Terrorism and Insurgency in Asia: A Contemporary Examination of Terrorist and Separatist Movements

The rise of the Islamic State since 2014 has led to the re-emergence of terrorism as a serious security threat in Asia. Coupled with the ongoing terrorism and insurgency challenges from both radical religious extremists and also ethno-nationalist insurgencies, it is clear that some parts of Asia remain mired in armed rebellion despite decades of nation-building. While the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan has obviously deteriorated, there is also a growing terrorist challenge, on top of armed insurgencies, in other parts of Asia. A common theme in armed rebellions in the region has been the lack of legitimacy of the state and the presence of fundamental causes stemming from political, economic or social grievances. Addressing rebellion in the region thus requires a comprehensive approach involving transnational co-operation, addressing fundamental grievances, and also the use of more innovative approaches, such as religious rehabilitation and reconciliation programmes.

Benjamin Schreer is Professor and Head of the Department of Security Studies and Criminology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. Previous positions include senior analyst for defence strategy at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI); senior lecturer at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre (SDSC) at the Australian National University; and senior analyst at the German Institute for International and Security Studies (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, SWP). He has published widely on international security and defence affairs, including East Asian strategic trends.

Andrew T. H. Tan is Associate Professor at the Department of Security Studies and Criminology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. He was previously Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales and has also taught at Kings College London, UK. Andrew T. H. Tan has published 18 sole-authored, edited and co-edited books, and over 60 refereed journal and chapter articles. Some of his latest books include: US-China Relations (Cheltenham, UK and Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2016), Security and Conflict in East Asia (London: Routledge, 2015), The Arms Race in Asia: Trends, Causes and Implications (London: Routledge, 2014), East and South-East Asia: International Relations and Security Perspectives (London: Routledge, 2013), Security Strategies in the Asia-Pacific (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011) and US Strategy Against Global Terrorism: How it Evolved, Why it Failed and Where it is Headed (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009). Andrew is listed in the United Nations Global Experts Database.