Book Review – Maritime Security in Southeast Asia

This edited volume deals with issues and dimensions related to maritime security in Southeast Asia. This is of considerable interest and relevance both from scholarly and policy-making perspectives. The contributors are scholars based in Southeast Asia and a limited number of European based scholars. The volume is the end product of a two-workshop process. The volume is structured in the following way. The volume is divided into five parts and fifteen chapters. The five parts are "Introduction", "Challenges", "Responses", "Comments and reflections", and "Afterword". Chapter 1 by Anders C. Sjaastad analyses the Southeast Asian sea-lanes of communication and security options (pp. 1–13). Chapter 2 by Barry Desker discusses the safety of navigation in the Malacca Strait (pp. 14–18). Chapter 3 by Joshua Ho analyses the importance and security of regional sea-lanes (pp. 21–33). Chapter 4 by W. Lawrence S. Prabhakar is devoted to the regional dimension of territorial and maritime disputes in Southeast Asia (pp. 34-48). Chapter 5 by Ralf Emmers analyses the maritime disputes in the South China Sea (pp. 49–61). Chapter 6 by Catherine Zara Raymond is devoted to piracy in the waters of Southeast Asia (pp. 62–77). Chapter 7 by Arabinda Acharya studies the threat of maritime terrorism in Southeast Asia (pp. 78–93). Chapter 8 by Sam Bateman analyses the possibilities of creating order at sea in Southeast Asia (pp. 97–116). Chapter 9 by Robert Beckman studies the issue of Archipelagic sea-lanes passage in Southeast Asia (pp. 117–133). Chapter 10 by Christian-Marius Stryken is devoted to the Regional Maritime Security Initiative of the United States of America (USA) and its grand strategy on Southeast Asia (pp. 134–145). In chapter 11 Jan Georg Christophersen studies satellite-based tracking of ships as a global crime control (pp. 146– 161). Chapter 12 by Gunnar Stølsvik is devoted to flags of convenience and its impact on combating crime at sea (pp. 162–174). Chapter 13 by John K. Skogan analyses the challenges of terrorism at sea (pp. 177–188). In Chapter 14 Kwa Chong Guan reflects on the changing maritime security environment (pp. 189–197). Finally, in Chapter 15 Tay Lim Heng discusses the importance of shipping and the challenges ahead (pp. 201–204)

Book Review – Conflict And Change In Cambodia

This edited volume deals with conflict and change in Cambodia and given the developments in Cambodia since the early 1970s it is a very relevant topic. The volumes deal with developments from the 1940s to the 2000s with a focus on developments in the 1990s. The contributors include established experts on Cambodia and less established scholars. The volume deals both with conflict trends, political development, and issues related to logging. The volume is structured in the following way. First, an introduction on conflict in Cambodia between 1945 and 2006 by Ben Kiernan (pp. vii– xix). Then Chapter 1 on the collapse of the "Pol Pot Regime" in early 1979 that is primarily a English language translation of an account on the experience of the Chinese diplomats to Democratic Kampuchea (DK) (pp. 1–25). Chapter 2 by David Reports is devoted to Cambodian politics 1991–1999 (pp. 26–44). Chapter 3 by Caroline Hughes also analyses Cambodian politics with a focus on the 1998 general elections and the role of international intervention (pp. 45–68). Chapter 4 by Philippe Le Billon is devoted to the issue of forest exploitation in Cambodia (pp. 69–92). Chapter 5 by Ruth Bottomley also looks at forest exploitation by analysing local responses to logging in Ratanakiri Province (pp. 93–112). Finally, in the Documents section Helen Jarvis (chapter 6) and Ben Kiernan (chapter 7) provide background information relating to the process of establishing a tribunal try leaders from the DK period (pp. 113–130)

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN): conflict management approach revisited ; will the charter reinforce ASEAN's role?

