Date of this Version

January 1997

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Details

Pre-print:

Rosita Dellios, (1997) 'Mandalas of Security', in Donald H. McMillen (ed.), Globalisation and Regional Communities: Geoeconomic, Sociocultural and Security Implications for Australia, USQ Press, Toowoomba, 1997, pp. 407-418.

Copyright © Donald McMillen, 1997.
Reproduced with permission.

Abstract

In employing the constructional metaphor of 'architectures' for the constructive purpose of security enhancement in the eastern Asian region, it is but a small step to 'indigenise' the process by slipping into the mentality of mandala-building. In doing so, it is to be hoped that Asian security 'architectures' will prove more acceptable and accessible to participants - and thus efficacious in their purpose. The mandala adds nothing new to the experience of Asian communities but redirects effort towards existing cultural orientations. In effect, it is a conceptual device for refining Western technostructures in ways more meaningful to the needs and expectations of Asian societies. There is nothing to prevent the 'security mandala' from being applied to other regions with differing cosmologies. After all, despite its Asian - particularly Indian and Tibetan - associations, the symbolism of the mandala is a cross-cultural phenomenon. The focus in this paper, however, will be on the Asian region.