India-Southeast Asia ties rooted in civilisational links: study

A research paper by Dr. Anshuman Behera of the University of Hyderabad argues that India's historical and socio-cultural linkages with Southeast Asia go beyond Western concepts of hard or soft power. The study, published in the journal Asia Europe Journal, says India's foreign policy blends nationalism and internationalism, rooted in shared civilisational values, unlike Western frameworks that treat culture as a diplomatic tool for national interests.

The paper traces the relationship from colonial disruption through the Cold War, when India prioritised non-alignment, and then examines the shift from the Look East Policy to the Act East Policy, calling it 'pragmatic idealism'. Under the Act East Policy, India has deepened security, defence, connectivity, and trade ties in the Indo-Pacific, and boosted people-to-people links through cultural restoration and educational exchanges.

However, Dr Behera notes structural challenges remain: trade deficits, infrastructure delays, and limited economic integration compared to China. The study concludes that India must align its civilisational goodwill with modern geopolitical and economic realities to realise its full strategic potential in Southeast Asia.