The New Ocean Regime- Emerging Dimensions in the Asian Perspective

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

The Asiatic Society in the last few years has been taking a greater and closer interest in the contemporary political and economic scene in South and Southeast Asia and its impact on the larger cultural experience. It does not indicate any departure as such from the Society's traditional commitment to studies in civilizational and cultural ancestry. It only recognizes the 'importance of practical reason', a sensitivity 'to the concerns of today, and the need to make 'our reading of the present and understanding of the past interdependent', objectives that Professor Amartya Sen spelt out recently in his Abha Maiti Memorial Lecture at the Society (now available as a book, On Interpreting India's Past, 1996).

The New Law of the Sea, as defined by the 1982 Convention adopted by the maritime States of the region under consideration, can be taken as an issue not only of vital importance to the states, but also one that is capable of bringing into play their political, strategic and survival positions. Ms. Sumita Sen, in her analysis of the areas of conflict and the different positions taken by the states concerned, offers brilliant insights into the political economy of South and Southeast Asia, making the book compulsory reading for scholars in area studies interested in the region.

The Society takes pleasure in offering the book to concerned readers and scholars and hopes that it will be n significant contribution to studies in the field, and greater understanding of South and Southeast Asian politics.

The work covers ocean related issues of particular significance to some countries of south and Southeast Asia. Even though the 1982 Convention came into force in November 1994, many of the problems remain the same, the period of the study also highlights certain political, economic, environmental as well as strategies developments which have direct bearing upon the ocean regime for this region. The intellectual property rights, Agenda 21 and the post-Cold War security environment are some of the factors in play. In so far as this work seeks to relate the varying levels of economic development of these countries to the demands of marine and maritime activities, it takes note of the fact that there still exists a feeling of mistrust between and among these countries. But the concept of 'duality' in International Relations would suggest that there can still be meaningful exchange and cooperation among them at the regional level. After all, many of the ocean-related problems. are of common concern to all developing nations. It will be interesting to see how a flexible response by South and Southeast Asian states to these problems can eventually provide useful insights to their handling at the global level.

The failure of the two United Nations Conferences to regulate several maritime issues led to the convening of the Third United Nations Conference on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III) which, after almost ten laborious years of negotiations, culminated in the adoption of the 1982 Convention, also recognized as the New Law of the Sea.

**Contents and Sample Pages**