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.
India in the twenty-first century
Economically and politically India approaches the twenty-first century a very different countryfrom that which emergedfrom colonial rule into independence in 1947. By the year 2020 India is expected to be the fourth largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power parity. In the light of a newforeign policy doctrine, this article examines the contradictions between India's economic and political compulsions and assesses the prospects for the world's largest democracy as it looks East to new trading partners and political links and to the resolution of long-standing security issues with its neighbours.
Disintegration of the Soviet Union : Implications for India
EVELOPMENTS in the socialist world during the last three four years, particularly since 1989. have had a tremendous impact on the entire global system. As a matter of fact the developments were so quick and fast that they left the political analysts and observers completely confused and bewildered. StarUng with Gorbachev’s perestroika and glasnost, followed by the signing of the INF treaty and the fall of the socialist regimes in Eastern Europe, the reunification of Germany, and, on top of all. the dlsintegration of the mighty Soviet Union, the events moved at such a speed that even before the fall out of one was assessed, the other came with a bang.