RSIS and the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CoHASS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) jointly hosted the International Studies Association (ISA) Asia-Pacific Regional Conference 2019 from 4 to 6 July 2019 at NTU@one-north. This is the third ISA Asia-Pacific Regional Conference since the Asia-Pacific was incorporated as a region within ISA in 2008. This is also the first Asia-Pacific Regional Conference with the inclusion of South Asia as a part of the Asia-Pacific region.
The theme of the Conference, “Asia-Pacific and World Order: Security, Economics, Identity, and Beyond”, underlined the wide spectrum of traditional security, non-traditional security, developmental, and economic issues the region is faced with. The Opening Ceremony featured keynote addresses by Prof Chang Heng Chee, Ambassador and Chair, Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities, Singapore University of Technology and Design, and Prof Cameron Thies, ISA President 2019–2020 and Director, School of Politics and Global Studies, Arizona State University, USA.
The Conference had more than 400 registered delegates, who were participated in academic exchange and scholarly debate. Close to 100 panels and roundtables were convened over three days with wide ranging research agendas, including ASEAN, China’s Belt and Road Initiative, tensions on the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea, gender and security, environmental politics, humanitarian affairs, pedagogy, and a workshop for new and emerging scholars. More than 40 participants from NTU presented on the research currently underway on campus.
The Conference also included an exhibition of 15 publishing houses, academic journals, think tanks, and universities focused on international affairs. The exhibition hall was a meeting venue for scholars to engage outside of the panels in a relaxed, informal setting and featured a “Meet the Editors” lunchtime roundtable. This provided participants with the opportunity to network and engage with editors from publishers and journals to discuss the crafting of book proposals and journal articles.
