South Asia's Security: Primacy of Internal Dimension

This landmark volume argues that South Asia’s most persistent security threats arise less from interstate rivalry than from the internal dynamics of its states—the quality of governance, the inclusiveness of growth, the credibility of justice and the ability to manage social conflict without routine recourse to coercion. Drawing on comparative country chapters and thematic essays, the book maps how weak institutions, politicized administrations and exclusionary development combine to produce violence, intolerance and vulnerability to shocks. Authors trace how macroeconomic instability transmits to household insecurity, how environmental stress multiplies risks for the poor, and how disinformation corrodes public trust. Traditional defense and diplomacy still matter—border incidents, arms racing and maritime flashpoints are carefully examined—but the analysis shows that these are often symptoms of deeper domestic fragility. The volume therefore reframes security as the capacity to deliver predictable, lawful and dignified lives for citizens. Methodologically, it blends statistics, policy analysis and grounded observation, offering a dashboard for policymakers. It closes with an actionable proposition: invest first in competent, accountable institutions and resilient public goods, then pursue external balancing from a position of internal strength. That sequencing, the authors argue, is the only sustainable route to regional stability and national autonomy.