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Geostrategic Significance of South Asia:
Contextualizing the Interests of External Powers
--Bawa Singh and Mohamad Arif Mir
After the nuclear tests conducted by both India and Pakistan in May 1998 in South Asia, the experts, particularly the former US president Bill Clinton, described the region volatile and a dangerous place in the world. This description of South Asia is to be viewed in the context of the uneasy relations between India and Pakistan since their independence. There are, of course, many other places in the world which are highly risky for the people who live there; the contemporary anarchy in Nigeria, Ukraine and the Middle East countries has provided disturbing evidence of the brutality of mankind. But these conflicts have either been confined to the said regions or have only limited regional significance. The disputes among South Asian countries have remained an area of unresolved and dangerous conflict involving external powers, arms proliferation and ethnic and religious hatred that go back to the evolution of India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—the countries that form South Asia. Due to its strategic location and natural wealth, the region has acquired a very important position from a geostrategic point of view. External powers such as China and the US, to increase their economic stakes, seek to engage South Asian countries with respect to security and energy issues in West and Central Asia, the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. Against this backdrop, the paper has attempted to study and analyze the geostrategic importance of South Asia and the role of China and the US as two major powers that have interests in the region. © 2014 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Ukraine Crisis:
Legal and Economic Dimensions
--B N Mehrish
With his defiant moves on Ukraine, the Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to change the rules of the game in international politics. By encircling Russia and turning Ukraine into a forward country for positioning NATO bases, the US is paving the way for fraternal genocide and ethnic cleaning. With its intervention in Crimea, Russia has challenged the US and its allies that the unipolar world order is not viable. Putin signed a bill on March 21, 2014 making Crimea a part of Russia. The Ukraine crisis has been called the return of the Cold War. Is the West back at its old game of containing Russia? Crimea’s overwhelming vote to rejoin Russia has been assailed by the US. China and India have been more circumspect. The issue of self-determination for disputed territories is controversial in international law. This paper focuses on the changing security dynamics in Central Europe and examines Russia’s resurgence and the challenges it poses, and also discusses the implications of Russia’s resurgence for US foreign policy. © 2014 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Connectivity, Development and Regional Integration:
The Case of Indo-Myanmar Kaladan Project
--Santishree D Pandit and Rimli Basu
If understanding the links between environmental sustainability and equity is the most crucial and critical factor to expand human freedoms for the current and future generations, as envisaged by the 2011 UN Human Development Report, then connectivity is one of its core variables. Stressing the global connectivity through regional linkages is one of the foremost guidances for the future generations. At the fragmented regional level, focusing on South East Asia, India is trying to pragmatically implement this theoretical framework through various connectivity programs with Southeast Asian countries. As one of the most strong civilization states with greater capabilities and broader visions, India is certainly expected to surge ahead with this goal. This paper seeks to examine whether connectivity of India and Southeast Asia through Kaladan Project of India-Myanmar will prove beneficial or detrimental for the overall development and integration of the region from a global perspective, and whether it will be able to minimize the country-wise/region-wise disparity in the region, as envisaged by the UN Human Development Report. © 2014 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Reinventing True Federalism in Nigeria:
A Perspective
--Joshua O Bolarinwa
This study is a way of lending a voice to the ongoing discourse on the issue of reinventing true federalism in Nigeria and contributing to the contested national issue. It argues that Nigeria cannot be a strong and united federation unless and until the constituent parts (states) are sufficiently empowered by enabling practices that conform to the principles of federalism. The essence of true federalism is to allow each state or region in a federation a significant measure of autonomy to manage its affairs. The federalist debate in Nigeria centers essentially on the need to understand the basis of the contract of true federalism. This debate is longstanding, passionate and inconclusive. Despite the contrived arrangement as articulated by the ruling class, the systematic dysfunction has resulted in a series of violent, dramatic and traumatic inter-ethno regional confrontation, vitiating the essence of the debate. It concludes that all traces of unitary system of government should be removed from Nigeria’s form of federalism and the states should be allowed certain degree of freedom and autonomy that is consistent with federalism. © 2014 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Maritime Security Threats in the Indian Ocean:
How Prepared Is the Indian Navy?
--Bawa Singh
Throughout history, the Indian Ocean had remained the pivot of international relations. Following the end of the Cold War, a paradigmatic shift has taken place with the astonishing economic growth of China and India. To sustain the growth rate of the major economies such as China and India and other regional countries, incessant supply of energy has become the dire requirement of the region. But in recent years, maritime threats have been growing exponentially. This perception has been heightened by incidents like 26/11 which took place via sea route. The maritime threats like sea piracy, narco trafficking, gun trafficking and maritime terrorism, particularly after the Mumbai attacks, have created maritime security challenges for the Indian Navy. The focus of this paper is to find out how the Indian Navy is preparing itself to cope with these maritime security challenges. © 2014 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
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