The 10th Asian Security Conference (ASC 2008) is a major calendar event of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), New Delhi. Since 1999 when the conference was first held, it has become an important forum for debating issues relating to Asian Security. The ASC has provided a forum for ministers, diplomats, scholars and security analysts, both from India and abroad, to share their views on the security challenges facing the continent.
The 10th ASC attains particular significance in view of the continuing trouble spots in the continent and the wider implications these would have for international stability and security as a whole. The conference would, therefore, focus on the myriad challenges to Asian Security in the 21st century with particular reference to the strategic outlook of major political actors in Asia; the emerging challenges to the nuclear order; the future of Afghanistan; the challenges posed by transnational terror networks and sectarian violence; and the multilateral framework for managing conflict and fostering cooperation among the political actors in Asia.
The contemporary strategic context is increasingly defined by the rapid growth of major Asian economies and the rapidly increasing interest the major powers are evincing in the region. It has also resulted in a perceptible shift in power to the Asian continent. An assessment of how each of the major Asian powers and important external actors are responding to these developments is necessary for understanding the underlying concerns about peace and security in Asia in the 21st Century. The conference would debate the strategic outlook from the perspective of major political actors in Asia.
While the emerging power shift is full of promise and opportunities, there are important concerns that cannot be ignored. Asia's statesmen face a variety of challenges, which, if ignored or viewed with lesser concern, could lead to further instability and insecurity in the region. The foremost among these concerns is the emerging challenges to the nuclear order in Asia. The conference will debate the nuclear stability/equation in Asia; the threat of nuclear proliferation among states and the potential dangers of non-state actors gaining access/acquiring nuclear technologies; the consequences of proliferation for strategic stability and the possibilities for cooperative preventive measures.
The conference will take stock of recent developments in Afghanistan followed by a discussion on the future of peace and stability in these conflict zones. What is the character of the conflict in Afghanistan? What are the current trends? What is the role of regional actors? What is the nature of engagement of US and its allies? What is the assessment of future course of action by major actors? What is the role played by INGOs and international community? What could be done to stabilize Afghanistan? These are some of the questions that the participants will address during their deliberations on the future of Afghanistan.
The emerging trends in transnational terror networks and sectarian violence will form an important part of the conference deliberations. Participants will address the following questions: What are the lessons of the US-led 'Global War on Terror'? Has the 'GWOT' weakened the transnational terror networks such as al Qaeda? What is the impact of 'GWOT' on state actors with links to transnational terror networks? What is the role of intelligence sharing in the fight against terror networks? What are the trends in religious sectarianism? What implications do the emerging trends in sectarian violence hold for peace in Asia?
While Asian states are better positioned to secure their interests than they ever were, the importance of multilateral institutions/efforts for better securing economic integration and security concerns cannot be ignored. There is a clear and recognised need for both reinforcing the exiting institutions and founding of others that could be useful for addressing specific concerns. The conference would provide a forum for assessing the adequacy of existing multilateral institutions, identify their weaknesses and suggest a road map for effective cooperation in the future.
The 10th ASC will feature six sessions, would comprehensively seek to address the major trends in the Asian strategic context; assess major challenges for peace and stability; and suggest creative solutions for management of conflict and cooperation in the new century.
Sessions and Key Questions
The detailed outlines of sessions are appended below for reference. The key questions listed are only indicative. Participants could include other issues that may add value to the debate. Other details will be communicated separately.
Asian Strategic Context: Perspectives (Session I and II)
Key Questions
- What is the character of the emerging strategic context in Asia?
- What theories or theoretical approaches are most appropriate for understanding the Asian strategic context?
- How are the processes of globalization, economic interdependence and diffusion of technologies shaping the Asian Strategic context?
- What does the Rise of Asia mean for global peace? How do regional perspectives inform the debate?
- What are the common threats and challenges? What are the prospects of fostering cooperative state behaviour in confronting the transnational threats?
- What are the perspectives of the following major political actors in Asia on the above issues?
Asian Strategic Context: Perspectives (Session I)
February 05, 2008 (Tuesday)
Papers
- India
- China
- Japan
- South Korea
Asian Strategic Context: Perspectives (Session II)
February 05, 2008 (Tuesday)
Papers
- Russian Federation
- European Union
- United States
- Australia
The Emerging Challenges to the Nuclear Order in Asia (Session III)
February 06, 2008 (Wednesday)
Key Questions
- What are the challenges to the global nuclear regime?
- What are the consequences of a nuclear Iran for West Asian peace and stability? Will it give rise to a nuclear quest among the important West Asian states?
- How would the West respond in such an eventuality?
- What would be the response of major Asian powers to Nuclear Iran?
- What are the consequence of changes in the East Asian Nuclear order for stability and peace in the region and beyond?
- How would major regional players respond?
- What are the implications of non-state actors acquiring nuclear weapon technology and capabilities?
- What did the international community learn from the discovery of the A.Q. Khan network?
- What are the possibilities for international cooperation against nuclear proliferation?
Papers
- Nuclear Weapons and Asian Security in the 21st Century
- The Consequences of the Iran Nuclear Crisis for Peace and Stability in Asia
- North Korea and the Future of East Asian Nuclear Stability
- The A.Q. Khan Network and Proliferation Among Non-State Actors
- The Future of Cooperative Preventive Measures Against Nuclear Proliferation
Future of Afghanistan (Session IV)
February 06, 2008 (Wednesday)
Key Questions
- What is the character of conflict in Afghanistan?
- What are the current trends?
- What is the role of regional actors?
- What is the nature of engagement of US and its allies?
- What is the assessment of future course of action by major actors?
- What is the role played by INGOs and the international community?
- What could be done to stabilize Afghanistan?
Papers
- Taking Stock of the Afghan Conflict
- Afghanistan :Looking Ahead
Terrorism and Sectarianism: Transnational Linkages (Session V)
February 06, 2008 (Wednesday)
Key Questions
- What are the lessons from the US-led 'Global War on Terror'?
- To what extent has 'GWOT' succeeded in containing the threats posed by transnational terror networks such as al Qaeda?
- What is the impact of 'GWOT' on state actors with links to transnational terror networks?
- What is the role of intelligence sharing in the fight against terror networks?
- What are the trends in religious sectarianism? What implications do the emerging trends in sectarian violence hold for peace in Asia?
- What measures, if adopted by key actors in the fight against terror, would enhance the chances of success against transnational terror networks?
Papers
- Taking Stock of the 'Global War on Terrorism'
- State Support and Transnational Terror Networks
- The Role of Intelligence in the fight against Transnational Terror Networks
- The Future of al Qaeda and Transnational Terror Networks
- Religious Sectarianism and its implications for Asian Security
Cooperative Framework for Asian Security in the 21st Century (VI)
February 07, 2008 (Thursday)
Key Questions
- What is the future of multilateral institutions in Asia?
- How effective and representative are the existing multilateral institutions?:
- in helping to maintain peace and stability and a cooperative security architecture among major powers
- to manage proliferation challenges in Asia
- to stabilize conflict zones
- to counter transnational terrorism and challenges posed by non-state actors
- How could existing multilateral mechanisms and institutions be strengthened to cope with the above and what new mechanisms and institutions are necessary for building a cooperative Asian security order?
Papers
- The Role of Multilateral Institutions in Asia: Overview
- Role of Multilateral Institutions in forging cooperation among major powers
- Role of Multilateral Institutions in Managing the emerging Asian nuclear order
- Role of Multilateral Institutions in Stabilising Conflict zones
- Cooperative multilateral Efforts to counter transnational threats
