Pacific Asia?

Emphasizing human and environmental security over traditional power politics, Mel Gurtov offers a provocative reinterpretation of security in the Asia-Pacific region. The author questions a number of prevailing assumptions, such as the China threat, a U.S.-centered balance of power, and the necessity of a greater Japanese security role. He argues instead for a cooperative framework for future security that focuses on people’s basic needs, is sensitive to Asian nationalism, and gradually replaces military power with developmental priorities. With its concise appraisals of the security policies of the United States, China, Japan, the two Koreas, and the ASEAN countries, this work will be a valued reference for policymakers, scholars, and students alike.