The Role of Indian Diaspora: A Look at India-Myanmar Relations
Janesar, Mohammad
The Role of Indian Diaspora: A Look at India-Myanmar Relations - 53-67. p.
Indo-Myanmar relations are based on history and civilizational ties. Indo-Myanmar’sclose socio-economic, commercial, political, cultural relations had existed all throughthe ages dating back to ancient and medieval times. Beyond these ties, ethnic linksbetween the people of Myanmar and India exist in four states bordering Myanmar,namely, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram, and have continuedsince antiquity. In contemporary epoch, both countries have been enjoying warm andfriendly relations. For example, Myanmar is the only gateway to Southeast Asiaconnecting India by land and acts as a buffer zone between the northeastern regionand China. Myanmar is considered as one of India’s immediate neighbors and part ofits successful Look East Policy (LEP), currently Act East Policy (AEP). For India, Myanmaris the connecting bridge as it is crucial for India’s LEP, besides the development ofstronger ties with Southeast Asia and East Asian countries. Consequently, it is importantto examine the role of the Indian Diaspora in achieving internal (stabilizing borderareas) as well as external (stabilizing Southeast Asia) security objectives of India. Thediaspora has emerged as a powerful lobby since they are documented as “soft power”in International Relations and foreign policy strategy. It is also a driving force or agentof economic development between India and Myanmar. Therefore, this paper attemptsto study the role of the Indian Diaspora in transforming the bilateral relations betweenIndia and Myanmar in the contemporary conte
reign policy strategy economic development India Myanmar
The Role of Indian Diaspora: A Look at India-Myanmar Relations - 53-67. p.
Indo-Myanmar relations are based on history and civilizational ties. Indo-Myanmar’sclose socio-economic, commercial, political, cultural relations had existed all throughthe ages dating back to ancient and medieval times. Beyond these ties, ethnic linksbetween the people of Myanmar and India exist in four states bordering Myanmar,namely, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram, and have continuedsince antiquity. In contemporary epoch, both countries have been enjoying warm andfriendly relations. For example, Myanmar is the only gateway to Southeast Asiaconnecting India by land and acts as a buffer zone between the northeastern regionand China. Myanmar is considered as one of India’s immediate neighbors and part ofits successful Look East Policy (LEP), currently Act East Policy (AEP). For India, Myanmaris the connecting bridge as it is crucial for India’s LEP, besides the development ofstronger ties with Southeast Asia and East Asian countries. Consequently, it is importantto examine the role of the Indian Diaspora in achieving internal (stabilizing borderareas) as well as external (stabilizing Southeast Asia) security objectives of India. Thediaspora has emerged as a powerful lobby since they are documented as “soft power”in International Relations and foreign policy strategy. It is also a driving force or agentof economic development between India and Myanmar. Therefore, this paper attemptsto study the role of the Indian Diaspora in transforming the bilateral relations betweenIndia and Myanmar in the contemporary conte
reign policy strategy economic development India Myanmar