ABSTRACT
This chapter traces the evolution of the international relations of the Asia-Pacific over the critical half-century from the early 1930s to the 1980s. It will identify some central features of the international politics of the region in the period leading up to the Second World War and discuss the changes in the configuration of relationships during the period of the Cold War, with the emphasis on regional security and economics. It is designed as narrative background to the period after the Cold War, showing how the great powers have contributed to shaping the region.