"Hauptziel dieser Studie ist, zu untersuchen, welche Rolle die Vereinigung südostasiatischer Nationen (ASEAN) im Management und in der Bewältigung von Konflikten zwischen ihren Mitgliedstaaten spielt. ASEANs Verständnis von Konfliktmanagement und Streitschlichtung wird dargestellt - ebenso der Hintergrund, vor dem es entstand. Desweiteren werden ASEANs Errungenschaften wie Herausforderungen im Konfliktmanagement behandelt. Im Allgemeinen sind ASEANs Erfolge in Südostasien anerkannt. ASEANs Beitrag und ihre Rolle dabei wird jedoch debattiert. In diesem Artikel wird das ASEAN-Modell für Konfliktmanagement und Streitschlichtung sowie die möglichen Auswirkungen auf Konfliktsituationen in Südostasien aus drei Blickwinkeln analysiert: (1) Kernelemente des ASEAN-Ansatzes; (2) die Rolle ASEANs im Management von Konflikten zwischen Mitgliedstaaten; (3) mögliche Implikationen des ASEAN-Modells auf regionale Konflikte. Potenzielle Auswirkungen jüngerer Entwicklungen innerhalb ASEANs, vor allem der ASEAN Charter, werden analysiert, um die Rolle, die ASEAN im regionalen Konfliktmanagement spielen kann, besser abschätzen zu können." (Autorenreferat)"The main aim of this study is to assess the role played by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the management and resolution of disputes between its member-states in the South-East Asian region. The ASEAN approach to conflict management is outlined and the context in which it has developed is presented. The achievements and challenges that ASEAN has faced and is still facing in the field of conflict management are identified. ASEAN's contribution to conflict management in the South-East Asian region is recognized, although the nature of the contribution and the role played by the Association is debated. ASEAN's model and approach to conflict and dispute management and the possible impact of the approach on the conflict situation in the South-East Asian region are examined from three main dimensions: (1) the core elements of the approach; (2) the role played by the Association in terms of conflict management; (3) the possible impact of the ASEAN approach in managing disputes among its member-states. The possible impact of recent developments within ASEAN - the ASEAN Charter in particular - is analyzed in assessing the role that the Association can play in promoting conflict management." (author's abstract

Regional conflict management: challenges of the border disputes of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam

"Dieser Beitrag analysiert Grenzstreitigkeiten Kambodschas, Laos und Vietnams. Gelöste und ungelöste Konflikte, als auch weitere Trends im Management von Grenzstreitigkeiten werden dabei betrachtet. Herausforderungen in der Umsetzung von Vereinbarungen sowie in der Schlichtung noch ungelöster Dispute und deren Implikationen auf das regionale Konfliktmanagement werden adressiert. Die Studie zeigt auf, dass Laos und Vietnam beträchtliche Fortschritte im Management und in der Lösung ihrer Grenzstreitigkeiten gemacht machen, während Kambodscha bis dato weniger erfolgreich war." (Autorenreferat)"This study analyzes the border disputes of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, respectively. Both settled and unsettled disputes are encompassed. The study outlines the settlements reached and the remaining unsettled disputes. Furthermore, the broader trends in managing the border disputes are analyzed and remaining challenges, both in implementing agreements and in managing the unsettled disputes, are addressed. So are the implications for regional conflict management. The study displays that both Laos and Vietnam have made considerable progress in both managing and settling their existing border disputes, whereas Cambodia has thus far been less successful." (author's abstract

The United Nations' Reaction to Foreign Military Interventions : A Comparative Case Study Analysis

The purpose of the study is to analyse how the United Nations has reacted to foreign military interventions and which factors can help explain the reactions. In order to carry out the investigation the term foreign military intervention is defined, criteria for the selection of cases are formulated, and cases selected. This is followed by an examination of the United Nations’ reactions to the selected cases through the Security Council’s and the General Assembly’s responses to the interventions. The next step of the analysis is the formulation of a Hypothesis. This is done from a legal and normative approach to explaining the United Nations’ reactions. The Hypothesis is operationalised and tested through the formulation of two specifications. The two specifications are analysed in the context of the United Nation’s reactions to the selected cases. Based on this analysis the validity of the hypothesis is assessed