On Wednesday 30 July 2008, Professor William Tow (Professor of International Security, Australian National University) addressed members and guests of the Institute on “U.S. Asia-Pacific Allies in Washington's Global Strategy: Spokes, Webs or Anachronism?”. Organised by IISS-Asia, the event took place at 9 Raffles Place, #53-02 Republic Plaza.
Synopsis:
As the 2008 U.S. presidential election draws near, the future role of U.S. alliances in Asia has yet to be clearly addressed by either the major candidates. Senators McCain and Obama both have emphasised that the United States must view allies more as equal partners than mere subordinates in the implementation of counter-terrorism initiatives and other components of U.S. global strategy. McCain, in particular, appears keen to continue the Bush administration's effort to cultivate an international alliance of democracies. More is required, however, if Washington's bilateral alliances in the Pacific are to be transformed from an increasingly anachronistic network of 'hub and spokes' to a policy instrument more in line with contemporary international security challenges. This presentation will review why such a transformation must occur if U.S. bilateral alliances in Asia are to endure, and will offer some preliminary policy recommendations for implementing such change.
Professor Tow is Professor in International Security in the Department of International Relations at the Australian National University in Canberra. He is author or editor of 16 books and over 100 journal articles or book chapters, mostly covering Asia-Pacific security issues and alliance politics. He is former editor of the Australian Journal of International Affairs (2001). His recent publications include Asia-Pacific Security: US, Australia and Japan and the New Security Triangle (co-editor: Routledge 2007); The Other Special Relationship: The United States and Australia at the Start of the 21st Century (co-editor: Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College, 2007); Asia Pacific Strategic Relations: Seeking Convergent Security (Cambridge, 2001).
[IISS-Asia is pleased to acknowledge the financial support of the Australian Department of Defence for this seminar series.]
