East Asia Imperilled: Transnational Challenges to Security

Description

Security issues have traditionally been defined in military terms, yet the post-Cold War security landscape contains numerous non-military challenges to security. In this pathbreaking analysis, Alan Dupont argues that an emerging new class of non-military threats has the potential to destabilize East Asia and reverse decades of hard-won economic and social development. He shows that these transnational shifts must be grasped and dealt with by governments and non-government organizations both regionally, and internationally, if conflict is to be avoided. Transnational threats stem from overpopulation, deforestation and pollution, global warming, unregulated population movements, transnational crime, virulent new strains of infectious diseases and other issues not previously associated with international security. Collectively they represent a new agenda and pose novel challenges for foreign and defence policy. This highly informative, compelling and authoritative book is essential reading for East Asia specialists and makes a significant and timely contribution to international security debates.

'... this book is a masterful and comprehensive treatment of a subject that has emerged as a critical security challenge for Asia-Pacific countries. It is a must-read for any serious scholar on the subject ... a treasure trove for anyone with an inclination for additional research into this emerging and exciting area of security studies. this book would be valuable for both practitioners and scholars alike.' Contemporary South East Asia