Introduction: Order(ing) and Agency in the Indo-Pacific: Analytical Issues and the Contributions of this Volume
Résumé
This chapter provides an introduction to the volume. It first charts the rise of the Indo-Pacific as a strategic space and discusses Indo-Pacific dynamics. The chapter then addresses two core analytical concepts, i.e. order(ing) and agency. Finally, it introduces the individual contributions to the volume which examines two central aspects of the contemporary Indo-Pacific landscape that are crucial for understanding regional dynamics: On the one hand the contested nature of the meaning and purpose of the Indo-Pacific, resulting in a complex interplay between regional multilateral and minilateral arrangements. On the other, the agency of small and middle powers in this strategic space.
