ABSTRACT

East Asia in the post-Cold War era has been the world’s most peaceful region. Whereas since 1989 there have beenmajorwars in Europe, SouthAsia, Africa, and the Middle East, and significant and costly instability in Latin America, during this same period in East Asia there have been no wars and minimal domestic turbulence. Moreover, economic growth in East Asia has been faster than in any other region in the world. East Asia seems to be the major beneficiary of pax Americana.