Together with the OCBS ‘Basics’ booklet (on the Buddhism, the State & Civil Society programme), this paper suggests points of convergence between Buddhist Studies and International Relations. The ‘Basics’ booklet outlines the social dimension of Buddhist thought and the cosmopolitan heritage of Buddhist history; this paper first presents the context in which it becomes relevant to highlight cultural commonalities across Asia, then identifies some such and indicates their connection with the Buddhist tradition, and finally suggests ways in which the Buddhist dimension of Asian and indeed of global culture and discourse seems set to grow in importance. OCBS plans for the ‘Basics’ Group and the Lecturership in Buddhist Sociology may thus merit support.