In the aftermath of the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in December 2004, the ensuing multinational relief, humanitarian and rebuilding efforts of the Operation Unified Assistance offer examples of international cooperation to sustain and rebuild Asian communities in the post-9/11 security environment. An analysis of these efforts in light of differing theoretical perspectives provides a forum for debate on the nature of cooperation in the international arena and the implications for ethnic and civil wars in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. As a case study, this paper also examines international security strategies and the implications for economic prosperity and political stability in sovereign but weak nation-states.
