With contributions by leading authorities on the security and political economy of East Asia, this volume examines the implications of the profound strategic and economic transformations in the region since the demise of the Soviet Union ended Cold War polarization and the emergence of new East Asian economic powers transformed regional economic relations. By studying the implications of these strategic and economic transformations for the interests of the great powers and key local powers and for the maintenance of regional stability, the contributors ponder how the changing relations among these states might evolve into a new regional order characterized by extensive stability and cooperation. By so doing, they consider potential sources of instability, including changes in domestic politics and enduring bilateral conflicts of interests, and the importance of developing creative bilateral policies and of maximizing the contribution of multilateral institutions in mitigating the impact of these factors on regional security.