Security has long been a central organizing concept of international relations. Until the 1980s, students of the discipline understood its simple essence in terms of arms races and balances of power. However, the issues have changed considerably in the 1990s, and this text aims to help students understand these changes. Many attempts have been made to redefine the concept, leading to a proliferation of terms such as true security, global security, common security and environmental security, but there has been little precision associated with the use of these terms which have often been used in confusing and contradictory ways. In attempting to help students deal with the confusion, this book seeks to outline the theoretical tools at the disposal of students for their own rethinking of security. These tools offer innovative ways of looking at a central concept of the discipline. It outlines some of these alternatives in the context of the third world, which, it is argued, has been neglected by the traditional conceptualization of security.

Security and Migration in Asia explores how various forms of unregulated and illegal forms of human movement within Asia and beyond the region have come to be treated as 'security' issues, and whether and how a 'securitization' framework enables a more effective response to them. The process and theory of 'securitization' and 'desecuritization' have been developed within the international relations literature by the so-call Copenhagen school scholars, including Barry Buzan and Ole Waever among others. The topics explored in this well- presented and engaging book cover geographic areas of China, Northeast Asia, Central Asia, the Russian Far East, Southeast Asia, and the Hong Kong SAR, and includes research on: human trafficking and people smuggling financing illegal migration and links to transnational organized crime regulated and unregulated labour migration the 'securitization' of illegal migration in sending, transit and receiving countries. This book provides compelling insights into contemporary forms of illegal migration, under conditions of globalization, and makes a contribution to the literature in international relations and migration studies.

Developments in East Asia have progressed rapidly in terms of regionalism since the 1997 crisis. The end of the Asian miracle called into question not only the capacity of regional states to meet the needs of their attendant peoples, but also challenged the viability of regional organizations, such as ASEAN, to adapt and respond to the changing circumstances.
Advancing East Asian Regionalism looks at the ways in which ASEAN has expanded since the crisis, and evaluates the potential of East Asia to come together in a regional formation - one capable of representing the region as a whole - akin to the European Community. It draws upon the knowledge and perspectives of academics and policy makers actively engaged in the contradictory issues of regionalism. Coupling case study material on regionalism, institutions, and sectoral cooperation, with theoretical debates on regionalization, this book is an invaluable resource that pushes our understanding of East Asian regionalism forward.

Migration and Securitisation in Southeast Asia explores how various forms of unregulated and illegal forms of human movement within Asia and beyond the region have come to be treated as 'security' issues, and whether and how a 'securitization' framework enables a more effective response to them. The process and theory of 'securitization' and 'desecuritization' have been developed within the international relations literature by the so-call Copenhagen school scholars, including Barry Buzan and Ole Waever among others.

The topics explored in this well- presented and engaging book cover geographic areas of China, Northeast Asia, Central Asia, the Russian Far East, Southeast Asia, and the Hong Kong SAR, and includes research on:

• human trafficking and people smuggling
• financing illegal migration and links to transnational organized crime
• regulated and unregulated labour migration
• the 'securitization' of illegal migration in sending, transit and receiving countries.

Migration and Securitisation in Southeast Asia provides compelling insights into contemporary forms of illegal migration, under conditions of globalization, and makes a contribution to the literature in international relations and migration studies.

Developments in East Asia have progressed rapidly in terms of regionalism since the 1997 crisis. The end of the Asian miracle called into question not only the capacity of regional states to meet the needs of their attendant peoples, but also challenged the viability of regional organizations, such as ASEAN, to adapt and respond to the changing circumstances. Advancing East Asian Regionalism looks at the ways in which ASEAN has expanded since the crisis, and evaluates the potential of East Asia to come together in a regional formation - one capable of representing the region as a whole - akin to the European Community. It draws upon the knowledge and perspectives of academics and policy makers actively engaged in the contradictory issues of regionalism. Coupling case study material on regionalism, institutions, and sectoral cooperation, with theoretical debates on regionalization, this book is an invaluable resource that pushes our understanding of East Asian regionalism forward.