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Abstract
Since the 1990s, India has faced heavy criticism for its realist approach to Burmese affairs. Geopolitical imperatives indeed drove Delhi towards a closer partnership with its military-ruled neighbour. India, however, claims it plays a key role in fostering development in Burma; therefore, consolidating long-term democratization prospects there. This article aims to challenge this view. Using the literature on development and democracy, as well as interviews with Indian policy-makers, it will explore India's recent engagement with the Burmese socioeconomic landscape, and assess its democratizing impact. It argues that, despite an evident discourse shift since cyclone Nargis in 2008, India's development and infrastructure projects remain low-key and peripheral, its education and health assistance marginal and its transnational connections with the emerging Burmese civil society absent. India's own dilemmatic approach combined with Burmese traditional resistance impedes a broader Indian leverage. Unless a more diverse socioeconomic involvement is offered by Delhi in Burma and more knowledge about its evolving polity is nurtured at home, India will neither pave the way for pluralism to grow there nor alleviate its deep-rooted image deficit there.
Acknowledgements
This is a revised version of a conference paper presented during the international symposium on ‘Myanmar 2011: Governance, Development and Dialogue’, held at the University of Hong Kong on June 20–22, 2011. The author wishes to thank Ian Holliday for his encouragement, as well as Marie Lall and the anonymous reviewer for their sharp comments.
Notes
For linguistic simplicity and without any political connotation, the author has chosen to hereafter use the English terms ‘Burma’, ‘Burmese’, ‘Burman’, and ‘Rangoon’, instead of the vernacular terms of ‘Myanmar’, ‘Bamar’ or ‘Yangon’, as ‘India’ has been preferred to the vernacular as ‘Bharat’. ‘Burmese’ then refers to the wider citizenship and common language of the people inhabiting Burma, while ‘Burman’ (Bamar) more specifically designates the country's dominant ethnic group. Burma is also the home for non-Burman (yet Burmese) ethnic minorities, such as the Karens, Kachins, Shans, Nagas, and so on.
Author's discussion with Rajiv Sikri, former Secretary (East) of India's Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, November 2009.
Author's discussions with two former Indian Foreign Secretaries: Salman Haidar (1991–1994) in Hong Kong, September 2010, and Kanwal Sibal (2002–2003) in New Delhi, November 2010.
Changes of discourses of diplomats based in Burma have been evident through the years: author's regular discussions with Indian diplomats in Rangoon and Mandalay, between 2002 and 2008.
Author's discussions with G. Parthasarathy, former Indian Ambassador to Rangoon (1992–1995), New Delhi, November 2010.
See for instance the anti-Tamanthi movement created by Northeastern and Delhi-based civil society groups. The Kuki ethnic minority is much involved in it, as exposed by their website (accessed on 4 August 2011) available at http://www.freewebs.com/anti-htamanthi/
As for instance the Thanbayakan Petrochemical complex, in Magwe Region: see the press release on EXIM's website (accessed on 5 August 2011) at http://www.eximbankindia.com/press250209.asp
Author's discussions with C. Murali, President of the India–Myanmar Business Club, Rangoon (January 2005) and with Mak Patel, former consultant for the Indian Ministry of Energy, Rangoon (March 2006).
According to a briefing released by its Department of Information Technology on its bilateral cooperation in Asia, available online at: http://www.mit.gov.in/content/asia (accessed on 4 August 2011).
Author's discussions with Rajiv Bhatia, India's Ambassador in Rangoon (May 2004), as well as with India's first Consul-General in Mandalay (May 2004), and his successor (April 2005, March 2007).
Author's discussion with Amb. Aloke Sen, Calcutta, India, October 2010.
Author's discussion with George Fernandes, former Indian Defence Minister (1998–2004) and supporter of Burmese democrats, New Delhi, March 2006.
Author's regular discussions with Indian diplomats based in New Delhi and Rangoon since 2002.
Author's discussions with leaders of the Kachin Independence Organization/Army (KIO/KIA), Laiza, Burma, August 2011.
Author's discussion with Amb. Eric Gonsalves, former secretary at India's embassy in Rangoon (1962–1965), New Delhi, November 2009.