This volume looks at the implications of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks for Asia Pacific regional and global order. Three thematic chapters and three country-specific chapters collect Asian perspectives on how the world and the region should be managed because of, or in spite of, the events of September 11.

A chapter on the Islam factor presents the views of Asian Muslims, assesses the role of “politicized Islam”, and outlines the challenges the attacks pose for Islamic countries in Asia Pacific. The second chapter, covering the implications for international institutions, considers regional institution building with a focus on the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and the ASEAN Regional Forum. The third, on major power relations in Asia Pacific, notes the significant change in relations among China, Russia, Japan, and the United States and evaluates the nature of the transformation and its long-term implications.

The three country chapters focus on Indonesia, China, and Japan by examining such issues as how these key countries feel about the U.S.-led war on terrorism and the ways in which each wants to support the effort; the domestic debates in each country and the mechanisms available for channeling views to the outside world; and the significant differences between public opinion and governmental policy.

Contributors include Chin Kin Wah (Singapore National University), Farish Noor (Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Lee Shinwha (Ilmin International Relations Institute, Korea University, South Korea), Chu Shulong (Institute of Strategic Studies, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China), Narushige Michishita (National Institute of Defense Studies, Japan), and Rizal Sukma (Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta, Indonesia).