Crouching tiger, hidden dragon : the Indian Ocean and the maritime balance of power in historical perspective
The Indian Ocean since ancient times was an important goe-strategic arena of inter-regional unities held together informally by trade winds and diplomatic relations. In the geographical and historical convergence of East and West, Asians, Africans and Europeans interacted with one another over a pe...
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| Format: | Working Paper |
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2009
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/90452 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/4400 |
| _version_ | 1826122208087375872 |
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| author | Chew, Emrys |
| author2 | S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies |
| author_facet | S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Chew, Emrys |
| author_sort | Chew, Emrys |
| collection | NTU |
| description | The Indian Ocean since ancient times was an important goe-strategic arena of inter-regional unities held together informally by trade winds and diplomatic relations. In the geographical and historical convergence of East and West, Asians, Africans and Europeans interacted with one another over a period of many centureis, participating in a sophisticated structure of commerce and politics underpinned by the system of monsoons.
It was therefore only a matter of time before the 'balanced' geography of the Indian Ocean gave rise to balances of power. But when exactly, and how, did the geo-strategic, inter-regional character of the Indian Ocean translate into maritime balance-of-power considerations?
This paper explores the historical roots and changing dynamics of that geopolitical equation. In so doing, it evaluates the evolving matrix of intra-regional and extra-regional players as well as the comparative importance of varieties of power in the Indian Ocean arean: 'hard' or 'soft', 'state' or 'non-state', 'land-based' or 'seaborne'. The paper then examines some of the long-term implications of these changing balances for the future of the region-especially in view of the present, concurrent rise of India and China. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T05:44:43Z |
| format | Working Paper |
| id | ntu-10356/90452 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T05:44:43Z |
| publishDate | 2009 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/904522020-11-01T08:45:42Z Crouching tiger, hidden dragon : the Indian Ocean and the maritime balance of power in historical perspective Chew, Emrys S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies DRNTU::Social sciences::Military and naval science::Strategy::Asia The Indian Ocean since ancient times was an important goe-strategic arena of inter-regional unities held together informally by trade winds and diplomatic relations. In the geographical and historical convergence of East and West, Asians, Africans and Europeans interacted with one another over a period of many centureis, participating in a sophisticated structure of commerce and politics underpinned by the system of monsoons. It was therefore only a matter of time before the 'balanced' geography of the Indian Ocean gave rise to balances of power. But when exactly, and how, did the geo-strategic, inter-regional character of the Indian Ocean translate into maritime balance-of-power considerations? This paper explores the historical roots and changing dynamics of that geopolitical equation. In so doing, it evaluates the evolving matrix of intra-regional and extra-regional players as well as the comparative importance of varieties of power in the Indian Ocean arean: 'hard' or 'soft', 'state' or 'non-state', 'land-based' or 'seaborne'. The paper then examines some of the long-term implications of these changing balances for the future of the region-especially in view of the present, concurrent rise of India and China. 2009-02-05T09:32:27Z 2019-12-06T17:47:59Z 2009-02-05T09:32:27Z 2019-12-06T17:47:59Z 2007 2007 Working Paper Chew, E. (2007). Crouching tiger, hidden dragon : the Indian Ocean and the maritime balance of power in historical perspective. (RSIS Working Paper, No. 144). Singapore: Nanyang Technological University. https://hdl.handle.net/10356/90452 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/4400 RSIS Working Papers ; 144/07 Nanyang Technological University 34 p. application/pdf |
| spellingShingle | DRNTU::Social sciences::Military and naval science::Strategy::Asia Chew, Emrys Crouching tiger, hidden dragon : the Indian Ocean and the maritime balance of power in historical perspective |
| title | Crouching tiger, hidden dragon : the Indian Ocean and the maritime balance of power in historical perspective |
| title_full | Crouching tiger, hidden dragon : the Indian Ocean and the maritime balance of power in historical perspective |
| title_fullStr | Crouching tiger, hidden dragon : the Indian Ocean and the maritime balance of power in historical perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Crouching tiger, hidden dragon : the Indian Ocean and the maritime balance of power in historical perspective |
| title_short | Crouching tiger, hidden dragon : the Indian Ocean and the maritime balance of power in historical perspective |
| title_sort | crouching tiger hidden dragon the indian ocean and the maritime balance of power in historical perspective |
| topic | DRNTU::Social sciences::Military and naval science::Strategy::Asia |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/90452 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/4400 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chewemrys crouchingtigerhiddendragontheindianoceanandthemaritimebalanceofpowerinhistoricalperspective |