LEGITIMACY OF INDIA’S HEGEMONIC CLAIMS IN SOUTH ASIA: A SECURITY PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The rise of regional influence in the post unipolar world has changed the orientation of world politics altogether. This paper focuses on the rise of India in this backdrop particularly with regard to its hegemonic aspirations in South Asia. India’s developing domestic market with global outreach and sustainable growth over the last few decades has enabled the country to plan big and materialize the goal (of regional pre-eminence) set by its founding fathers. The traditional idea of power and use of power to create an influence among small states somehow supports the hegemonic claims of India but unconventional ideas of hegemony challenge the legitimacy of any such claims. India’s growing economic and military potentials are not very helpful in maintaining or restoring peace and prosperity in the region and being considered a constant threat to regional security. India’s hegemonic aspirations are not only the major source of unrest in the region but also a great threat to Pakistan’s territorial integrity since India perceives Pakistan a major hurdle to attain regional supremacy. Scrutinizing Indian hegemonic claims by applying Cox’s idea of a legitimate hegemon shows an evident lack of will on the part of India to contribute materially and ideologically in creating and establishing stable order in the region.