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ABSTRACT
This article seeks to analyze whether the United Progressive Alliance government in India (UPA, which was in power from 2004–14) was successful in implementing its Look East Policy (LEP). It will discuss to what extent it was effective in realizing its vision of a community of nations conscious of their historical ties, cultural heritage, and connective identity in the Asian platform. This article argues that the government’s idea of a ‘shared destiny’ has formed the core of an emerging ‘identity’ in India, and has acted as the main anchor of India's approach towards the South East Asian region. The paper also examines whether the UPA government was successful in its vision of strengthening institutional cooperation, capability, and connectivity, in the region and how the implementation of the LEP has impacted on India’s economic and security interests.
Notes
1 Naidu and G.V.C., ‘India and Southeast Asia: An Analysis of the Look East Policy: India and ASEAN’. International Studies Vol. 47. Issue 2–4 (2008): 285–304.
2 Rajiv Sikri, ‘India’s Look East Policy: A Critical Assessment’. IPCS Special Report, New Delhi: Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, 2009, p.3.
3 ‘Raises the Masses Slowly Up, Raise them to Equality’. The Hindu, January 12, 2013, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/raise-the-masses-slowly-up-raise-them-to-equality/article4299189.ece. (accessed 4 August 2020).
4 Sudhir Devare, India & Southeast Asia: Towards Security Convergence / SudhirDevare. New Delhi: Capital Publishing Company, 2006, pp. 245–246.
5 V. S. Chandrasekhar and Raghavendra, ‘PM Arrives in China on Three-Day Visit in Beijing’, 2008, http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jan/13pmchin.htm (accessed 4 August 2020).
6 Naidu and G.V.C, op. cit.
7 John Lee, ‘The Importance of India: Restoring Sight to Australia's Strategic Blind Spot’. Centre for Independent Studies, 2009, p. 6.
8 Thongkholal Haokip, ‘India’s Look East Policy: Its Evolution and Approach’. South Asian Survey Vol. 18. Issue 2 (2011b): 239–257.
9 ‘UPA Government to Adhere to Six Basic Principles of Governance’. https://www.thehindu.com/2004/05/28/stories/2004052807371200.htm (accessed 4 August 2020).
10 National Strategy for Manufacturing, Government of India, 2006.
11 Ved Mahendra, ‘Look East Ties’. East Asia Forum, November 13, 2010, http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2010/11/13/indias-look-east-ties/ (accessed 4 August 2020).
12 Lalima Varma, ‘Japan’s Official Development Assistance to India’. India Quarterly Vol. 65. Issue 3 (Jul 2009): 237–250. doi:10.1177/097492840906500302. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/097492840906500302 (accessed 4 August 2020).
13 Goto Shihoko, ‘The Rebalance within Asia: The Evolution of Japan-India Relations’. Wilson Center, 2014, https://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/ASIA_140905_Rebalance%20Within%20Asia%20rpt.pdf (accessed 4 August 2020).
14 David Brewster, ‘India’s Developing Relationship with South Korea: A Useful Friend in East Asia’. Asian Survey, Vol. 50. Issue 2 (Mar 2010): 402–425. doi:10.1525/as.2010.50.2.402. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/as.2010.50.2.402 (accessed 4 August 2020).
15 David Brewster, ‘The Rise of Bengal Tigers: The Growing Strategic Importance of the Bay of Bengal’. Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses Vol. 9. Issue 2 (April-June 2015): 83–84.
16 See ‘First India-ASEAN Car Rally 2004, Address by the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Conference on “North East – India’s Gateway to ASEAN”’. November 22, 2004, IIT, Guwahati, https://asean.org/?static_post=first-india-asean-car-rally-2004 (accessed 3 August 2020).
17 S. D. Muni, ‘Nalanda: A Soft Power Project’. The Hindu, August 30, 2010, http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article604248.ece?homepage=true (accessed 4 August 2020).
18 De Prabir, ‘India’s Emerging Connectivity with Southeast Asia: Progress and Prospects’. Asian Development Bank Institute, 2014.
19 Sikri, op. cit., pp. 131–145.
20 Ibid.
21 Shyam Saran, ‘Present Dimensions of the Indian Foreign Policy’, in Atish Sinha and Madup Mohta (Eds.), Indian Foreign Policy: Challenges and Opportunities, New Delhi: Academic Foundation, 2007.
22 S. D. Muni, op. cit.
23 Haokip, op. cit.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Nalanda Roy
Nalanda Roy is Associate Professor of International Studies and Asian Politics at Georgia Southern University. She has published three books, Bitter Moments: The Story of Indonesian Fragmentation, The South China Sea Disputes: Past, Present, and Future, and Exploring the Tripod: Immigration, Security, and Economy in the Post-9/11 United States. She is also the associate editor of the Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs.