Power, Strategy and Order in the Indo-Pacific (DHP-D274)

Fall 2026 · DHP D274 · Tufts University · 3 credits · Undergraduate

The Indo-Pacific has emerged as a defining theater of 21st century geopolitics — home to the world’s most dynamic economies, its most consequential military buildups, and its most dangerous potential flashpoints. This course provides a rigorous analytical framework for understanding foreign and security policy across this vast and contested region, examining its major powers — China and India — alongside consequential middle powers including Japan, Australia, and Indonesia, and the regional institutions and multilateral frameworks through which states pursue their interests and manage their rivalries. Structured as a progression from foundations to futures, the course begins by interrogating the Indo-Pacific concept itself before tracing the historical legacies and strategic cultures that shape contemporary behavior, then examines each major actor in depth before turning to some of the regional architecture and frameworks — assessing both the established ASEAN-centric order and the emerging constellation of ‘mini’ multilateral frameworks, including the Quad and AUKUS, that are reshaping the regional landscape. Throughout, the course emphasizes analytical depth over breadth, expecting students not merely to describe the region’s dynamics but to interrogate them — applying theoretical frameworks, evaluating competing interpretations, and developing independent judgments about some of the most consequential strategic questions of our era. The course is designed for students pursuing careers in diplomacy, defense, intelligence, or the private sector with an Indo-Pacific focus, and will be of particular value to those seeking to understand superpower relationships, the evolving role of middle powers, and the future of regional order in an era of intensifying strategic competition.

Course codes: DHP-D274

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