India’s Act East Policy through North East India

‘Look East Policy’ was launched by the Government of India in 1991 aiming at boosting India’s relations with the Association of South East Asian Nations popularly known as ASEAN and the other East Asian countries most importantly in the economic and strategic spheres. Though initially, India’s Look East Policy did not specifically focus on the Northeastern region of India, over a period of time, it has emerged as an important focal point in connecting India with the ASEAN since the region shares borders with Myanmar and can act like a gateway to the physical connectivity with the ASEAN member countries. In this regard many scholars have put forward the argument that no vision of the Look East Policy is complete without a discussion of the region. Hence there is an urgent need to immediately look into more effective mechanisms to ‘Act East through Northeast’.

The book intends to explore the potentials, opportunities, challenges, problems for mutual cooperation between India and ASEAN in general and keeping Northeast region of India in particular. It also suggests the policy prescriptions to the existing, future challenges. The book has been divided into three sections. Section I, which holds four chapters, broadly makes an attempt to analyze India’s Act East Policy as an interface between India and ASEAN and additionally locates the Indian Diaspora in Southeast Asia. Section II, again holds four chapters and provides an overview of the histories, identities and rich mosaic of ethnic diversity found within Northeast India and additionally makes an attempt to carefully understand how Northeast India forms an essential part of India’s Look East Policy. The last three chapters, forms a part of Section III. This section tries to look into the ground realities existing in various states and particularly in Manipur Myanmar and Bhutan. This section distinctly examines the Act East policy from the local point of view and perspectives.

About the Author

Gadde Omprasad (b. 1977) working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science, Sikkim University, Gangtok, India. He did his MPhil and PhD from South Asian Studies Division, School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi and Masters in Political Science from University of Hyderabad. He has been associated with various renowned institutions for research and project related activities and visited neighboring countries for the same. Dr Gadde specialises in energy sector policies in South Asia, Foreign policy, Political economy and Public policy. He has also edited a book with Prof. Mahendra P. Lama, et.al. titled, Climate Change and Sustainability in Mountain Areas: Scope and Challenges for Regional Cooperation and Integration. Some of his research articles are published in reputed Journals like, Journal of Economics Bibliography (Turkey), Journal of Social and Administrative Sciences (Turkey), World Focus, etc.

Amit Kumar Gupta (b. 1985) working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Sikkim University, Gangtok, India. He has been awarded PhD degree from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. He worked on the concept of ‘soft power’, and its relevance as a foreign policy tool for India. His research interest lies in the field of India’s Foreign Policy, International Politics and Comparative Politics. Some of his research articles are published in reputed Journals like, International Journal of World Peace (USA), Asian Profile (Canada), Indian Foreign Affairs Journal, World Affairs: The Journal of International Issues, etc.