Events

CHAIRPERSON

Prof Prasenjit Duara, Asia Research Institute, Office of Deputy President (Research & Technology), NUS

ABSTRACT

It is widely assumed that we are living in an era of hegemonic power transition from American to Chinese dominance in East Asia. This seminar evaluates this idea by examining U.S. and Chinese authority vis-à-vis Southeast Asian states focusing on the contemporary disputes in the South China Sea. Public goods provision is a key marker of hegemonic authority, and conflict management specifically is one core task within classical notions of great powers’ special responsibilities regarding international order. Maritime disputes over territory and the use of resources in the South China Sea constitute a critical conflict with potential systemic impacts on regional peace and stability. As the U.S. is a non-claimant and neutral on the territorial disputes between China and its smaller Southeast Asian neighbours, this might be a good case for testing the limits of U.S. authority and the extent of Chinese and ASEAN authority in conflict management. Yet, key SLOCs in this area ensure U.S. interest in the issue by way of the foundational public good, freedom of navigation. The paper first presents a conceptual framework for authority in conflict management, then analyses the U.S.-China dispute over the use of maritime zones in the South China Sea, before assessing the competing modes of territorial conflict management between Southeast Asian claimants and China. It argues that hegemonic transition remains a distant prospect, and explains the limitations and challenges of Southeast Asian strategies to cope in the mean time with diffused authority in regional conflicts.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Evelyn Goh (MA, DPhil, Oxford) is Reader (Associate Professor) in International Relations at Royal Holloway, University of London. Her research interests are East Asian security and international relations theory. She has published widely on U.S.-China relations and diplomatic history, regional security cooperation and institutions in East Asia, Southeast Asian strategies towards great powers, and environmental security. She has just completed a book with Oxford University Press entitled The Struggle for Order: Hegemony, Hierarchy and Transition in Post-Cold War East Asia. She has held faculty positions at the University of Oxford, and the Rajaratnam School of International Studies; and visiting positions at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Australian National University, Woodrow Wilson Center, East-West Center, Peking University, Keio University and Seoul National University.

REGISTRATION

Admission is free. We would greatly appreciate if you RSVP to Jonathan via email at jonathan.lee@nus.edu.sg