Special Report: Territorial Disputes in Global Politics

China’s aggressive approach to territorial disputes with its neighbors in the South China Sea has raised regional tensions in recent weeks, highlighting the volatile potential of conflicts over territory and border demarcation. But though border disagreements can at times lead to open violence, as between Thailand and Cambodia, they can also be resolved through slow and steady negotiations, as between Cuba and the Bahamas. This WPR Special Report examines approaches to territorial disputes through articles published in the past two years.

East Asia

Senkaku Dispute Reflects China-Japan Struggle for Regional Primacy
By Richard Weitz
September 18, 2012

Involvement of Taiwan, Hong Kong in Senkaku Dispute Highlights Deep Nationalism
By Megan Fluker
August 21, 2012

Japan-South Korea Territorial Dispute
Interview with Min Gyo Koo
April 1, 2011

Historical Disagreements Still a Drag on Japan-South Korea Ties
By Steven Borowiec
April 2, 2012

Lee’s Dokdo Visit Sinks Hopes for South Korea-Japan Détente
By Jonathan Berkshire Miller
August 14, 2012

Why Russia Is Challenging Japan Over Kurils
By Richard Weitz
March 1, 2011

Thailand-Cambodia Tensions Reveal ASEAN’s Limitations
By Roberto Tofani
February 14, 2011

Thailand’s Domestic Politics Drives Cambodian Border Clash
By Sebastian Strangio
April 28, 2011

Indonesia-Malaysia Relations
Interview with Dave McRae
December 13, 2011

Bangladesh-Myanmar Maritime Border Fix Puts Bay of Bengal in Play
By Jared Bissinger
September 29, 2011

Azerbaijan-Armenia Tensions: Regional Risks, Policy Challenges
By Michael Cecire
June 12, 2012

Nagorno-Karabakh Balances Between Peace and War
By Haykaram Nahapetyan
July 6, 2011

Abkhazia, South Ossetia Show the Limits of Russian Influence
Interview with Svante Cornell
March 12, 2012

Uzbekistan-Tajikistan Tensions Driven by Mutual Dependence
Interview with Idil Tuncer Kilavuz
May 3, 2012

Caspian Littoral Diplomacy
Interview with Gawdat Bahgat
September 28, 2011

Falklands Oil Rekindles Argentina-U.K. Tensions in the South Atlantic
By Jeremy Martin
April 3, 2012

A Post-Modern War in Central America
By Frida Ghitis
November 25, 2010

Chile-Bolivia Ocean Access Dispute
Interview with Christopher Sabatini
August 9, 2010

Boundary Agreement With Cuba a First Step for Bahamas
Interview with Martin Pratt
April 9, 2012

Kosovo: Going Rogue?
By Andrew MacDowall
January 7, 2011

Kosovo’s North is Europe’s Latest Frozen Conflict
By Risto Karajkov
August 11, 2011

Transnistria Vote Highlights Tension Between Values and Interests
By Matthew Rojansky
January 5, 2012

Frozen’ Transnistria Conflict Begins to Thaw
By Matthew Rojansky
April 17, 2012

Western Sahara: Forgotten Corner of the Arab Spring
By Christina L. Madden
December 15, 2011

Nigeria-Cameroon Relations
Interview with John Campbell
August 17, 2011

Kenya-Ethiopia Relations
Interview with Edmond J. Keller
June 15, 2011