Paul Staniland, COSAS member and Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Political Science, was recently featured in the New York Times article “Faced With Regional Setbacks, India Flexes Its New Economic Muscle.”

The article analyzes whether India’s recent diplomatic initiatives towards its neighboring countries are strategically made to gain influence over China. It is motivated by India offering more than $750 million in aid to the Maldives earlier this month. The article writes that neighboring countries are aligning themselves with India not just for immediate financial help, but for the longer term, with hope that India’s economic potential can bring them future windfalls. 

Professor Staniland argues that India’s growing economy means its neighbors are “certainly interested in autonomy from India and having the option to engage with China and other outside states.” He explains that “some of India’s regional relationships were now characterized by ‘a restrained and respectful posture from Delhi combined with tangible efforts to cooperate.’”

Please join us in congratulating Professor Staniland for an insightful analysis and this achievement!