India's South Asia policy in the twenty-first century: new approach, old strategy

Abstract

Maintaining regional supremacy and stability and denying extra-regional actors a military foothold in South Asia have long been key objectives of India's regional policy. In pursuance of these objectives, India displayed a willingness to undertake coercive action against its smaller South Asian neighbours. Evidence of this is seen in the military intervention in Sri Lanka (1987–1990) and a virtual economic blockade of Nepal (1989–1990). However, during the past decade, India appeared to draw away from such overt interventionist policies and even accepted outside actors like Norway and the United Nations being involved in the peace process in Sri Lanka (2002–2006) and Nepal (2006–2011), respectively. Notwithstanding India's apparent shift in behaviour, these actions do not represent a fundamental change in the country's traditional policy towards the region.

Keywords:

• India
• foreign policy
• Sri Lanka
• Nepal
• peace process

Notes

The term ‘smaller South Asian neighbours’ excludes Pakistan.

For a detailed discussion on majoritarian systems see Lijphart (1999).

For text of the India–Nepal Peace and Friendship Treaty of 1950 and related letters see Muni (1973) and Jha (1986).

For an overview of mediation styles and the distinction between facilitation and mediations see Folberg and Taylor (1986), Fischer and Keashly (1991), Bercovitch (1997), Kelman (2000), Jones (2000) and Beardsley et al. (2006).

See Kadirgamar (2001), interview by N. Ram with Lakshman Kadirgamar.

See Balasingham (2001), interview by Tamil Guardian (newspaper) with Anton Balasingham.

See United Nations Security Council (2007).

See Senate Foreign Relations Committee (2006), statement of Richard Boucher before Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Arijit Mazumdar

Arijit Mazumdar is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of St Thomas, St Paul, MN, USA. His research interests include comparative politics and international relations of Asia, with particular emphasis on India, China, Pakistan and Nepal. His articles have been published in journals like Asian Profile, Asian Survey, Economic and Political Weekly, Himal Southasian, India Quarterly: A Journal of International Affairs, Indian Journal of Political Science, Journal of Asian and African Studies and World Review of Intermodal Transportation Research.