| ID | 160610 |
| Title Proper | Three Faces of the Indo-Pacific |
| Other Title Information | Understanding the “Indo-Pacific” from an IR Theory Perspective |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | He, Kai |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | This paper examines the three faces of the Indo-Pacific from an IR theory perspective. It suggests that the realist face of the Indo-Pacific is a “balancing strategy” against China. The liberal face of the Indo-Pacific aims to form a new “institutional setting” that facilitates cooperation among states across the Pacific and the Indian Oceans. According to constructivism, the Indo-Pacific offers an “ideational construct” for promoting value-oriented and norm-based diplomacy in the region. This paper argues that these three faces of the Indo-Pacific concept are theoretically problematic and practically flawed. There are two ways of institutionalizing the Indo-Pacific, though. One is exclusive institutionalization with China as an outside target, which follows the realist logic of making China a common threat in the region. The success of this approach mainly depends on how China behaves in the future. The other is the inclusive approach of institutionalizing the Indo-Pacific by embracing China and other states into a new Indo-Pacific institution. It will not be easy, but the endeavor of the inclusive institutionalization of the Indo-Pacific will produce positive externalities of peace and stability to the region. |
| `In' analytical Note | East Asia: An International Quarterly Vol. 35, No.2; Jun 2018: p.149–161 |
| Journal Source | East Asia: An International Quaterly Vol: 35 No 2 |
| Key Words | Liberalism ; Realism ; Constructivism ; Institutionalization ; US-China Relations ; Indo-Pacific ; Institutional Balancing |