Contesting the hub-and-spokes model in Southeast Asia

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

International Studies

Document Type

Article

Source Title

Asian Politics and Policy

Volume

12

Issue

1

First Page

57

Last Page

70

Publication Date

1-1-2020

Abstract

The debate surrounding the United States’ hub-and-spokes alliance model in the Asia-Pacific, that is, whether its endurance is a testament to its durability or whether its inability to face up to contemporary challenges reflects its failure—is best captured by recent norm research in International Relations. It can be argued that the U.S. hub-and-spokes model in Southeast Asia is not failing but is simply showing signs of contestation. The evolution of this network of regional security arrangements from U.S. alliances in Southeast Asia (with the Philippines and Thailand) to American security partnerships in that subregion (strategic partnership with Singapore and comprehensive partnership with Vietnam) reflects applicatory contestation. At the same time, the China factor and Washington’s evolving Asia strategy, which competes with the Middle East and with the “America First” instincts of the Trump administration, challenge the core of the San Francisco System’s validity. Hence, while the hub-and-spokes model is merely showing signs of contestation, the fact that it is undergoing validity contestation serves as a cautionary tale. Those U.S. policymakers supporting it will need to implement steps to avoid its complete erosion. © 2019 Policy Studies Organization

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Digitial Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1111/aspp.12511

Disciplines

International Relations

Keywords

United States--Foreign relations--Southeast Asia; Southeast Asia--Foreign relations--United States; Alliances

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