jabin t jacob spirit, sciences po, bordeaux 9 april 2010
TRANSCRIPT
The States in India and Foreign Policy:
Interests, Influence and Implications
Jabin T JacobSPIRIT, Sciences Po, Bordeaux
9 April 2010
China and its Provincesunitary, single-party systemBeijing vs. provinceshierarchy of provinces
1949-1978 location, size leaders in Politb, PLA
post-1978 world trade, FDI education provincial diaspora
influence exercised1949-1978
budgets tenure of leaders openness to the outside
post-1978 preferential policies location of major events
India and its Provinces1947-1989 - federal, single-partypost-1989 – federal, multi-party,
reforms and opening up of economy
hierarchy of provinces 1947-1989
members in Parliament GDP
post-1989 world trade, FDI education, infrastructure provincial diaspora
influence exercised/constrained 1947-1989
members in Parliament location / national security
post-1989 coalition governments
Indian Provinces and Foreign Policy Legally, provinces have no right Executive negotiates, signs and
ratifies treaties Parliament only legislates to
implement ratified international agreements
In practice, provinces affect foreign policy:
who governments, parties, interest
groups why
events in province interest in events across
borders interest in treaties
results trade-offs domestically
2 Phases1947- 1989centrist Indian National Congress in power little or no provincial involvement or input visible in foreign
policy
post-1989provincial parties grow in powercoalition governments at the centreliberalization and growth of the Indian economyhigher degree of provincial input and interest in foreign
policy visible results in trade-offs domesticallyresults in complication of bilateral relations with other
countries
India and its Neighbourhood
Provincial India and its Neighbourhood
Provincial India and its Neighbourhood
Provincial India and its Neighbourhoodoriginal reasons for the division of the Indian
subcontinent religion, language
60-odd years of international borders language and slang, customs, trade routes changefamily links weaken
strong centripetal / “provinpetal” forceshistorical memory remains strongethnic linkagesfamily links survive, marriage across bordersdevelopment of technology and communication
supports irredentismprovincial governments in India and China are
becoming stronger want to take advantage of ethnic and historical
linkages economic reasons – competition with other
provinces
Kashmir – Pakistan, China
1947-1989India x PakIndia x ChinaNew Delhi x
Kashmir
post-1989New Delhi x
KashmirIndia x PakIndia x China
NE India – China, Bangladesh, SE Asia1947-1989India x ChinaIndia x NE provincial
interest groups
post-1989New Delhi + NE
provincial governmentsNew Delhi x NE provincial
interest groups India x/+ ChinaIndia x/+ BangladeshIndia +/x MyanmarIndia + Southeast Asia
Tamil Nadu – Sri Lanka, Malaysia
1947-1991India +/x SLTamil Nadu x SLNew Delhi x Tamil
Nadu
post-1991, 2007Tamil Nadu x/+ SL India + SL New Delhi x/+ Tamil NaduTamil Nadu +/x MalaysiaIndia + Malaysia
Gujarat – Africa
1947-1989India + AfricaGujarat +/? Africa
post-1989, 2008India + KenyaNew Delhi x GujaratGujarat ? Africa
Kerala – ASEAN1947-1989India +/- ASEANKerala +/? ASEAN
post-1989, 2009India + ASEANNew Delhi +/x
KeralaKerala ?/x ASEAN
Implicationscentre-province relations in India
increasing political power of provinces at the centre greater activism and interest or capacity for
intervention in foreign policy matters will the Indian Parliament have a greater say in
India’s international affairs?trade-offs by centre to provinces over foreign
policy issues Kerala and ASEAN FTA Northeast India and Look East Policy?
inter-provincial competition for trade and FDI
Implicationsimpact on Indian foreign policy
affects India’s relations with other countries ethnic issues, diaspora linkages
Tamil Nadu – Sri Lanka, Malaysia Punjab –Pakistan, Canada, US, France Gujarat – Kenya
affects India’s ability to negotiate Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, 2008 – provincial parties India-ASEAN FTA, 2003-2009 - Kerala
for the rest of the world foreign governments need to pay attention to
local/provincial conditions and politicsforeign governments can influence provinces
inter-provincial competition for trade and FDI
Two Punjabs
West Bengal and Bangladesh
An Older India