International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS)

222.

Title                        : FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES IN ASIA (PANEL I)

Chair                      : Alexander Bukh

Participant           :

Mayura Saudagar

Paper Title            : India's Look East Policy: Problems And Prospects

Abstract                :

The Look East Policy of India was formulated a decade ago in 1992 keeping in mind the development north-east India like Assam Meghalaya, Tripura, Sikkim, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Manipur. The citizens of these states share similar ethno-socio-cultural beliefs and practices with Southeast Asia but are separated by political boundaries. Besides they share borders with Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan making the region strategically sensitive and vulnerable.  The region is rich in minerals and human resources which are untapped and could be used for the fast growing Asian markets. However, much of India's monetary, military and diplomatic resources were invested in tackling the issues of terrorism, secessionist movements and insurgencies and the problem of refugees in the neighbouring countries.  Many view the Look East Policy of India as an attempt to counterbalance the growing Chinese hegemony in the region. While it is true that the two countries have been perceived as rivals however the rivalry was rooted in the suspicions that each country had regarding the others military status in the region and the development of nuclear arms in particular. In the recent years the Chinese transformation as a land of commercial opportunities has been welcomed warmly in India, which it did by promoting commercial ties amongst the two countries consequently taking steps in the direction of strengthening ties. The task undertaken by India is not an easy one given the lack of expertise, knowledge of the people and the language, the laidback bureaucracy/red tape, the topography of the northeast India which renders it inaccessible to the neighbours but where there is hope there is plenty of scope. As the Look East Policy aims at promoting trade ties with the neighbours as the shortest route to the markets in South East Asia is via the Northeast of India. So for countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal this policy is a boon as they can gain easy access to these markets in the shortest and most economical way. The experience of the Asian economic crisis of 1997, which was resolved by joint efforts of the ASEAN+3 members, is still fresh. It served as a wake up call for taking steps towards putting aside our differences for the greater common well being of the majority. But then are Asians who, given their background of colonial dominion and the violent fight to regain their sovereignity, willing to give up their sovereignty for a common union as seen in the case of the European Union? By shying away from the issue are we allowing the well being of the region to remain hostage to the outmode ideas of security and national chivalry? In this context, the proposed paper makes an attempt to study in detail, what are the challenges before India's Look East Policy and the efforts were made by India to correct its political and economic relations with these countries. Moreover the paper suggests some possible measures in improvement of India's Look East Policy. It will be argued that despite the enhanced international profile, Indonesian foreign policy is still primarily dictated by domestic concerns for stability and prosperity. It is therefore rather unlikely that Indonesia will aspire to middle power leadership in the near future. Only if the country can find long-term solutions for its internal instabilities and only if it can rediscover sustainable economic growth strategies will Indonesia be in a position to pursue its international ambitions more forcefully.