CIAO DATE: 11/03

Is South Asian Nuclear Politics Different?

Rajesh M. Basrur

May 5, 2003

Social Science Research Council

Abstract

The central question before us is whether it is appropriate for South Asians to learn from the US-Soviet experience of the Cold War. This raises other questions:

1. Are the two sets of relationships comparable? Is there in South Asia a “cold war” essentially similar to the Cold War?

2. Should the theoretical lenses we use for both sets be the same? Can we learn from the one about the other?

3. Is the thinking and practice relating to nuclear weapons in the two sets comparable?

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