PHIR assistant professor gives plenary address at PHISO conference, Davao, Philippines

Dr Linda Quayle was invited to give a plenary address at the second conference of the Philippines International Studies Organization (PHISO) in Davao at the end of March.



The title of her presentation was “The role of great powers in shaping regions: Hegemony, alliances, and Southeast Asia”.

The paper discussed the sometimes confusing behaviour of the United States’ Southeast Asian allies, Thailand and the Philippines, in the context of the proposition that changing alliance behaviour in East Asia indicates a renegotiation of the “management” role that is overtly or tacitly accorded to great powers.

While Thailand and the Philippines have been part of the general consolidation and diversification of the network of alliances and defence partnerships in the region, their participation is non-linear and involves considerable disruption.



Their behaviour suggests, the presentation argued, that US hegemonic legitimacy diminishes to the extent that the current hierarchical arrangement in East Asia is undermined (either by US opt-out, or conversely, by its refusal to countenance a modified role for China), and to the extent that the US pushes cooperative goals beyond the solidarity available to support them.

The research project presented by Dr Quayle at the PHISO conference is part of a larger collaboration entitled “Hegemony and great power management in East Asia”, led by Dr. Matteo Dian (University of Bologna) and Dr. Hugo Meijer (European University Institute).



Together with the three other Series Editors for the Routledge “International Relations in Southeast Asia” book series – Dr Nassef Manabilang Adiong (University of the Philippines-Diliman), Dr Alan Chong (S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore), and Dr Rommel A. Curaming (University of Brunei Darussalam) – Dr Quayle also took part in the PHISO International Book Workshop, which preceded the conference.

The object of the Workshop was to hear and give feedback on proposals for book chapters and monographs.