Vision 2020 or re-vision 1958: the contradictory politics of counter-insurgency in India's regional engagement
Insurgency in Northeast India has long been explained as an outcome of poverty and isolation that in turn produces further poverty and militancy. In order to break this cycle and achieve ‘peace and prosperity’, the Indian Government released North Eastern Region Vision 2020 in July 2008 – a comprehensive policy agenda to achieve ‘peace and prosperity’ in the Northeast. This is to be realised through deeper economic and political engagement with neighbouring countries and a ‘paradigm shift in development strategy’ that will be simultaneously more participatory and more infrastructure intensive. This paper argues that in practice the political manifestations of increased regional engagement are contradictory. Each measure designed to break the region's isolation is countered by measures to maintain control of borders, trade, and the movement of people. At the heart of this new development vision is a re-visioning of counter-insurgency underpinned by the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (1958). Far from signalling a new era in the region, the measures contained in this new development vision appear more likely to exacerbate the grievances of people in the region and reinforce the ways the region has been governed through five decades of counter-insurgency.
Cross-Border Chaos: A Critique of India's Attempts to Secure its Northeast Tribal Areas Through Cooperation with Myanmar
Since independence, India has faced a variety of insurgencies and political challenges in its Northeast Tribal Areas. Many of the ethnic minority insurgents in the area are also found across the border in Myanmar and have received logistical and material support from Myanmar insurgents. While the Indian government recognizes this connection, it has focused primarily on security issues to the detriment of the political, economic, and cultural grievances in the region. To address these problems, the Indian government should expand its cooperation with Myanmar in anti-corruption, political reform, trade, infrastructure, and cultural initiatives.
America Or Europe?: British Foreign Policy, 1739-63
International developments Britain and the War of the Austrian Succession Anglo-French relations the Crown Parliament diplomats and ministers defence, foreign policy and strategy Pitt and moves towards new strategies, 1755-63 conclusion - Europe or America?.