Globalization was the buzzword at the end of the 20th century from the summit meeting to the media to the classroom. Today the debates between its evangelists and detractors have become less dominant though scarcely less heated. In this concise, balanced and accessible new text, Nick Bisley assesses the nature and extent of globalization, the key debates surrounding it and its impact on and significance for world politics.

This book provides a systematic analysis of the current state and future trajectory of security cooperation in the worlds most economically dynamic and strategically uncertain region. It explains the rapid rise of a complex array of security mechanisms in Asia and argues that their limited influence on Asian states security policy derives from a combination of institutional and diplomatic shortcomings, as well as the broader mistrust and strategic uncertainty evident in the region. As such, the paper argues that Asia presently has a fractured security architecture and that this likely to remain the case in the short term. Although current security cooperation is not providing substantive reassurance to many regional powers, indeed it is to some degree masking the growing wariness among many regional powers, institutional mechanisms can contribute to the creation of a stable regional order in Asia and the prospects of such efforts are politically plausible, but by no means inevitable. Provided they are well designed and have sufficient political capital invested in them, security institutions can be capable of providing regional security public goods that are not available through other means, and which the region will need if it is to be able to make good on its potential.

This book provides a systematic analysis of the current state and future trajectory of security cooperation in the world's most economically dynamic and strategically uncertain region. It explains the rapid rise of a complex array of security mechanisms in Asia and argues that their limited influence on Asian states' security policy derives from a combination of institutional and diplomatic shortcomings, as well as the broader mistrust and strategic uncertainty evident in the region. As such, the paper argues that Asia presently has a fractured security architecture and that this likely to remain the case in the short term. Although current security cooperation is not providing substantive reassurance to many regional powers, indeed it is to some degree masking the growing wariness among many regional powers, institutional mechanisms can contribute to the creation of a stable regional order in Asia and the prospects of such efforts are politically plausible, but by no means inevitable. Provided they are well designed and have sufficient political capital invested in them, security institutions can be capable of providing regional security public goods that are not available through other means, and which the region will need if it is to be able to make good on its potential.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is emerging as a vital lynch-pin in China's efforts to establish a maritime and continental zone of influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The Belt and Road Initiative and the Future of Regional Order in the Indo-Pacific interrogates to what extent BRI represents an achievable vision of a China-centric order in Asia and explores its major security implications for the region. The contributions to this volume provide up-to-date analysis of the effect of BRI on the region's foreign policy and alliance patterns, its connection to geo-economics and domestic Chinese politics, and the policy responses of key Indo-Pacific actors. While acknowledging that BRI remains prey to a variety of internal and exogenous shocks, the contributors conclude that at the very least BRI will continue to disrupt the existing alignments of economic and strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific and that on this minimal basis BRI will likely be judged a success by China. For regional actors, however, the BRI simultaneously enhances choice while presenting strategic and economic risks of greater dependency on China - a dilemma intensified by the disruptive effects of the Trump administration on regional confidence in the longevity of American commitments and leadership.

The third edition of this popular textbook offers a comprehensive and authoritative introduction to the key questions that will confront anyone interested in world politics for decades to come. This text is a collation of topical chapters, each authored by experts in their own field and written in a clear and balanced manner. The issues which endure, as well as new and unexpected issues, are all covered within this text, with cross-referencing between chapters and to external work. New chapters cover the major developments of this era, including the impact of the financial crisis, climate change, the refugee crisis, the rise of China and Russia. Beeson and Bisely hone this text with their careful editorship. They place this text within the context of the key questions that arise from these issues: to what extent can policy makers cope with fundamental changes to politics, what will the impact of non-state actors be, what can we predict about future world politics, to name a few. This makes the text indispensable to students wishing to understanding contemporary world politics. Being wide-ranging and completely up-to-date, this is the ideal companion for both undergraduates and postgraduate students of internationals relations and politics. The text has been written in a clear and approachable manner to make it accessible to students unfamiliar with the topic.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is emerging as a vital lynch-pin in China's efforts to establish a maritime and continental zone of influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The Belt and Road Initiative and the Future of Regional Order in the Indo-Pacific interrogates to what extent BRI represents an achievable vision of a China-centric order in Asia and explores its major security implications for the region. The contributions to this volume provide up-to-date analysis of the effect of BRI on the region's foreign policy and alliance patterns, its connection to geo-economics and domestic Chinese politics, and the policy responses of key Indo-Pacific actors. While acknowledging that BRI remains prey to a variety of internal and exogenous shocks, the contributors conclude that at the very least BRI will continue to disrupt the existing alignments of economic and strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific and that on this minimal basis BRI will likely be judged a success by China. For regional actors, however, the BRI simultaneously enhances choice while presenting strategic and economic risks of greater dependency on China - a dilemma intensified by the disruptive effects of the Trump administration on regional confidence in the longevity of American commitments and leadership.