The Futures of Borders and Geopolitics in South Asia - Beyond a Statist Discourse

Praise for The Futures of Borders and Geopolitics in South Asia Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures List of Tables 1 Introduction The Context for South Asian-ness The Conceptual Maze Thematic Widening and Empirical Deepening The Chapters References Part I Statist Discourse and Beyond: Post-Coloniality, Border Communities, and Critical Geopolitics 2 Approaches to the Study of South Asian Geopolitics Introduction Rationale Data and Method Theories of Border and Geopolitics Mapping South Asian Geopolitical Discourse: Empirical Findings Relevance of Theories Realist Lens Liberal Lens Critical and Constructivist Lens Feminist Lens Conclusions References 3 “Securing” Borders in Anthropocene Geopolitics: Perspectives On and From the Border Villages of Punjab Introduction Anthropocene Geopolitics: Re-imagining, Re-thinking, and Re-visiting Borders Borderlands as Homelands: Post-Colonial, Post-Partition Perspectives Post-Partition Borders of South Asia in Anthropocene: Mapping India–Pakistan Border from Below and the Margins Making of the “Punjab Borderland”: Mapping Geographies of Mobility and Territoriality The Border Villages in the Indian Punjab: Anthropocene Realities and State Policies The Case of Mohar Jamsher Village: In Between the Ecological and the Geopolitical Border Villages and the Challenge of Anthropocene: Salience and Silences Conclusion References 4 Bangladesh-India Border Haat Transactions: Where the ‘Local’, ‘National’, and ‘International’ Converge Introduction: Resurrecting Cross-border Relations Empirically and Theoretically Methodology Indigenous ‘Trees’ on Bangladesh-India Trade ‘Forests’: Border Haats Security Political Flavor Revivalism Restrictions Relative Isolation ‘Tree’-Level Performances First Field-Visit Attempt to ‘Official’ Site: Dolora, Sunamganj First Field-visit to an ‘Unofficial’ Site: Bholaganj, Sylhet Second Field-Visit to ‘Official’ Site: Kasbah Third Field-Visit to ‘Official’ Site: Kurigram, Jamalpur ‘Tree’-level Kurigram-based Recommendations The ‘Forest’ of Bangladesh-India Commerce Empirical Types Theoretical Context Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Appendix 3 Appendix 4 References 5 Transcending Borders: Interplay of Geopolitics, Geo-Economics and Geo-Cultural Dynamics in India’s Relations with Its Neighbours Introduction Geopolitics of the Border and the State Partition and Border Making Border: A Colonial Imperative? India, Border ontology and Ungoverned spaces Geo-Economics of the Border: Beyond a Statist Discourse Breaching the Border: Border Trade Border Communities: Emphasis on Geoculture and Mutual Dependency Conclusion References Part II Power Politics in Historical and Contemporary Perspectives: Role of Regional and Extra-Regional Actors 6 Behavioural Arms Control in Exclusive Economic Zones: India-Pakistan Focus Introduction Understanding Arms Control The Legal Regime of Exclusive Economic Zone and Foreign Military Activities India-Pakistan Behavioural Arms Control in Exclusive Economic Zones Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Operations Submarine Operations India Submarine Fleet Pakistan Submarine Capabilities Pakistan Navy Modernization Plans Indian Submarine Operations in Pakistan’s Waters Submarines’ Presence in EEZs and Effect on Escalation Prospective Behavioural Arms Control Measures in EEZs/High Seas Conclusion References 7 Traditional Borders and Transnational Identities: Borders, Conflicts and Afghan Society Introduction Statehood, Borderlands and Construction of Identities Building Belongingness The Pashtun Privilege Geopolitical Aspects: US Involvement and Beyond Taliban 2.0 and Security Concerns The Fallout of Command and Control A Man’s Man’s World and a Man’s Man’s State The Future of Drugs and Terror Concluding Remarks Bibliography 8 Nepal’s Geopolitics Amidst India–China Competition Geopolitics of Connectivity Geopolitics of Nepal India–China Competition Through Connectivity Connectivity for Influence People-to-People Ties Political Parties and Civil Societies Trade and Investment Defence and Security Future of BRI in Nepal Comparison of Chinese and Indian Aid External Actors Conclusion References Part III Emerging Issues: Ethnocracy, Energy Trade, and Geoeconomics 9 Ethnocracy, Geopolitics, and Economic Crisis in Sri Lanka Ethnocracy Amidst Indian Regional Dominance Indian Preponderance Ethnocracy Amidst China’s Growing Influence Growing Negative Perceptions of China Conclusion References 10 Energy Geopolitics in South Asia: Bangladesh’s Role as a Central Energy Enclave Introduction Theoretical Framework: How Do We Deliver Energy to a World That Cannot Stop? The State of Energy in Bangladesh The Lack of Energy Enclaves in South Asia: Contributing Factors The Current State of Energy Trilemma in South Asia Regional and Bilateral Energy Initiatives in South Asia Policy Recommendations Conclusion References 11 Pakistan’s Security Discourse from Geopolitics to Geo-economics Theoretical Framework Pakistan’s Perception on Borders: Statist Discourse Kashmir Conflict and the Politics of Territoriality Durand Line and the Politics of Territoriality Pakistan’s Perception Shift on Borders: Geo-economics Iran–Pakistan Pipeline Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) The Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Global and Regional Political Realignments SAARC: A Way Forward References 12 Studying Borders and Geopolitics in South Asia: Key Issues, Theories, and Lessons Key Issues Borders, Geopolitics, and Geoeconomics Borders and Ethnicity Lives of Border Communities Regional Power Politics Methodological Choices and Theoretical Implications Policy Implications Landlocked States Maritime States Geoeconomic and Geocultural Compulsions Conclusions