Impact of West Bengal Politics on India–Bangladesh Relations
Abstract It was expected that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka in September 2011 would transform India–Bangladesh relations. However, this did not happen as India could not sign the Teesta water sharing agreement, the biggest deliverable of the visit. It also made some people brand West Bengal (Paschimbanga) Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as a spoiler. But did West Bengal stop central government from achieving a historic diplomatic breakthrough for narrow political objectives, or were its leaders only protecting their state interests, which central government may not have been fully able to understand being far away from the region? This article examines the impact of West Bengal politics on India–Bangladesh relations and argues that the role played by the states can often add value to foreign policy making and might actually prevent the centre from jeopardising local interests, thereby protecting national interests as well. The India–Bangladesh relationship can improve if treaties are negotiated in such a way that they become win-win for both sides. This will happen if the treaties are signed after due diligence, taking into account all stakeholders, and if they are implemented sincerely.
The Growing Role of States in U.S. Foreign Policy: The Case of the State Partnership Program
States can and do play an important role in contemporary U.S. foreign policy. This article will discuss the growing role of states through an investigation of the State Partnership Program (SSP). The SSP pairs state National Guards with the militaries of other countries through U.S. military engagement programs. The state-level National Guard then becomes the primary site for implementing U.S. military engagement programs. Both a federalism and decision-making perspective, however, are unable to recognize this role. The decision-making bias of foreign policy analysis affords states a limited international role and minimal influence in shaping the policies of the government toward other countries. An implementation perspective, however, reveals a growing role of states carrying out U.S. foreign policy, including the “high politics” of national security issues. States give decisions meaning through the practice of policy implementation. A detailed case study of the Maryland–Estonia partnership illustrates how an implementation perspective can recognize a growing role of states in shaping U.S. foreign policy.
Indian Foreign Policy in a Unipolar World
Preface. 1. Introduction Harsh V. Pant. Part I. Major Themes in Indian Foreign Policy 2. India and the Global Balance of Power: A Neorealist Snapshot Devin T. Hagerty 3. India and the Emerging Non-Proliferation Order: The Second Nuclear Age C. Raja Mohan 4. India and the Challenge of Global Terrorism: The 'Long War' and Competing Domestic Visions Timothy D. Hoyt 5. India and Energy Security: A Foreign Policy Priority Manjeet S. Pardesi and Sumit Ganguly. Part II. India and Major Global Powers 6. India and the US: Embracing a New Paradigm C. Christine Fair 7. India and China: As China Rises, India Stirs Mohan Malik 8. India and Russia: Renewing the Relationship Deepa M. Ollapally 9. India and the EU: A Long Road Ahead Fraser Cameron. Part III. India's Regional Policy 10. India and South Asia: Towards a Benign Hegemony Stephen F. Burgess 11. India and the Middle East: A Re-Assessment of Priorities? Harsh V. Pant 12. India and Central Asia: Part of the New Great Game Stephen Blank 13. India and East Asia: A Region 'Rediscovered' Manish Dabhade. Afterword. Bibliography. Notes on Contributors. Index