The global financial crisis has highlighted the critical importance of Australia's engagement with the United States and the industrialising giants of Asia. In particular Australia's exports to China and India have helped to insulate the nation from some of the worst consequences of the downturn elsewhere in the world. Increasingly, sub-national governments such as South Australia's are engaging directly with the region in an attempt to strengthen economic ties. The Engaging State shines a light on emerging forms of engagement in the Asia-Pacific century.