Enduring Legacies: World War II and the Indo-Pacific

On September 2, 1945, Imperial Japan surrendered to the Allied forces, bringing an end to years of bloody conflict. 

Eighty years later, the war’s imprint on the international order persists, shaping the interactions of regional powers to this day. Whether it is the connections forged among allies and former adversaries, the troubled legacies of colonial rule, or the inspiring potential of space exploration, this collection brings together prominent and emerging regional scholars to reflect on the threads connecting WWII to today’s Indo-Pacific landscape.

We thank the authors – current and former IIPS staff and longtime friends of the Institute – for their thoughtful reflections.