This book attempts to put into context Malaysian Foreign Policy since Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak came into office. Many of the changes that have been instituted could be regarded as engaging diplomacy with innovation in such issues as culture, networks, and globalization. In the forefront are the new diplomatic initiatives as the articulation of the New Economic Model, the APEX University in Malaysian higher education, and the ‘One Malaysia’ programme and its impact on the people. Taken together, they represent a noticeable shift in emphasis with the need to combine the domestic dictates of policy and the translation of Malaysia’s larger interests externally. Issues are discussed and analyzed within a historical and future perspective without sidelining the traditional concerns of Malaysian Foreign Policy: The centrality of ASEAN, the need for foreign direct investment, and engagement with the world. The book, therefore, serves a wide readership deeply interested in keeping up with the pace of reforms within the country’s foreign policy and public diplomacy.

This book focuses on new approaches in understanding the changing context of foreign policy decision-making in the country, historically and for the future. From the traditional mode of the domestic, external and personality traits of the respective prime ministers and their governments over the years, and the nature of their responses to keep up with the changes and to maintain continuity woth the past, all have a big influence ont their decisions. In the four case studies presented, the factors of political continuity managed by the leadership and those that emphasise history, decision-making, key issues, and big-picture and paradigmatic analysis, are considered together with the DIY foreign policy of Prime Minister Najib Razak, and the change in continuity foreign policy framework of Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and the short-lived Pakatan Harapan government. The book closes with a look at the future of diplomacy in the world and the region amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the political uncertainties in the present government in the country.

New Narrative of Malaysian Foreign Policy attempts to present a new approach to the understanding of Malaysian Foreign Policy. The focus is on the nontraditional factors of political sentiments, strategic drivers and the ‘Do-it-yourself’ (DIY) methodology. Three themes have become the book’s core narrative: the Malays-Then and Now; Malaysia’s Cooperation with its ASEAN Neighbours and Malaysia’s attempt at balancing its relations with the world. All the ideas are brought together in a final part of the book. In the book, the country’s responses to the changing strategic environment and the different strategic drivers that have impacted on our value-system and influenced our diplomatic actions over the years have been analysed and evaluated.

This volume argues that the whole 'American Dream' is not about to fade away, while to many Americans, a 'New America' takes shape every time a president is changed. Both are in fact, the two sides of the same coin. On one side, in pursuit of the New America, all the three Presidents featured here - Obama, Trump, and Biden (in his first one hundred days) - have focused on as above in their domestic and foreign policies. On the reverse side, these can also function as guide posts for the respective administrations in their pursuit of the American Dream presented as efforts at nation branding, focusing on domestic and foreign affairs, the quest for greatness and democracy, and the Rule of Law. Despite what has occurred in the United States during the presidencies of Obama, Trump, and Biden, the book's perspective on the future of American politics and the presidency discussed will still remain valid for there is always 'a little bit of the old in the new'.

This book looks at major contemporary conflicts —intra and interstate— in Southeast Asia from a conflict management perspective. Starting with the view that the conventional ASEAN conflict-management methods have ceased to be effective, it looks for new conflict-management patterns and trends by investigating seven contemporary cases of conflict in the region. Focusing on the incompatibilities involved in each case and examining how they have been managed—whether by integration, co-existence, elimination or maneuvering around the conflict—the book sheds new light on the significance of managing conflict in achieving and maintaining the stability of the Southeast Asian region. It makes a significant theoretical contribution to the field of peace and conflict studies by proposing the concept of “mediation regime” as the key to understanding current conflict management within ASEAN.

From the end of the Second World War in 1945 to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, there was a great deal of turmoil, tension and violence in what became Malaysia as a result of the 1963 Federation; upheavals included the Malayan Emergency of 1948・1960, the independence of Malaya in 1957, Konfrontasi with Indonesia of 1963・1966, the Philippines’ claim to Sabah, the Sarawak Communist Insurgency (1962・1990) and the Second Malayan Emergency of 1968・1989. This book breaks new ground in arguing for a longer trajectory of the Cold War, tracing this phenomenon back to 1920s’ colonial Malaya and Sarawak. Many new research findings showing how Malaysia coped with and overcame the many trials, challenges and difficulties are presented here, further enriching the historiography.

Singapore’s existence and success derive in part from its achievements in the domestic political arena and in part from the skilful management of a well-defined foreign policy with clearly identifiable goals and issues. A visible core of realist self-reliance is layered with the demands of a competitive trading state that requires a liberal international trading regime. Hence, both competitive and cooperative philosophies support Singapore’s foreign policy. This text charts the philosophical underpinning of Singapore’s foreign policy output and the institutions responsible for it and examines the importance of economic and defence diplomacy that are central to Singapore’s foreign policy output. It gives particular attention to the two most important regional bilateral relationships -- with Indonesia and Malaysia -- and how relations with its adjacent neighbours have influenced Singapore’s foreign policy. Combining first-hand research with excellent analysis, this volume provides a much-needed report on the survival of a small state in the globalizing world.