As countries in Asia try to create unified polities, many face challenges from minority groups within their own borders seeking independence. This volume brings together international experts on countries in all regions of Asia to debate how differently they have responded to this problem.

Introduction Jacques Bertrand and André Laliberté; 1. Revolutionary state formation and the Unitary Republic of Indonesia Anthony Reid; 2. The crisis of border states in India Rajeev Bhargava; 3. Pakistan: neither state nor nation Sumit Ganguly; 4. Constitutional politics and crisis in Sri Lanka Sujit Choudry; 5. The dilemmas of Burma's multinational society Ardeth Thawnghmung; 6. The double-edged sword of autonomy in Indonesia and the Philippines Jacques Bertrand; 7. China and the virtual Taiwan nation André Laliberté; 8. The failure of China's ideologies in Tibet Gary Tuttle; 9. Leninism's long shadow in central Asia Edward Schatz; Conclusion Jacques Bertrand and André Laliberté.