ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with a number of important geo-strategic and geo-political questions. The theme is that the powers often couch their policies in abstract and ideological generalizations or notional realities but these are only tenuously connected to the real conflicts. Geo-political regions exist within geo-strategic regions. In this regard, it is important to understand that geo-strategic regions connote a strategic role, while the geo-political region is tactical. Adda Bozeman’s powerful review of international history reminds us about the historical and contemporary importance of cultural conflicts and orbits in international relations. References to the pattern of European, American and Russian expansion are meant to illustrate the enormous impact of internationalist forces on Asia-Pacific/Indian Ocean affairs in the 19th century. Bangladesh is the only example of a new state being formed by force in Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean area after 1945. The number of minor powers – regional great powers small or local powers – increased in the Asia-Pacific region.
