A Study On The Relationship Between India And Myanmar After The Cold War

India and Myanmar have a historical connection that goes back to the11thcenturyand since then have enjoyed mutual contact in the area of trade, religion, law,philosophy and culture. During the history, the relationship of the two countries hasexperienced ups and downs at times, but mostly as friends and partners. Thepost-Cold War era witnessed the shift in the balance of power and the restructure ofinternational order, and the India-Myanmar relationship took a turn for better. Bothsides have carried out a series opportunity for cooperation and achieved significantresults in the realm of politics, economy, diplomacy, military, security, education andculture etc.Relationship between India and Myanmar’s new changes involving many factors,including world politics, world pattern, the influence of the great powers, but it’smainly the national interests of the two countries. Geographical condition is thedetermining factor for the rise of two countries’ relationship. That is to say, the twocountries are neighboring countries, the bilateral relationship is very important, so noone can ignore the other. Facing the diplomatic isolation, Myanmar can only seekassistance from the surrounding and its neighbors to achieve a diplomaticbreakthrough. The India-Burmese relationship and the strategic concept anddiplomatic choice of both sides fully embody the characteristics of the geopoliticalpolitics and the geopolitical strategy, especially in Myanmar.This article from the perspective of geopolitics and geopolitical strategy to explorethe relationship and its new change between India and Myanmar and the policyadjustment of each other in the Post-Cold War period, and to analyze the presentsituation and future development trend of bilateral relations as well as the majorpowers’ impact on the region and the India-Burmese bilateral relations systematically.The paper is divided into seven parts, five chapters, plus the introduction andepilogue.The introduction of this paper mainly introduce the value and significance of topic selection, research status at home and abroad, new breakthroughs and new ideas ofthis paper, the research methods and ideas, and so on.The first chapter introduces the history contact of the two countries before thecold war, is trying to prove the importance and particularity of the relationshipbetween the two countries. A large number of facts prove that, due to the geographicalproximity, the people of both countries had a close exchange and frequent interactionsince ancient times, and also politics, economy and culture are inseparable. That laysa foundation for the contemporary relationship and close cooperation between the twocountries.The second chapter analyzes and judges the current situation of the relationsbetween the two countries, and makes a quantitative analysis for the areas and levelsof cooperation between the two countries, points out the problems of the relationsbetween the two countries, to explore the crux, and also points out the futurepossibility and feasibility path to improve bilateral relations and to promote thecooperation between the two countries.The third chapter introduces the India’s strategic and diplomatic idea and basiclogic starting point of its diplomatic towards Myanmar, from the view of from India,discusses the current situation and future of the relationship between India andMyanmar, motives and obstacles, the aspects of positive and negative. This chapterfocuses analysis on the India’s geopolitical strategy and the influence of its policiestowards Myanmar after the cold war, and expounds the main factors behind theinteractive development of bilateral relations. For India, Myanmar is the importantgateway to access to Southeast-Asia interior land, and also a key part of Indian“Look-East” policy. India can treat Myanmar as a land-bridge to improve thecondition of traffic lead to Southeast-Asia market. Myanmar as a key to breaking theIndia’s Northeast’s geo-political isolation and maintain border security and curbingChinese influence in the region.The fourth chapter introduces Myanmar diplomatic predicament and diplomaticoptions, and then discusses the current situation and future of the relationship betweenIndia and Myanmar, motivations and barriers, the aspects of positive and negative from the angle of Myanmar. The basic logic of this chapter is that Myanmar’s foreignspace was limited, so the diplomacy can only rely on the bases of geopolitical politics.Considering the status quo of the home and abroad, Myanmar only seeking diplomaticbreakthrough in peripheral to break the blockade of political and economic and theplight of diplomatic. Myanmar is keen to keep good relations with India because onthe one hand it is beneficial to create peaceful and stable diplomatic environment andon the other hand Myanmar can improve its status and expand more extensiveexchanges and cooperation through keep good relations with India. And moreimportantly, Myanmar can leverage on its geopolitical advantage and adopt balance ofpower approach among China, India, ASEAN and other major powers to achievesuccess one way or another and expand living space.The fifth chapter mainly discusses the effects on the relationship between Indiaand Myanmar from external forces, such as the United States and the ASEAN.Because China is the neighbor country for both India and Myanmar, at the same time,China is the great power which has closest relations with Myanmar, so, China will bediscussed as an important factor in this chapter. This chapter attempts to show abroader background from the perspective of regional and global politics rather thanmerely from the perspective of bilateral in an isolated way to analysis the evolutionand development of relationship between India and Myanmar.Conclusion part mainly makes a short summary for the basic idea of this article, atthe same time makes a prospect about the relationship between India and Myanmar.Looking forward, despite predicaments in the India-Myanmar relationships and thepressures felt in power struggles from major powers within and outside the region,Myanmar will undertake further reforms, strengthening its democracy, opening itseconomy and re-balancing its external relations. Against this backdrop, leaders in bothcountries will adopt a more forward-looking and constructive approach, expressingsatisfaction at prospects of closer relations between India and Myanmar in the future.