Act East Policy of India: A desire for hegemony in South East Asia

Abstract

This research analysis the regions of Southeast Asia with a particular focus on the Act East Policy as practiced by India and the effects it has on the sovereignty of countries within that region while also looking at ways in which all parties involved can benefit from such policies. With respect to the growing extent of confrontational geopolitics especially with regard to China, India’s Act East Policy seeks to address the needs of the Southeast Asian Nations. This policy shift seeks economic, cultural and security cooperation but does so in consideration of the specific politics of the regions. The study takes a qualitative approach, drawing on secondary sources including scholarly articles, government publications and international legal instruments. Qualitative case studies of some countries in southeast Asia were undertaken to determine the impact of the policy on regional sovereignty. The results show that while there are prospects for gaining the upper hand in the region with the rise of India’s East Policy, there are bottlenecks in the aspects of local respect and historical elements. In order to increase the effectiveness of the Act East Policy, India should place greater emphasis on the local level, avoid secretive practices, and customize the approach to Southeast countries.