now turning to a clamorous Asia as seldom before, where long-dormant tensions, emerging and maturing markets, and a burgeoning arms race force our attention. This volume provides a comprehensive look at the recent pattern of accelerated change through the eyes of seasoned scholars who have been wrestling with Asian realities for decades. If you are looking to update yourself both Asia-wide and country by country, this volume has what you need. -- Douglas Paal, vice president for studies, The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace A broad-gauge, up-to-date survey of the shifting global landscape, this volume, while invaluable as a textbook, is more than just a teaching tool for the classroom, although it is certainly that. It is also a boon to a much broader readership-indeed, for any citizen who wants to understand how different the new century is from the old one, especially with the rise of Asia. The editors have brought together, in admirably cohesive fashion, some of the foremost scholars on the region and on international affairs, bridging the usual divide between economic and politics. -- Strobe Talbott, president, The Brookings Institution

As the world's most vital region, Asia embodies explosive economic growth, diverse political systems, vibrant societies, modernizing militaries, cutting-edge technologies, rich cultural traditions amid globalization, and strategic competition among major powers. As a result, international relations in Asia are evolving rapidly. In this fully updated and expanded volume, leading scholars offer the most current and definitive analysis available of Asia's regional relationships. They set developments in Asia in theoretical context, assess the role of leading external and regional powers, and consider the importance of subregional actors and linkages. Students and policy practitioners alike will find this book invaluable for understanding politics in contemporary Asia.