Through The Buffer State

Reframing the Buffer State in Contemporary International Relations

This book explores buffer states' agency beyond being highly interactive spaces for the competing strategic and security interests of larger powers. Analyzing 21 political events, the author offers a new conceptual framework for the buffer state, which emphasizes strategic utility and agency. Applying this to the case study of Nepal as a buffer state between India and China, he offers a systematic analysis of Sino-Indian interests in the wider region, and Nepal’s interactions with and reactions to them, and argues that the buffer state in contemporary international relations is characterized by intense competitive overtures from its contending neighboring states. However, the buffer state is not just a spectator but an active participant that consistently assesses and reassesses its geopolitical position in between much larger competing powers. This reading offers a new understanding of the buffer state as a highly dynamic political space wherein the levels of influence and strategies of bigger powers can be examined. Aimed at a multidisciplinary audience, this book will be of particular interest to scholars, practitioners and students of international relations, security studies, strategic studies, and Asian Studies.

Through the Buffer State

Through the Buffer State

Excerpt from Through the Buffer State: A Record of Recent Travels Through Borneo, Siam and Cambodia Just as this book is issuing from the press, the entanglements of the Bu fer State are being amicably settled between Great Britain and France. And as the French have had it all their own way, it is to be hoped they will generously release the poor patriot, Phra Yott, who was sentenced, when I was travelling through the country, to twenty years of penal servitude for the fearful crime of defending his native land, and whose name is mentioned more than once in the following pages. Far be it from the purpose of this volume to suspect the prophetic foresight of the powers that be in coming to this agreement with France, but there is no doubt it has taken people of all political opinions by great surprise. We have handed over to France the British province of Mongsin, formerly belonging to Upper Burmah, and are withdrawing our outposts there. We have also agreed to France wresting from Siam the provinces of Angkor and Battambong, through both of which I travelled about the time of the Franco-Siamese crisis, and which are two of the most important provinces throughout all Siam. It is in the Province of Angkor that the wonderful but little known ruins of Angkor-Wat are situated; and they are described in detail in this volume. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.