What makes ASEAN diplomacy distinct? Deepak Nair (NUS Singapore), the co-winner of EISA’s 2020 best article award, rejects both essentialist/orientalist as well as generic readings of ASEAN diplomacy and presents a micro-sociological account of ‘face-saving’ practices. In this conversation with Vineet Thakur (Leiden University), Deepak discusses his background, his interest in Southeast Asia and practice theory, his immersive fieldwork, and more.
