Editorial

This general issue selects seven articles on a wide range of policy-related issues in Asia. The first article by Sliwinski responds to a big question: why the democratization in many Asian countries has not led to regional security? As a matter of fact, what Asia has witnessed in the past two decades is the paradoxical development of both democratization and security crises. Sliwinski’s article defies the well-known Democratic Peace Thesis and argues that the homogeneity of political regimes is not necessarily a sufficient condition for peaceful coexistence. He further contends that the absence of a common “Asian identity” is perhaps the underlying reason for the thorny security paradox in this region. The author therefore points out that the construction of a new normative basis by fusing democratic elements and Asia’s own cultural philosophies such as Confucianism is needed for a paradigmatic shift in security thinking in Asia. This article sheds light on the diverse interpretations and practices in terms of understanding democratic structures and political life across different parts of the globe, especially showing the post-cold war arrangements led by the US have encountered severe difficulty in implementation. Perhaps, we need to search for new perspectives in examining international relations and geo-political order in the highly divisive world. For scholars who are also seeking theoretical resolutions for the security paradox in Asia, Sliwinski’s article is highly recommended.