This article critically reviews the literature on Track 2 security dialogue in the Asia-Pacific and suggests a number of possible avenues for further research. From almost a standing start, Track 2 security dialogue in this part of the world has burgeoned over the past decade and a half. As these institutions and activities have grown, so too has a body of scholarship grown around them which has striven to stay abreast of them and -at least in the case of some of the more prominent second track institutions and activities -to evaluate their influence and effectiveness. Just as viable second track processes must constantly adapt in response to changes in the regional and global security environment, however, this article contends that the scholarship on Track 2 security dialogue needs now to evolve beyond its heavy emphasis upon on the "success" of these institutions and activities. While this criterion remains vital, the article argues that greater analytical attention should also be given to differentiating between the many and varied Track 2 security processes that are currently active in the Asia-Pacific; to developing a closer understanding as to the operating modalities of these institutions and activities; and to better comprehending longitudinal trends in regional Track 2 security dialogue.
IntroductionFrom almost a standing start, Track 2 security dialogue in the Asia-Pacific has burgeoned over the past decade and a half. 1 Although this growth has not been linear, the recent emergence of a host of "new" security challenges -including increased fears of terrorism in the region; the advent of a number of non-traditional security challenges, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Avian Influenza; and a growing interest in the notion of East Asian Community (EAC) building -appear to have breathed new life into the Track 2 endeavor. So much so that, according to one recent estimate, the number of second track processes engaged in the discussion of AsiaPacific security issues now numbers close to 150. 2 As Track 2 security dialogue in the Asia-Pacific has grown, so too has a body of scholarship grown around it which has strived to stay abreast of this increase in activity and -at least in the case of some of the more prominent second track processes -to evaluate their influence and effectiveness. The primary purpose of this article is to critically review that literature and to suggest a number of possible avenues for future research.
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