January 18, 2012
By Karl F. Inderfurth
The Economist, in its recent issue “The World in 2012,” gave this thumbnail prediction for India in the New Year: “The Congress-led government is leaking support because of widespread corruption and a patchy economic record… Nevertheless, the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will hold on until the end of its term in 2014 – not least because the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party is equally tarnished. Strong internal growth and foreign demand for India’s services will propel the economy, though the rate of expansion will slow.”
A comparable prediction for the United States in the New Year would be similar, starting with the Obama administration’s own “patchy economic record” and likelihood of slow growth in 2012. Added to this would be the near certainty of continuing, highly partisan battles in Congress and the uncertainties (and risks) associated with a steady stream of foreign policy “flashpoints” from the ongoing military engagement in Afghanistan, to Iran and Iraq, to the Middle East and North Africa.
Moreover, today both capitals suffer from policy gridlock. No significant law has been passed by India’s parliament since the Singh government’s reelection two years ago. None has been passed during the current session of the U.S. Congress, nor are any expected this year. Finally, both countries are moving into political campaign mode, with the run-up to the November U.S. presidential election now in full swing and India engaged in what amounts to a “mini” general election year with a series of big state elections, including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Gujarat.
So what does this portend for U.S.-India ties in the New Year? More to the point, where might there be opportunities in 2012 to advance U.S.-India ties, even as both capitals remain inwardly focused and subject to increasingly dysfunctional politics? Offered below are three New Year’s resolutions and five New Year’s recommendations for consideration in both countries – by those in and out of government – who want to see the bilateral relationship proceed on an upward trajectory in 2012.
Asia Foundation trustee Karl F. Inderfurth is the former assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs and a senior advisor and Wadhwani Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies at CSIS. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the individual author and not those of The Asia Foundation.
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