Geostrategic Pulse published NESA Center alumna Charani Patabendige's latest co-authored article, "Sri Lanka’s Strategic Crossroads: Steering Through the Potential Threat of a (Broader) Regional Conflict."

Abstract:

This paper explores the likelihood of a regional conflict and examines the geopolitical perspectives and likely alignments of Sri Lanka. The authors pinpointed criticality as the probable geopolitical stance of Sri Lanka in a (broader) regional conflict. This paper develops the argument through a literature review on how small states are at a disadvantage in managing regional conflicts, how geopolitics create or worsen conflict, and what regional conflict in the Asia-Pacific region would look like through neo-realism. The research problem is related to the ability of Sri Lanka’s non-aligned foreign policy and the principles of peaceful coexistence in light of its strategic location and competing interests, further growing the tensions of major powers in the Asia-Pacific region. This qualitative methodology is based on secondary data. It analyses the complex geopolitical dynamics of the Asia-Pacific region, the strategic importance of South Asia, and Sri Lanka’s foreign policy approach, characterised by the principles of nonalignment, neutrality, and nonbelligerency.

Read the full article in Journal 302 here, or view the PDF files of the journal and the article below.

The views presented in this paper are those of the speaker or author and do not necessarily represent the views of the NESA Center, of DoD, or its components.