Publisher's Synopsis
Published in association with Regional Centre for Strategic Studies, Colombo. What in today's world constitutes national security? A question which often comes to the fore, but is seldom answered satisfactorily. What is it that is most important for a nation to protect and for which it needs to evolve strategies? Are state borders and frontiers the most crucial and therefore ought to be defended against all forms of external aggression and influence and at all costs? Or, are there other issues or core values, or matters that directly affect the interests of the citizens and concern their personal security in a more immediate manner, the promotion of which can often brook no delay? There are no clear answers to these questions yet or perhaps even in the near future. But, these are questions that have to be asked and addressed collectively in South Asia. Security studies in the region need to deliberate over these issues if a viable alternative is to emerge. The Regional Centre for Strategic Studies has constantly attempted to understand the state, the nature and potential of security studies in South Asia. The object is to identify the foundations, sketch the plans and define the outlines over which a superstructure may be built. In the coming decades of this century these issues will emerge as major questions facing South Asia. This book is a small step in developing a better understanding of the issues. The articles collected here represent many of the facets of this argument presented by key scholars collectively in the region.
