Crossing the Himalayas: Buddhist Ties, Regional Integration and Great-Power Rivalry

This book analyzes the integration and rivalry among great powers and regional states in the Himalayan region, examining the interactions between the great powers and small states, the effects of rivalry on regional cooperation, and predicting future trends in geo-politics and geo-economy. It is the first study to bring the Himalaya region to the center of geopolitical and geo-economic cooperation and rivalry, offering a comprehensive analysis of the competition by inviting experts from both South Asia and China.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 194 pages
Publication date: 29 October 2022
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This book aims to analyze two contrasting trends of integration and rivalry among great powers and regional states of the Himalaya. It examines the interactions between the great powers and the small states in the Himalayan region, analyzes the multiple effects of the great power rivalry on the regional cooperation, and predicts the possible directions of the future of the geo-politics and geo-economy in the Himalayan region by incorporating the most recent developments. The main content of the book is divided into 11 parts. The Introduction briefly explains the aims and scope of this book. The following chapter focuses on the Buddhist ties between China and the Himalayan states in the past two millennia and its dual influence in the Himalayan region. The rest nine chapters provide an in-depth analysis of the security dilemma between China and India, Indian perspectives on China-South Asian relations, Chinese perspectives on U.S. and Japan's engagement with South Asia and Indo-Myanmar relations, and Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal's responses to the regional integration and great power rivalry in the Himalayan region, respectively. This is the first study that brings the Himalaya region at the center of geopolitical and geo-economic cooperation and rivalry, thus highlighting its significance in Asian politics. It offers a comprehensive analysis of the complicated geo-political and geo-economic competition in the Himalayan region by inviting experts from both South Asia and China to contribute chapters. It also balances the west-centered views on the great power rivalry by introducing cultural perspectives and small state perspectives. The broad approach adopted in the book with a focus on all important countries expands the scope of readership beyond specific academic circles.

Weight: 326g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811658105
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022