India Under Pressure

Book excerpt: India, as the dominant power in South Asia, is the region’s keystone for stability. Contending that the Indian government is under ever-increasing pressure as a result of internal social and political conflict, Dr. Hardgrave provides a broad survey of the sources of conflict: regionalism, particularly demands for separation and autonomy in Assam and the Punjab; enmity between religious groups, manifested in increased Hindu-Muslim tensions; caste violence; peasant unrest in the countryside; and protests among students and labor groups in the cities. The author analyzes the capacity of India’s political parties, the bureaucracy, and the military to cope with change and to manage the country’s social diversity and the potential for conflict. In particular, he examines the ruling Congress party, the leadership style of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the problem of succession, prospects for unity among opposition parties, and the potential impact of a coalition government on political stability. In considering the role that foreign relations play in India’s political stability, Dr. Hardgrave discusses India’s relations with South Asia, the Middle East, the Soviet Union, China, and the United States.