India in its Neighborhood: Hegemonic Behavior?

Abstract

India, being the largest country (by size and population) in South Asia presumes it her natural right to play the role of a dominating power in the region. In order to safeguard its economic, political and security interests and extend its influence outside the region, India strives to influence the internal and external policies of its smaller neighbors as it wants to keep them weak in order to be able to coerce them. With growing international support mainly from the US and the West, Indian policy behavior is likely to continue to pursue its objective of exerting its influence in the South Asian neighborhood and extend it beyond the region. This will complicate the security of smaller states bordering India, cause instability in South Asia, and also discourage cooperation among the regional states.