Introduction

This chapter sets the stage for the key themes found throughout this volume, first by framing the Gulf regional order within the context of a shift in international order. US signaling of a reduced role in the Gulf is leading policymakers both in the Gulf and beyond to recalibrate their thinking on regional affairs. It then builds upon literature on ‘Asianization’ to explain how and why the issue of Gulf order is increasingly a concern for policymakers in the Asian countries analyzed in this book. Finally, it provides a brief overview of each chapter.