ABSTRACT
For us, a) the Asia Pacific and human rights (APHR) nexus, b) Asia Pacific internation-state relations (INS), and c) the relationship between a) and b) are bestmost fruitfully studied from a global political economy (GPE) perspective which, at the same time, draws specifically on the realist theoretical approach (or a version of the realist theoretical approach) to INS relations rather than on any alternative approach. For us, the GHRR is becoming important in a way, or in a sense, which is consistent with the underlying, guiding assumptions of the realist theoretical approach to the study, analysis and understanding of INS relations, and especially to the parts played by local, regional and global formations, organizations and institutions in these relations.
