ABSTRACT

This book analyses the nearly 30 years of India–ASEAN relations from a contemporary perspective, identifies the reasons for India’s vibrant and significant relation with ASEAN and examines the cultural, economic, political and strategic linkages between India and ASEAN.

The book projects the future of India–ASEAN relations in the face of the changing Indo-Pacific geopolitics and explores potential policies which could enhance the connection between India and Southeast Asian countries. Arguing that ASEAN is of primary importance to India, the book suggests that any successful outing in the Indo-Pacific would need a strong partnership with India. The book demonstrates how external powers influence ASEAN, with many of them supporting the centrality of ASEAN and its regional architecture in the broader Indo-Pacific. Chapters by experts in their fields present thematically specific analyses of political, defence, maritime and cultural aspects as well as the position of Northeast India in the India–ASEAN relations and assess the success and challenges of India’s ties with ASEAN in the context of the Look East and the Act East Policies.

A reassessment of ASEAN–India relations past and present, this book will be of interest to academics and policy makers working in the field of International Relations, Asian Politics and South Asian Politics, in particular India’s Foreign Policy and Southeast Asian Politics.

chapter 1|14 pages

Introduction

ASEAN and India: navigating shifting geopolitics

part I|60 pages

ASEAN and the emerging security architecture

chapter 2|18 pages

ASEAN at 50

External actors and its relevance

chapter 4|14 pages

ASEAN-led regional security architecture

Prospects and challenges

part II|84 pages

ASEAN and India

chapter 5|14 pages

The US, India and ASEAN

Convergences and challenges

chapter 7|17 pages

ASEAN and Northeast India

Through the panorama of “Look East” and “Act East”

chapter 8|18 pages

India's defence diplomacy in Southeast Asia

Exploring new avenues

chapter 9|17 pages

India–ASEAN maritime cooperation

Need for a proactive approach

part III|82 pages

ASEAN and India

chapter 10|20 pages

Culture and connectivity

The salience of 2Cs in India–ASEAN relations

chapter 11|28 pages

ASEAN–India trade and commerce ties

Issues, prospects and challenges

chapter 12|15 pages

India's engagement with its diaspora in Southeast Asia

A neglected diaspora?

chapter 13|17 pages

ASEAN–India relations

A soft power approach

part IV|32 pages

Future of ASEAN and India–ASEAN ties

chapter 15|13 pages

Engaging ASEAN

India's strategic and policy options