Join us at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy for a talk with Cheng-Chwee Kuik, Professor of International Relations at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies, on his new book, Theorizing Hedging: Explaining Shifts and Variations in Alignment Choices (Cambridge University Press, 2026).
Professor Kuik argues that hedging — not balancing or bandwagoning — is the modal behavior of non-great powers navigating high-stakes uncertainty, and offers one of the first theoretical accounts of strategic hedging in world politics. He will explain not only why smaller states hedge, but also why their alignment decisions shift and vary over time.
Professor Kuik will then apply his framework to the current strategic environment, examining how Southeast Asian states are calibrating their relationships with China and the United States, as well as with other middle powers, including Canada.
Agenda
| 4:00 p.m. - 4:10 p.m. | Welcoming remarks |
| 4:10 p.m. - 4:40 p.m. | Book Talk – Cheng Chwee Kuik, Professor of International Relations, National University of Malaysia (UKM) |
| 4:40 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Moderated discussion with Lynette Ong, Distinguished Professor of Chinese Politics at the University of Toronto |
| 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Networking |
