Geopolitics and political economy of Laos

Launched in 1986, Laos’s reform policies rescued the country from the failures
of central planning and self-isolation adopted after the foundation of the Lao
PDR in 1975. Now on a path to economic prosperity, Laos enjoys greater
political stability and international status, thanks in part to its
participation in regional and international institutions. The China-Laos
railway has transformed Laos into a transport and logistics hub and a game
changer for the country, opening up new economic opportunities and enhancing
connectivity with ASEAN countries.
This book examines Laos’ geopolitics, economics, and its position of non-
alignment in Southeast Asia. It delves into the geopolitical contest between
China’s rise and the United States’ pivot, particularly in Southeast Asia and
the Indo-Pacific region, affecting the existing ASEAN order. It discusses
Laos’s centrality in ASEAN and pragmatic approach to managing its
relationships with Vietnam, China, the United States, Russia, and other
regional powers in the country.
Furthermore, the book explores how ASEAN member states are responding to
strategic competition between the U.S. and China, including issues such as the
South China Sea disputes; the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and Myanmar’s enduring
crisis
Finally, it highlights Laos’s 2024 ASEAN chairmanship as a pivotal opportunity
to exert leadership and influence regional diplomacy within the ASEAN
community. The country aims to expand ASEAN’s external relations and
strengthen ASEAN’s centrality and unity, and construct regional architecture
for stability, peace, and development in the ASEAN region under the theme
“ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”.