The Thailand–Cambodia Border Crisis: Challenges to Theories of International Relations and Implications for ASEAN

ABSTRACT

While existing scholarly literature has emphasized interpretations of ASEAN's diplomacy and its member states' relationships through realist, constructivist, and neoliberal lenses, the Thai–Cambodian border crisis is a critical case to test these theoretical approaches in interpreting ASEAN inter‐state territorial disputes. This article examines the limitations of the three approaches to the Thailand–Cambodia border clashes and proposes a Nationalist Realism alternative, testing three hypotheses framed by this theory with empirical examination. Through an analysis of the contentious border dispute, the article explores several challenges to ASEAN and offers suggestions on how to strengthen the organization's capability in promoting regional peace and stability in the context of the border crisis and other emerging regional issues.