India and Southeast Asia in a Changing World Exploring Relationship Prospects for a Sustainable Future

Introduction

Shailza Singh, Philip Varghese, Shalini Balaiah and Sarish Sebastian

Part I: India and Southeast Asia: Contours of Foreign Policy in the Evolving Geopolitical Realm          

1. Strategic Partnerships and Regional Resilience: Exploring the Evolving Landscape of India-Southeast Asia Relations

Hema Appachu and Biddappa Appachu

2. An Assertive China and Disengaged United States: Emerging Opportunities and Challenges for India’s Foreign Policy Strategy in the Indo-Pacific              

Upasana Ghosh

3. Betwixt QUAD and China in the Indo-Pacific: Implications for India and ASEAN Komal Khandelwal and Biplab Debnath

4. The Continuous Evolution of India-Southeast Asia Synergy in the Changing Indo-Pacific Context

Simran Walia

5. Asymmetries of Power and Negotiations: Case of South China Sea    

Arushi Singh

Part II: Economy, Trade and Connectivity: Exploring Synergistic Linkages and Roadblocks in India Southeast Asia Relations

6. India’s Economic and Political Engagements with ASEAN in a Changing World

Albin Thomas

7. Geopolitics of Connectivity in Southeast Asia: A Study of India and China           

Himani Sharma

8. India’s Trade Relationship with RCEP members in the context of Act East Policy Amlan Ray and Deepika M.G

9. India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement: Impact, Issues, and Challenges in Act East Policy         

Prajakta Arote, Pravin Jadhav, Rahul Choudhary and Hastimal Sagara

10. Implications of Agricultural Factor Productivity On Sustainable Development In South Asia And Southeast Asia: A Stochastic Frontier Analysis      

Sulakshana Rao C.

Part III: Diplomatic Forays and Cultural Connect in India-Southeast Asia Relations: Bridges across Oceans

11. India-ASEAN Science Diplomacy in Renewable Energy Cooperation  

Rugmini Devi M and Jeffin Thomas Mammen

12. India’s Vaccine Diplomacy towards Southeast Asia in the Context of Act East Policy Nguyen Van Dap

13. North East in India’s International Diplomacy through Look East Policy to Act East Policy    

Md Shafikul Haque

14. Connecting Culture: The Tradition of Boita Bandana

Deeti Ranjita Ray

Biography

Shailza Singh’s area of specialization includes International Relations and Comparative Politics (special reference to India and the US). Her research interest primarily centers around security as a conceptual, policy and governance category, particularly, its relevance for the developing countries. The broad spectrum includes Security Studies in the Third World, Traditional and Non-Traditional Security in South Asia, Critical Security Studies in the post- colonial countries as well as Global International Relations with special reference to Urbanisation and Securitization. She has published in International Studies and Studies in Indian Politics, two prestigious political science and International Relations journals in India. She is also a member of editorial board of journal The Research Post published by The Bharati College, University of Delhi. Presently she is engaged in conducting research on Everyday (In) Securities among Urban Dwellers in India: Coping with Threats and Mitigation Strategies. She is also working on India and Non-Traditional Security in South and Southeast Asia. From the ongoing research she presented at the Annual Conference of International Studies Association (ISA) in Montreal, Canada in March 2023. She teaches courses on India’s Foreign Policy, International Relations and Global Politics and Peace and Conflict Resolution apart from being a member of the International Studies Association (ISA).

Philip Varghese is currently JSPS-UNU postdoctoral fellow. He is also a visiting researcher at Akita International University and United Nations University. In this role he works closely with the Biodiversity and Society (BDS) team at the UNU-IAS, Tokyo and his independent research looks at the intersections of Local Governance, Sustainability and Tourism. Prior to this he spent about 5 years teaching courses on Indian Government Politics, Global Politics, Comparative Politics, Social Movement and Development Process and International Relations in Delhi NCR at Christ University (July 2018- August 2020) and GD Goenka University (August 2020 – October 2023). While at Christ University, he was part of the project - India’s Neighborhood Policy towards the Southeast Asian Region: A Study on Act East Policy (INPSAR) funded by Hanns Seidel Stiftung, India. He holds a Ph.D. and M.Phil. degree in Political Science from the Centre for Political Studies (CPS), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, M.A. in Political Science from Madras Christian College, Chennai and B.A. in Economics and Political Science from St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi. He is the corresponding editor for this book project.

Shalini Balaiah teaches International Relations at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bannerghatta Road campus, Bangalore, India. Her research interests include Conflict and Security Issues, Foreign Policy, Geopolitics, Eurasia, West Asia and Indo-Pacific. She teaches courses on Foreign Policy, Terrorism and Counterterrorism, West Asia, Global Power Politics, Peace and Conflict Studies. She is currently working on a project- ‘India’s Neighbourhood Policy towards the Southeast Asian Region: A Study on Act East Policy (INSPAR)’ funded by Hans Seidel Stiftung, India. She has completed her MA, M.Phil, Ph.D. in International Relations from School of International Studies (SIS) Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India and B.A in History Economics and Political Science from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, Karnataka.

Sarish Sebastian teaches Political Science at CHRIST (Deemed to be university), Delhi NCR. He is also the Coordinator of Examinations at the NCR campus. He holds a Masters and Ph.D. in Political Science From the Department of Political Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India and Bachelor Degree from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala.

"This book offers valuable perspectives from regional scholars on the convergence between India and Southeast Asia, the heart of the Indo-Pacific. It makes an important contribution to understand the intersection of India’s Neighbourhood First and Act East policies in the broader Bay of Bengal region."

- Dr. Constantino Xavier, Fellow, Foreign Policy and Security Studies, Centre for Social and Economic Progress

"In the era of globalization and amidst fast changing geopolitics and geoeconomics, India’s foray into Southeast Asia has gained immense scholarly attention in recent times. This edited book volume is a humble effort in generating academic interest and in contributing significant value addition to a wide array of students, research analysts, policymakers and area study experts. A must reading for students of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts in general and International Relations in particular."

- Dr. Mohammed Badrul Alam, Formerly Professor and Head, Department of Political Science, Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi, India 

"Though Asia now sits firmly at the center of the global political and economic order, what this entails in practice remains widely outside the purview of many Western scholars across the social sciences. This invigorating collection of insights into the interactions between India and Southeast Asia goes a long way towards filling these gaps. Importantly, these works help us to reframe our intellectual geography by demonstrating the numerous threads binding South and Southeast Asia."

- Kevin Hockmuth, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Global Studies Program, Akita International University, Akita, Japan