Foreword

Summary

This volume is a collection of edited papers which were first presented at the inaugural Dialogue between the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) of Singapore and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) of India.

The idea of such a Dialogue was first mooted at the end of 2004 by Mr B. Raman, then Distinguished Fellow with ORF and Convenor of the ORF Chennai Chapter. In May 2005, in his first formal communication to ISEAS on the subject, Mr Raman spoke of the need “for studying and having a periodic exchange of views on subjects of common interest and concern to India and Singapore”. He wanted the Dialogue to be with ISEAS because of its expertise on Southeast Asia, a region of growing importance to India.

ISEAS found the proposal to be timely and far-sighted. The exchange gives ISEAS the opportunity to contribute to a better understanding of Southeast Asia in policy-related research circles in India. ISEAS for its part benefits from Indian perspectives on contemporary issues like terrorism, policies of the major powers in Asia, Asian regionalism, and developments in Southeast Asia itself.

The inaugural Dialogue, held at the ORF headquarters in New Delhi on 30–31 March 2006, under the banner “Political and Security Dynamics in South and Southeast Asia: Shared Concerns” more than lived up to expectations. The presentations generated lively and insightful discussions. ISEAS had agreed to edit and publish the papers and it is my pleasure to present them in this volume.