The conceptual boundaries of Asia, and more recently the "Indo-Pacific," have been redefined by evolving geopolitical shifts, infrastructure expansion, and technological advancements. This panel seeks to investigate how these transformations have reshaped the Indo-Pacific's role in international relations, calling for a deeper analysis of emerging regional concepts, historical legacies, and the new materialities that shape this dynamic space. We aim to explore the tensions and intersections between long-standing geopolitical frameworks and contemporary regional developments, examining how these factors influence knowledge production about the Indo-Pacific. The panel includes contributions that investigate the interplay between historical legacies and present-day transformations, and how this reshapes the political and strategic landscape of the region. Submissions from non-Western perspectives are particularly encouraged to foster a more inclusive understanding of the region's evolution.
Key topics include:
- The production of knowledge on the Indo-Pacific.
- Empirical approaches to regionalism and their relevance for the Indo-Pacific context.
- The impact of infrastructure projects, such as the Belt and Road Initiative, on intra-regional relations and connectivity.
- The influence of historical geopolitics on contemporary Asian regionalism, and how these legacies shape current power dynamics.
By addressing these themes, the panel aims to provide a nuanced analysis of how regional concepts evolve in response to both material transformations and the weight of geopolitical history. Ultimately, this will offer new insights into Asia’s shifting role within the global order.