At first glance it seems as though India has only suddenly popped onto the "radar" of most Americans. With the media's intense scrutiny on the outsourcing of white-collar American jobs to Indian the average American is gradually becoming more aware of the world's largest democracy. Of course this isn't the case for American foreign policy experts, they've been stymied by India for 50 years. With over a population of over 1 billion, India garners instant attention based on its size alone. But because of India's relative poverty and its confoundingly diverse amalgamation of peoples and languages, the U.S. has had minimal interest in India's rising from third world country to an international power.
I've been reading a book by Stephen P. Cohen of the Brookings Institute entitled India: Emerging Power. Cohen masterfully outlines the U.S.'s foreign policy view of India, India's estimation of its domestic politics and its place in the world economically, nuclearly, and militarily. Cohen argues India sees itself as a global "superpower" and is searching for what its leaders deem "its rightful place" in the world order. You'll recall that much was made of the fact that then-presidential candidate GWB was unable to name the Indian PM (A.B. Vajpayee).
But American indifference to India seems to be fading. Zbigniew Brzezinski, National Security Advisor to former Pres. Jimmy Carter, argues in the latest issue of National Interest that "[s]ince September 11, the notion of India as America's strategic partner has come to the forefront." However, Brezinski notes that a U.S.-Indian alliance would face two major obstacles. (1) India's religious and ethinc make-up has been "remarkably succesful" so far in terms of its common state structure and democratic sytem, but an increase in friction between the Hindu majority and Muslim minority could result in disaster. (2) India borders both Pakistan and China, and as you're probably aware, our relations with both of those countries are tenuous at best. India and Pakistan are long-time adversaries, however, recent talks between leaders of the two countries could lead to a possible peace. China and India are competing to become players in the new global economy. Also, Brzezinski notes that Chinese-Pakistani relations are a sore spot for Indian leaders. Pakistan has been a "firm and reliable ally" in the war on terror. And of course, U.S-China trade will be an important issue for decades to come.
Cohen argues that whether India "follows closely behind China in its emergence as a major Asian state" depends largely on India itself. Americans are beginning to feel the effects of a "rising" India in such areas as technology and other white-collar employment areas. As the economy becomes more global it is important for us understand where our partners, and adversaries, are coming from.
For more reading on India:
- The March 4th issue of the Economist contains an article on the upcoming elections in India.
- In today's NYT, Thomas Freidman writes about Indian technological innovations and "The Great Indian Dream", which Freidman maintains is very similar to our own "American Dream."
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