On March 27, 2024, I had the honor of delivering a keynote address on “The Quad and Public Goods in an Era of Minilateralism: Opportunities and Challenges” at an event hosted by the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore.
My keynote address examined the Quad as a microcosm of regional and global trends, specifically looking at the questions of how small groups of like-minded countries can address complex cross-border problems and whether they can provide public goods while also serving the strategic interests of their members. I began with a discussion of the development of Asia’s regional institutional architecture over the post-World War II period and the evolution of the Quad from the mid-2000s to the present. I then analyzed several key examples of attempts by the Quad to provide public goods in the areas of health, climate, maritime domain awareness, and critical and emerging technologies. My remarks concluded with some opportunities and challenges for the Quad moving forward, as well as implications for countries who are not members of the Quad. The presentation was followed by a discussion moderated by Kei Koga (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore).
This was followed by a panel discussion on “Climate Diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific” featuring Sharon Seah (ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore), Nagisa Shiiba (Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Japan), Constantino Xavier (Centre for Social and Economic Progress, India), and Karthik Nachiappan (Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore).
Watch the video:
