Asia's Security Challenges

The Asia-Pacific Region has changed from a region of permanent crisis to a major economic growth area of the world. This is mainly based on the stability of the region despite some existent conflict potentials. Consequently the influence of new challenges for national security is of great importance for the analysis of the future developments in this region. Security is one of the crucial needs for the individual as well as for a nation or a state. A comprehensive security approach is recognized by most of the Asian nation states, but most of the regional organizations in Asia are lacking it. Nevertheless, the coming era of globalization, increasing interdependence, closer communication networks, and a growing ecology factor will show the need for closer cooperation and more regionalization in order to fulfill the requirements of the nation state towards its inhabitants.

The articles contained in this volume provide an invaluable guide to a modified security approach in Asia, which can be the first step of building a common Asian security thinking. The covering of major security challenges as well as the regional security panoramas and the selected country profiles provide a crucial overview concerning this complex problem and can hopefully enhance the understanding of some Asian peculiarities.

Wilfred A Herrmann