INDIA AND ASIAN GEOPOLITICS

By

Shivshankar Menon

Geopolitics is the capacity and ability of States to exercise power, influence and culture over other states, both in the vicinity and beyond the geographical borders.  The Cholas, Pandyas and Pallavas exercised power and influence over countries in south east asia by entering into commercial and cultural relationship as well as indulging in power politics in those countries.

The British played power politics by interfering in Afghanistan and trying to construct it as a buffer zone between India and Russia.  Independent India’s role in playing a geopolitical role was hampered by the legacy of freedom movement which strictly forbade any attempt to interfere in the affairs of other countries.  India desired growth and development of all countries with each helping each other in unison.

Room for playing such geopolitics in post Independent India has been curtailed by values bestowed by independence movement (non-violence for example) and policies of Jawaharlal Nehru such as non-alignment and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. Emergence of China  as a major power in Asia, with its occupation of Tibet which resulted in creating a geographical border between the two countries for the first time in history and the position of an aggressive Pakistan virtually from Day One after partition of the sub-continent compelled India to play a geo political role by establishing power relationship with big powers and regional players.

Pakistan’s behavior such entering into military pacts such as CENTO and SEATO of the western powers made India’s position very awkward, but the country still avoided entering any power blocks.  On the other hand India’s prestige as a peace broker enabled it to play constructive role in conflict resolutions, such as Korean, China-Taiwanese and Vietnamese disputes. 

India started playing a strategic role only after the emergence of Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister of the country.  Unlike her father, Indira Gandhi was a ‘Realist’ as far as international relations are concerned.  She quickly realized the geopolitical situation in which India is situated vis-à-vis America, China and Pakistan on the one side and Russia and India on the other and entered into a strategic relationship with Russia.  This has helped India in the war with Pakistan and the emergence of Bangladesh.

Mr. Shivshankar Menon deals exhaustively with matters involving how internal affairs of other countries impinge on India’s strategic situation, such as Russian invasion of Afghanistan, Vietnam’s invasion of Cambodia and the Sri Lankan civil war.

The 1990s were eventful with economic liberalization taking off in India, break-up of the Soviet Union and countries in Eastern Europe and massacre of student protesters at Tiananmen Square in China.  Despite these gigantic events, India’s relationship with Russia, China and nfAmerica has only improved.

What is the geo political position in which India is situated in the early decades of the new millennium? Menon advocates continued multi-lateral  relationship viz. improved economic relationship with America and China and continued military hardware tie up with Russia.  He also advocates continued pursuit of look East policy towards south east asia but an improved and purposeful relationship with India’s immediate neighboring countries of South Asia.