Constructing Peaceful Coexistence: Nehru's Approach to Regional Security and India's Rapprochement with Communist China in the Mid-1950s. Issue 1 (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Benvenuti, Andrea
• Is Part Of: Diplomacy and statecraft. Volume 31:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 91
• Page End: 117
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: Diplomacy -- Periodicals; World politics -- Periodicals; International relations -- Periodicals; 327
• DOI: 10.1080/09592296.2020.1721063
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-2296

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In the mid-1950s, Jawaharlal Nehru advanced an alternative approach to regional security, pursuing it enthusiastically. He held that employing diplomacy in accord with the 'Five Principles' of peaceful coexistence, regional governments could establish 'areas of peace' and achieve 'collective peace'. China played an essential role in this process, becoming the lynchpin of Nehru's regional strategy. Although mindful of China's potentially subversive role in Asia, Nehru downplayed such misgivings, urging Beijing's commitment to the Principles. By doing so, he endeavoured to 'create an environment' where China would find it increasingly difficult 'to break away from the pledges given'. Furthermore, by supporting China's participation to the 1955 Bandung Conference, he wished to end Beijing's isolation and transform India's giant neighbour into a stabilising regional force. This analysis revisits Nehru's policy of peaceful coexistence, making a fresh contribution to the study of Cold War India's external relations. In addition, it explains how such a policy, crucially centred on Sino-Indian rapprochement, took shape and appeared, at least briefly, to make progress and deliver on Nehru's expectations.