Southeast Asia’s Mandalas of Multialignment

Southeast Asia’s Mandalas of Multialignment

Author: The Diplomat May 18, 2026 Duration: 20:43

Prashanth Parameswaran joins the Asia Geopolitics podcast to explain how multialignment shapes Southeast Asia’s foreign policy and the region’s strategic importance.

Today on The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast hosts Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) and Katie Putz (@LadyPutz) are joined by an old friend, Prashanth Parameswaran -- now a senior columnist at The Diplomat and a fellow at the Institute for Indo-Pacific Security -- to discuss his latest book, “Mandalas of Multialignment: Hedging Bets in Southeast Asia Grand Strategy Spheres, Foreign and Security Policy Webs, and Global Geopolitics and Geoeconomics.” In the realm of geopolitics, few regions are as dynamic and strategically significant as Southeast Asia. Amid intensifying rivalry between the United States and China, Southeast Asia is critical.

You can subscribe to The Diplomat’s Asia Geopolitics podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify; and watch the episode on YouTube.



Each week, Asia Geopolitics takes the headlines from across the vast Asia-Pacific region and unpacks the deeper strategic forces at play. Hosts Ankit Panda and Catherine Putz, drawing on their expertise from The Diplomat, steer these conversations beyond the surface of breaking news. They examine how a military exercise, an election result, or a diplomatic statement ripples through the regional order, affecting alliances, economies, and security. Regular guests join them to provide ground-level insight and diverse perspectives, making complex topics accessible. This isn't just a recap of events; it's a thoughtful analysis of the power dynamics shaping the continent's future. For anyone curious about the real stories behind the news from China, India, Japan, the Koreas, Southeast Asia, and beyond, this podcast offers essential context. Tune in for a clear-eyed and nuanced look at the forces defining the world's most consequential region.
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