Asian Crucible

The decades-spanning story of Asia’s rise, and the new faultlines that are set to shape the region’s and the world’s future.

For many centuries, Asia had been the apex of human civilization, home to the greatest concentrations of wealth, power and population. Yet by the mid-twentieth century, in the aftermath of colonialism and war, much of the continent was mired in poverty and underdevelopment.

This book tells the sweeping story of Asia’s modern resurgence: how globalization, supply chains and market-led integration powered unprecedented economic growth and lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty. It explores the creativity, energy and resilience that made this possible, while examining the dark side of that success: new geopolitical and nationalistic tensions that threaten to unravel this progress.

As Asia stands at a crossroads, facing both extraordinary opportunity and escalating risk, this timely analysis offers insight into the forces shaping its future. Drawing on history, economics and geopolitics, it is a call for thoughtful leadership to ensure that peace and prosperity rather than conflict and division define the next chapter of Asia’s story.

Author Biography

Nick Bisley is the Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences and Professor of International Relations at La Trobe University, Australia. He recently completed a term as the President of the Australasian Council of Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, has been a Visiting Fellow at the East-West Center, Washington, DC and previously served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Australian Journal of International Affairs.