Book Review: Rajendra K. Jain (Ed.), India, Europe and Pakistan
| Date | 01 October 2018 |
| Published date | 01 October 2018 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0020881718815309 |
| Author | K. Warikoo |
| Subject Matter | Book Reviews |
Book Reviews 355
US ballistic missile defence, Western interventionism and democracy promotion,
which essentially further Western security interests. The banality of democratic
peace theory which seeks to advance the interests of the Euro-Atlantic power
bloc is evident. Sakwa analyses Russian interpretation of colour revolutions as
opposed to the dominant Western one. He concludes by highlighting a ‘global
impasse’ between Russia and the West. He describes this phenomenon a ‘new
normal’, characterised not only by the competition between Russia and Euro-
Atlantic alliance system, but also the emergence of an anti-hegemonic power
alignment in the East.
The author makes an attempt to understand the events of the post-Cold War
global politics purely through the prism of traditional realist school of thought,
with only occasional allusion to liberal and social constructivist theories.
Contemporary issues such as climate change, cyber warfare find scant attention.
More so, the feminist approach or the gender perspective to international rela-
tions, which is very popular these days, does not find enough attention in Sakwa’s
writing. Second, great power politics is Sakwa’s primary concern, so much so
that, he does not take into consideration the strategic dilemma faced by many of
Russia’s neighbours. While the impasse over Ukraine gets considerable attention,
other conflicts in the region do not find adequate mention.
Anirban Chatterjee
Doctoral Candidate,
Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies,
School of International Studies,
Jawaharlal Nehru University,
New Delhi, India
E-mail: chatterjee.anirban148@gmail.com
Rajendra K. Jain (Ed.), India, Europe and Pakistan (New Delhi: KW
Publishers, 2018), xxvi, 291 pp. `960.
DOI: 10.1177/0020881718815309
The European Union (EU) has become a major force in international affairs.
In 1994, the EU brought out a comprehensive framework for Europe’s relations
with Asia under the title ‘Towards a New Asia Strategy’. Thus emerged a broad
common thinking in the EU about its objectives in Asia, which were identified as
follows: (a) strengthen the EU’s economic presence, (b) contribute to stability in
Asia, (c) promote/assist the development of poorer countries and subregions and
(d) contribute to the development of democracy, rule of law, respect for human
rights and fundamental freedoms. The EU’s policy in Asia aims at strengthening
peace and security, increase in trade and investment, enhancing development
cooperation as well as promoting human rights, democracy and good governance.
The book under review in its 13 chapters written by both the Indian and
European experts offers rich and varied analyses on Pakistan’s relations with the
EU in diverse sectors. Although the title of the book is India, Europe and Pakistan,
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