Imagining India as a Global Power by Sangit K. Ragi Sunil Sondhi Vidhan Pathak

Author:Sangit K. Ragi, Sunil Sondhi, Vidhan Pathak [Sangit K. Ragi, Sunil Sondhi, Vidhan Pathak]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781351609142
Goodreads: 37687174
Publisher: Routledge Chapman & Hall
Published: 2017-07-28T00:00:00+00:00

Challenges for India

How do the domestic political changes in Bhutan have a potential to affect the nature of India’s relationship with Bhutan? In the last hundred years, successive monarchs in Bhutan were personally and politically close to India. Even the leaders of democratic Bhutan belong to a generation of people who are traditionally very close to India. But as democracy matures and a new generation of leaders emerge, their ideas, ideologies and world views might differ from those of the present generation. Today, the lingering aura of benevolent monarchy strengthens the idea of Indo-Bhutanese friendship and Bhutan also shares a world view with India. With the advent of democracy however, new information, ideas and ideologies will attract many people and leaders. Someone in the future might question the benefits of such a close partnership with India. While the monarchy kept Bhutan intact and unified, democracy also brings dissent and division of opinion and people. Particular interests might take precedence over national interest. In addition, Bhutan is now gradually integrating with the world economy. In an era of globalization, the economic policy changes will usher dynamic changes in social and cultural spheres of Bhutanese society. Along the way, its traditional strongholds of national identity and cultural cohesion will continue to face increasing challenges.31 The reactions of the Bhutanese society under these emerging social and cultural churnings have the potential to alter the nature of Bhutanese state and society. In the light of this analysis, it can be argued that the changing domestic environment in Bhutan has a potential to bring changes in the nature of India-Bhutan friendship in the long term. India should, therefore, not take Bhutan for granted but keenly observe, to make sense of ongoing changes in Bhutan and prepare accordingly rather than be surprised by some sudden events.

‘China’s regional rise and the changing perception have prompted countries along China’s periphery to readjust their relationship with Beijing, as well as with one another’.32 This holds true for India and Bhutan too. In all likelihood, Bhutan is going to readjust its relationship with China by formally establishing diplomatic relationship. Small amount of bilateral trade have already started in recent years. It is now impossible for Bhutan to remain ambivalent towards the major world power in its neighbourhood. This increasing assertiveness of China, across its Himalayan frontiers, and repeated endeavours specifically to gain political ground in Bhutan, will impact the nature of India-Bhutan relationship. But apart from this political challenge, there is a security challenge for India from the resolution of Sino-Bhutanese border problem. As mentioned, China and Bhutan share a 470 km-long disputed boundary. Bhutan and China started their border talks in 1984 with the 19th round being held in January 2010. Bhutan has rejected the so-called package deal of China, where China wanted to make gains in the strategic Chumbi Valley area. Observers believe that the lengthy nature of the border talks is in order to keep Bhutan engaged and persuade it to establish formal diplomatic ties with China.

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