A Game of Chess and a Battle of Wits: India’s Forward Policy Decision in Late 1961 In spring 1962, small numbers of lightly armed Indian troops proactively established presence in the disputed border areas between Chinese Tibet and India, despite intense sabre-rattling in Beijing. What was originally intended as a ‘game of chess and a battle of wits’ in late 1961, eventually ended in war in October 1962. This article discusses the long-term and short-term factors that can help explain why the Government of India opted for the ‘Forward Policy’ in late 1961. Johan Skog Jensen October 2012 Journal of Defence Studies
The Tibetan Uprising and Indian Opinion of the Chinese China’s cruel repression of the revolt which broke out on 10 March 1959 in Lhasa provoked sharp reactions in India. The mood of agitation that captured the country found expression in the form of a flood of articles, editorials and vivid political caricatures in national newspapers, noted for creating a powerful case in support of the Tibetans and forcefully condemning the Chinese for their imperialistic adventures in Tibet. Bhavna Tripathy October 2012 Journal of Defence Studies
Enduring Legacy of 1962: Cementing the Conflict of Perceptions in Sino-Indian Ties Fifty years since the 1962 war, India and China have moved on to become world powers with engagement and competition characterizing their relationship in keeping with the rules of realpolitik. Both sides argue that the past has been forgotten, yet the border dispute remains unresolved. Despite the rapprochement and robust economic engagement undertaken, the relationship has a constant undercurrent of tension and is often described as fragile. Shruti Pandalai October 2012 Journal of Defence Studies
Corruption in Administration: Evaluating the Kautilyan Antecedents The significance of Arthasastra for the issue of corruption in contemporary times lies in Kautilya’s realisation that corruption in government is inevitable but can be combated through a set of strict measures Tarun Kumar October 12, 2012 Issue Brief
Cooperation is the key to manage the India-Bangladesh Border That cooperation between neighbours can pave the way for resolving issues relating to the management of shared borders is amply demonstrated by the outcomes of various bilateral interactions that took place between India and Bangladesh in recent months. Pushpita Das October 12, 2012 IDSA Comments
Is Arab Spring Part-2 Unravelling? Just when it seemed that the Arab Spring was almost over and the region was entering a phase of political transition, a flurry of developments in the first week of October 2012 has brought the region back into focus. Rajeev Agarwal October 12, 2012 IDSA Comments
From the Managing Editor This issue of the Journal of Defence Studies is being published 50 years after China attacked India across the Himalayas. A majority of Indians and Chinese today do not have any personal memories of the war. Since the war was seen as a victory for China and a defeat for India, it naturally evokes different sentiments in the two countries. For China, it was a punitive strike to teach India a lesson, to make it accept a lower position in the hierarchy of nations and, perhaps, an opportunity to convey its strength to the world at large, and particularly to the two superpowers of the day. Rumel Dahiya October 2012 Journal of Defence Studies
The Legacy of 1962 and China’s India Policy This article will argue that the legacy of the 1962 Sino-Indian War continues to affect China’s policy towards India even today. The three factors that led to China’s decision in 1962 to attack India—the status of Tibet, the militarization of their unresolved border and fears of containment—are present even today, albeit in slightly modified forms. This is not to argue that another Sino-Indian War is imminent because the larger strategic context within which China’s leaders took the decision to attack India in 1962 has changed. Manjeet S Pardesi October 2012 Journal of Defence Studies
Indian Army: Internal Challenges In Capability Building And Retention The Army, being the largest service and fielding the largest array of equipment, needs to improve its own processes by carrying out an internal analysis and taking effective steps to speed up the procurement process. Rumel Dahiya October 11, 2012 Issue Brief
Some takeaways from the Budapest Conference on Cyberspace Even as imagined and real cyber security threats scale new heights, the story coming out of the recently concluded Second International Conference on Cyberspace in Budapest was one of a widening gulf between countries, notwithstanding the stated intent of bridging differences through dialogue. Cherian Samuel October 11, 2012 IDSA Comments
