Strategy and Southeast Asia: Defence and Security Dynamics

This graduate course examines defence and security in Southeast Asia, introducing students to the contemporary geopolitical importance and distinctive security dynamics of Southeast Asia. To do this, the course investigates how different historical, colonial, political, religious and economic legacies affect the dynamics of modern Southeast Asia, in addition to the more generic strategies adopted by small and medium powers. It analyses the interplay between Great Power rivalry, multilateral architecture and Southeast Asian security outlooks. Students undertaking the course will be exposed to a range of theoretical perspectives for interpreting and analysing developments in Southeast Asian security and Southeast Asian security postures, ranging from strategic culture to standard realist approaches. They will develop a capacity for original, independent analysis of Southeast Asian defence strategy and security policy, in an era when Southeast Asia is of more geopolitical importance than at any time since the Vietnam War.