The Indo-Pacific Review is pleased to present its Capstone Special Edition. This special issue brings together the collaborative work of two research groups, offering fresh and critical perspectives on the evolving dynamics of the Indo-Pacific. This issue explores two distinct yet interrelated studies that challenge conventional understandings of the region: Large Ocean States (LOS) and Great Power Politics in the Indo-Pacific and Contemporary Readings of Colonial Borders of the Indo-Pacific. These studies offer new perspectives that are often overlooked in Indo-Pacific scholarship, which remains largely dominated by state-centric discourses on security and geopolitics.

The first study, Large Ocean States (LOS) and Great Power Politics in the Indo-Pacific, is explored by Dr. Nansi Paulraj, Angshuman Choudhury, Dr. Anand V., and Dr. Sitakanta Mishra. Their research shifts the analytical lens from great power rivalries to the agency of Large Ocean States (LOS)—nations whose expansive maritime presence is often marginalized in regional discourse. By centering the perspectives of LOS, this issue highlights their role as norm-setters in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in reframing security narratives.

The second study, Contemporary Readings of Colonial Borders of the Indo-Pacific, is examined by Dr. Pavithra Jayawardena, Dr. Vilashini Somiah, Dr. Kittipos Phuttivanich, and Dr. Ashik Bonofer. Their research critically reassesses how borders within the region are conceptualized beyond the nation-state framework. Traditional analyses often prioritize state-centric security and geopolitical contestations, whereas this issue foregrounds the lived experiences of communities and individuals navigating these borders. By engaging with transnationalism and cross-border interactions, their work examines how territorial demarcations are imagined, experienced, and contested at multiple levels.