Institute of Politics

The student-led International Policy Program and the Society of International Relations jointly present, ASEAN Affairs in an Era of Strategic Competition.

As geopolitical tensions rise and global powers reassess their priorities, the strategic significance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comes into the spotlight. Disputes in the South China Sea and developments from the Belt and Road Initiative have set the stage of rivalry between China and the US, competing for influence in the region. How do regional politics and alliances shape the stance of major players toward ASEAN? What are the roles of economic and territorial considerations in ASEAN’s geopolitical alignment? Are there shared perspectives within ASEAN countries?

Joining the International Policy Program and the Society of International Relations to answer these exigent questions and spotlight ASEAN’s growing role in international politics are Dr. Prashanth Parameswaran and Paul Heer. Dr. Prashanth Parameswaran is a Global Fellow at the Wilson Center’s Asia Program, Senior Columnist at The Diplomat, and Founder of the weekly ASEAN Wonk Newsletter, which produces analysis on security and foreign policy in Southeast Asia and connections to wider Asia and global geopolitical and geoeconomic developments. Paul Heer is the Former National Intelligence Officer for East Asia and a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.