Military Intervention and Secession in South Asia

Auteur

Anne Noronha Dos Santos is a lecturer in Political Science at California State University, Fullerton. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science, with a major in International Relations, from the University of California, Riverside.

Texte du rabat

From Chechnya in Russia to Kashmir in India to the Basque region in Spain, secessionist movements remain a serious threat to international security. Despite the importance of this issue, the causes that bring about external military intervention in a secessionist war have not, until now, been adequately addressed. In this book, Dos Santos identifies the conditions that make international military intervention in a secessionist war more or less likely. South Asia, being fraught with secessionist movements-Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Kashmir, and Punjab-provides an ideal laboratory for the examination of this compelling issue. Dos Santos argues that a shift in the balance of power between a secessionist group and its central government will lead to a preventive war on the secessionists by the central government. In turn, a preventive war of this nature may lead to an alliance between the secessionist group and an external power. The stronger the alliance, the greater the chances of an international military intervention.

Understanding the conditions under which secessionist movements expand, become secessionist wars, and invite international military intervention on behalf of the secessionists has strong policy implications. It can go a long way toward guiding policymakers who may want to mitigate or avoid these conditions in their states. Dos Santos views both states and secessionist groups as primary actors, and she examines both the distribution of power among states and the balance of power between central government and groups within states.

Résumé
The stronger the alliance, the greater the chances of an international military intervention. Understanding the conditions under which secessionist movements expand, become secessionist wars, and invite international military intervention on behalf of the secessionists has strong policy implications.

Contenu

Acknowledgments 1 Introduction 2 A Theory of International Intervention in a Secessionist War 3 Bangladesh 4 Sri Lanka 5 Kashmir 6 Punjab 7 Conclusion Appendix 1 Statement issued by Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed, prime minister of Bangladesh, on April 17, 1971, after the inauguration of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Appendix 2 Vaddukoddai Resolution Appendix 3 Article 370 of the Constitution of India Appendix 4 Anandpur Sahib Resolution Notes Bibliography Index