The world order is changing. And the Indo-Pacific is at the heart of it. In these uncertain times, this book asks the crucial question: will there be war or peace?

America remains immensely powerful but China aims for world primacy. Where does this binary struggle leave India? And what about Japan, rearming for the first time since 1945? As if that were not enough, North Korea is aligning itself with Russia, which itself has returned to the world stage. Meanwhile, islands in the connected seas may look idyllic but are often the home of unresolved disputes. And the problems of the Middle East have drifted south into the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. Should Islam be seen now as a geopolitical force in the region? The Indo-Pacific is witness to it all.

Written accessibly, this volume provides essential reading for academics, diplomats, and policymakers to understand contemporary Indo-Pacific geopolitics. The book appeals to practitioners as well as theorists across disciplines including International Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies, and Regional Studies.