War and Peace in Asia

An in-depth study of how conflict and peace-building in Asia have shaped ideas of international law in the region. 

How do Asian states navigate the complex terrain between international legal obligations and strategic national interests in matters of war and peace? What justifications are invoked to wage war, and what are the legal frameworks used to restore peace? Do bilateral settlements comply with and support the development of international law, or do they undermine it? This comprehensive study examines conflict and peace-building across Asia since 1945, providing a distinctly Asian perspective on international law and relations. 

War and Peace in Asia considers how Asian history, including the region’s experience of colonialism, shapes ideas of international order. Kriangsak Kittichaisaree considers rules against the threat or use of force; management of sovereignty disputes over borders and territories; insurgencies or conflicts arising from groups seeking self-determination; annexations of one State’s territory by another State; conflicts under the guise of “humanitarian intervention” and the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine; self-defense against terrorists and non-state actors who are driven by ideology; and armed intervention by invitation. The book offers scholars, policymakers, and practitioners crucial insights into conflict dynamics in this geopolitically volatile region.