India’s Act East Policy: A Diplomatic Tool for Social Integration and National Security
The success of foreign policy depends upon domestic conditions. India’s Act East Policy which travels through the North East Region, marked by heterogeneity in terms of geography, demography, culture, possibilities, and challenges, is a diplomatic tool to guard its national security. It views national security beyond military security, encompassing traditional and non-traditional aspects of security. The Indian notion of security is based on securing society from unlawful internal threats and various kinds of external pressures, which are aimed at dismantling the social fabric. ‘Identity vacuum’ in the context of the Manipur violence, which erupted in May 2023, has emerged as a tool in distorting the social order and dismantling social integration. This article is an attempt to examine the enabling domestic conditions in the North East Region through the lens of societal security. Further it also investigates how the domestic initiatives complement and enable the successful implementation of the Act East Policy.
- Deepika Singh |
- July-August 2026 |
