Ontological insecurity in the Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific states are navigating significant geoeconomic and geopolitical transformations amid an increasingly multipolar international system, characterized by diverse and alternative modernities. These global and regional shifts generate instability, unpredictability, and geopolitical anxiety, fostering heightened ontological insecurity. This article engages with key debates in ontological security studies, including the relationship between ontological security and the continuity or change of routines and narratives, the triggers of insecurity from significant others and disruptive events, and the need for adaptation to new environments. By addressing these issues, we expand the research programme of ontological security studies and open new avenues for theoretical inquiry. We argue that ontological security should be understood as complementary to, rather than a substitute for, rational choice approaches. This perspective emphasizes the interplay between physical and ontological security, highlighting their complementarity as a crucial focus for future research.