THE 'INDO-PACIFIC' IDEA: ORIGINS, CONCEPTUALIZATIONS AND THE WAY AHEAD (original) (raw)

2019, Journal of Indian Ocean Rim Studies (JIORS)

The Indo-Pacific concept—representing the 'maritime underbelly‘ of Asia—is being used increasingly in the contemporary geopolitical discourse. The paper examines the progressive genesis of the Indo-Pacific idea since the 1920s, along with the circumstances that led to its rebirth in 2006. Essentially, this was a result of the increased 'security‘ linkages between the two oceans, with China being a major factor. In the main analysis, the paper explores the strategic drivers, interests, approaches and perspectives of the key regional players and stakeholders— like the ASEAN, Australia, China, the EU, Japan, and the USA, with a specific focus on India. Based on an exploratory research methodology, the paper analyses the current trends, deducing a policy-relevant prognosis for the regional countries and stakeholders. In particular, it examines the emerging Indo-Pacific multilateral architecture, and the leading role that the existing organizations like the EAS and the IORA could play in it, along with the new Quadrilateral Dialogue (Quad 2.0). The paper concludes with recommendations to meet the overarching objective of the Indo-Pacific vision: economic, material and societal prosperity of maritime-Asia. These are of much relevance for Indian policy-making, considering its long-overdue formal articulation of a national-strategy. In context of the Quad 2.0, it suggests that 'security‘ issues need not receive undue salience, since military strategy is merely a mechanism for 'assurance‘ and 'insurance‘ to achieve the ends of the Indo-Pacific vision.