Geopolitics and political economy of Laos

Launched in 1986, Laos’s reform policies rescued the country from the failures of central planning and self-isolation adopted after the foundation of the Lao PDR in 1975. Now on a path to economic prosperity, Laos enjoys greater political stability and international status, thanks in part to its participation in regional and international institutions. The China-Laos railway has transformed Laos into a transport and logistics hub and a game changer for the country, opening up new economic opportunities and enhancing connectivity with ASEAN countries.This book examines Laos’ geopolitics, economics, and its position of non-alignment in Southeast Asia. It delves into the geopolitical contest between China’s rise and the United States’ pivot, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region, affecting the existing ASEAN order. It discusses Laos’s centrality in ASEAN and pragmatic approach to managing its relationships with Vietnam, China, the United States, Russia, and other regional powers in the country.Furthermore, the book explores how ASEAN member states are responding to strategic competition between the U.S. and China, including issues such as the South China Sea disputes; the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and Myanmar’s enduring crisisFinally, it highlights Laos’s 2024 ASEAN chairmanship as a pivotal opportunity to exert leadership and influence regional diplomacy within the ASEAN community. The country aims to expand ASEAN’s external relations and strengthen ASEAN’s centrality and unity, and construct regional architecture for stability, peace, and development in the ASEAN region under the theme “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”.