Can Asians Think of Peace? : Essays on Managing Conflict in the Asian Century

Abstract

This open access book explores the shifting dynamics of global power, highlighting Asia's resurgence. For centuries before the Western colonial era, China and India dominated the world economy. Now, Asia is reclaiming its historical prominence. China presents a formidable challenge to American power, while India is on track to become the world's third-largest economy by 2030. The 21st century is poised to be the Asian century, but will this rise be peaceful, or will it lead to catastrophic conflicts? Kishore Mahbubani, head and founder of the Asian Peace Programme (APP) at the National University of Singapore, offers a collection of 61 essays on peace in Asia, co-edited by Dr. Varigonda Kesava Chandra, and Kristen Tang. Written by scholars and practitioners from both Asia and the West between July 2020 and December 2024, these essays analyze potential flashpoints in Asia and propose pragmatic, implementable ideas for conflict management and peacebuilding. Topics include managing the US-China relationship, stabilizing India-Pakistan and China-India border conflicts, strengthening relations among Southeast Asian countries, and addressing global threats such as nuclear war and climate change. Mr. Mahbubani also provides a sharp introduction, contextualizing the conflict management and peacebuilding processes of the Asian 21st century.