From Kashmir to East Pakistan: How Hegemony Absence Redefined South Asian Warfare

Diyun Zhang ()
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Diyun Zhang: University of Oxford, United Kingdom

RAIS Conference Proceedings 2022-2024 from Research Association for Interdisciplinary Studies

Abstract: Post-World War II saw a bipolar global structure emerge, altering warfare dynamics to include not only traditional wars but also civil conflicts, skirmishes, guerrilla tactics, and terrorism. Superpowers like the USA and USSR, often involved in regional disputes in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, have been criticized for escalating tensions. However, their absence sometimes led to greater instability and uncertainty, potentially sparking new conflicts. Aiming to investigate how and why hegemony absence has shaped the evolution of warfare in the region, this article examines the three significant conventional wars between India and Pakistan that transpired in South Asia —a region deeply entrenched in distinct historical and political significance. It reveals that the 1947 Kashmir War, occurring during a period of superpower preoccupation, failed to resolve tensions and laid the groundwork for future conflicts. The increased superpower involvement in the 1965 war significantly altered the conflict's scale and outcomes. In contrast, the 1971 war, with focused attention and support from the USA and the USSR, led to East Pakistan's independence, reshaping South Asia's geopolitical structure. Using process tracing and comparative analysis, this study highlights the critical impact of hegemonic absence on regional conflicts, marked by increased decision-making autonomy, diminished resource aid, and limited mediation efforts. This South Asian case study enriches our understanding of hegemony's role in international relations theory.

Keywords: warfare; hegemony absence; geopolitics; South Asia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 8 pages
Date: 2024-05
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Published in Proceedings of the 35th International RAIS Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities, April 4-5, 2024, pages 71-79

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