South Asia and US Interests: Peripheral, But Impossible to Ignore* (*1 Billion+ People Can Quickly Get Your Attention)
Abstract
South Asia, the land mass consists of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka has been a crossroads of civilization and history for centuries. The cradle of two or more world's religions, the home of one billion people, hundreds of languages and dialects (800 in India alone) and ethnic complexities that dwarf anything Europe can boast, the region remains problematic for the United States South Asia has rarely been seen as vital to American interests, though crises in the area have brought. It to the forefront of Washington's attention periodically. Nonetheless, South Asians see many Americans as viewing the region, and especially India, as "a land of cobras, Maharajahs, monkeys and famines" (Ganguly, 23), and the key US interest as achieving the maximum security of this region with a minimum of US commitment (Ganguly, 26). At best some would argue that South Asia's significance to Washington is as a developing region with potential for US markets. At worst they would see South Asia as a proxy for Great Power actions during the Cold War, of only peripheral import to the US now that the Cold War has ended US pokey towards South Asia--during those times when the region has come up on the scope of policymakers' attention--has tended to vacillate between support for Pakistan and India, emphasizing all the while the importance of stability in the region. Today's interests focus on promoting stability, reducing nuclear proliferation, opening markets and increasing trade, and encouraging democratization. Still, even the most ardent Asianist admits that the level of interest in South Asia does not equal that of the Middle East, Europe, or East Asia.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA441992
Entities
People
- Barbara B. Alexander
- James Boyle
- Kevin Milas
Organizations
- National War College