Minilateralism: a new page in the Indo-Pacific IR lexicon

Minilateralism has emerged as a defining feature of contemporary international relations, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. Yet, despite its growing prominence, the conceptual boundaries of this form of cooperation remain underdeveloped. This seminar addresses this gap by proposing a comparative framework that distinguishes minilateralism from other established modes of cooperation—not only bilateralism and multilateralism, but also plurilateralism and regionalism. Through this analytical distinction, the study clarifies the conceptual contours of minilateralism and illuminates its purposive and exclusive character. By advancing a sharper theoretical understanding, this research contributes to the conceptual lexicon of international relations and enhances our grasp of cooperation dynamics in the Indo-Pacific.

Mr Ryosuke Hanada is a PhD candidate and Sessional Teaching Staff at the School of International Studies, Macquarie University. He was a Research Fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), researching Japan’s foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific region from 2016 to 2020. He experienced several fellowship programs, including the Japan-US Partnership Program of the Research Institute of Peace and Security (RIPS), Young Strategist Forum of the German Marshall Fund (GMF), Strategic Japan Program of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Indo-Pacific Fellow of the Perth USAsia Centre, and Raisina Young Fellow of Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in India. He holds Master of Research from Macquarie University, MA from the University of Warwick and BA in Law from Waseda University.