A new Security Nexus Perspective by Shyam Tekwani investigates the recent wave of government collapses across South Asia and the security implications for the broader Indo-Pacific region.

Drawing on his expertise in regional politics and conflict at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Tekwani traces how citizen-led protests in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal dismantled fragile regimes from within. The analysis emphasizes a central argument: lasting deterrence in the Indo-Pacific must be grounded in domestic stability, not solely in external alliances or military strength.

The article explores how internal breakdowns, sparked by economic crises, policy failures, and digital suppression, revealed deeper governance weaknesses. In each case, protest emerged as a force that redefined political legitimacy and shaped national outcomes.

Tekwani concludes that external actors must consider the internal dynamics of regional partners. Without effective institutions and accountable governance, deterrence abroad cannot be sustained.

Read the full article: Flight into the Dark: South Asia’s Protest Republics – Why Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific Begins at Home on Security Nexus.

The full linked article was researched and written by the author. This post includes only a summary and imagery generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence, which were reviewed and edited by DoD personnel to ensure appropriateness and compliance with DoD policies and guidance.