The Pacific is of increasing importance for international security and prosperity. In this study of the region, Gerald Segal puts the concept of the Pacific into historical perspective and analyzes the fundamental trends in politics, ideology, culture, security and economic affairs. The book argues that the vital developments taking place there are best understood in a wider context: the decline of the superpowers, the new paths to development for Third World states, and the growing interdependence in the global economy are all factors challenging local economies and societies. The author attempts to demonstrate that the Pacific never has been and shows no sign of becoming a cohernet political entity and concludes that the countries of the West need to be more confident of their ability to help integrate the important Pacific nations into the global, political and economic systems.