The Agartala Doctrine

A Proactive Northeast in Indian Foreign Policy

Subir Bhaumik

Highlights the challenges and opportunities for the northeastern states of India that can be leveraged for economic growth, strategic advantage, and cultural influence on a national scale
Critically analyses the 'Agartala doctrine', which was formulated at the July 2014 Tripura conclave and which laid down a prescribed course for Indian states that want to influence national foreign policy
Provides a rare glimpse into how tiny Tripura influenced Indian foreign policy towards East Pakistan and Bangladesh for half a century
Offers a rich mix of scholarship from India and abroad that brings in diverse perspectives on issues related to the Indian Northeast and their links with Bangladesh, China, Myanmar, Russia, and the U.S.
Looks not only at bilateral issues and policies but also at regional platforms, such as the BCIM and the BIMSTEC

The Agartala Doctrine

A Proactive Northeast in Indian Foreign Policy

Subir Bhaumik

Description

The border states of India, especially in the Northeast, are now considered crucial to the conduct of Indias foreign policy in the region. There is an urgent need for a robust national doctrine that could guide them in tackling pressing issues concerning them and also helping them boost their economy by accessing opportunities beyond borders. Much as it is important to check cross-border infiltration of illegal migrants and terrorists, a defensive security mindset may prevent states from leveraging the neighbourhood for economic opportunities.

This volume constructs such a framework by exemplifying Tripuras not-so-well-known influence on Indias policy towards East Pakistan and then Bangladesh for more than half a centurythe so-called Agartala doctrine. The contributions to this volume detail the regional environment in Indias eastern and northeastern neighbourhood, where its Look East policy is unfolding. The collection provides definite pointers to challenges and opportunities that can be explored for Indias economic growth, strategic advantage, and cultural influence in a comparative view of similar experiences from China, Russia, and USA.

Bringing together a rich mix of perspectives from academics and practitioners from South Asia, this book is a valuable window for all those interested in understanding Indias foreign policy in this region.

The Agartala Doctrine

A Proactive Northeast in Indian Foreign Policy

Subir Bhaumik

TABLE OF CONTENTS
List of Tables and Figures
Foreword by Dipu Moni
Acknowledgements
List of Abbreviations
Introduction: Agartala DoctrineThe Tripura Lineof Appropriate Response in Foreign Policy
Subir Bhaumik
SECTION I
1 Influx Devil: The Spanner in IndiaBangladesh Relations
Samir K. Purkayastha
2 Bangladesh and Indias Northeast: A Shared Destiny
Farooq Sobhan
SECTION II
3 Look East Through Northeast: The Ultimate Challenge of Development
Laldinkima Sailo
4 Northeast India and Its Neighbourhood: Perspectives on Indias Look East Policy
Biswajit Mohapatra
5 Look-East and Regional Groupings
Shashi Tharoor
6 IndiaBangladeshMyanmar Cooperation: Potential for Sub-regional Cooperation
Sandeep Chakravorty
SECTION III
7 China and Indias Look East Policy
Baladas Ghoshal
8 BCIM-EC and the Northeast: A Case for Graduated Engagement
Binoda Kumar Mishra
9 The BCIM Economic Corridor: A Leap into the Unknown?
Patricia Uberoi
10 The Geopolitics of Change in Myanmar
Bertil Lintner
11 The Chinese Vision of the BCIM Economic Corridor
Chen Lijun and Kong Can
SECTION IV
12 Chinas Provinces and Foreign Policy: Lessons and Implications for India and Its States
Jabin T. Jacob
13 Russian States in National Foreign Policy
Aditi Bhaduri
14 States in USAs Foreign Policy
Edmund Downie
Conclusion: Relevance and Road to the Future
Subir Bhaumik
Index
Notes on Editor and Contributors

The Agartala Doctrine

A Proactive Northeast in Indian Foreign Policy

Subir Bhaumik

Author Information

Subir Bhaumik, Veteran BBC journalist and author

Subir Bhaumik, a veteran BBC journalist and author, is now a senior fellow with the Kolkata-based Centre for Studies in International Relations and Development (CSIRD) and a senior editor with the Dhaka-based bdnews24.com

Contributors:

Aditi Bhaduri; Subir Bhaumik; Kong Can; Sandeep Chakravorty; Edmund Downie; Baladas Ghoshal; Jabin T. Jacob; Chen Lijun; Bertil Lintner; Binoda Kumar Mishra; Biswajit Mohapatra; Dipu Moni; Samir K. Purkayastha; Laldinkima Sailo; Farooq Sobhan; Shashi Tharoor; Patricia Uberoi

The Agartala Doctrine

A Proactive Northeast in Indian Foreign Policy

Subir Bhaumik

From Our Blog

Why the Agartala Doctrine: offensive defense, not domination

Unlike the Monroe or the Gujral doctrine, this is a doctrine not named after a person espousing it. It is named after tiny Tripura's capital town, Agartala , which former Bangladesh foreign minister Dipu Moni describes as the "war capital of the Bangalee nation in 1971."

Posted on February 19, 2016

Read the blog post