Explaining Contemporary Asian Military Modernization: The Myth of Asia’s Arms Race (Asian Security Studies) - Softcover

Lee, Sheryn

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0367506831 ISBN 13: 9780367506834

Publisher: Routledge, 2023

Synopsis

This book proposes a novel theoretical framework of "interactive arming" in order to explain armament dynamics in contemporary Asia.

Frequently, the modernisation of contemporary naval forces in Asia is described as an "arms race," with the underlying assumption being that weapons acquisitions and increases in defence expenditure are competitive and bilateral and due to conflicting purposes or mutual fears. This book argues that the concept of an arms race is an unsuitable one for explaining contemporary military modernisation in 21st-century Asia. Instead, it proposes a novel and innovative concept of "interactive arming" and argues that what drives conflict is political rivalry, not weapons acquisitions. Instead of perceiving arming as abnormal behaviour, the book views arming as a natural strategic behaviour of states and military modernisation as a basic requirement for a state’s ability to survive.

This book will be of much interest to students of Asian security, strategic studies and international relations in general.

About this title

About the Author

Sheryn Lee is Lecturer in the Department of Security Studies and Criminology, Macquarie University, Australia.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2023
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0367506831
• ISBN 13: 9780367506834
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 198