Deadly Impasse: Indo-Pakistani Relations at the Dawn of a New Century

by Sumit Ganguly

Overview

What ails the Indo-Pakistani relationship? Rivalry between the two states has persisted since the partition of the British Indian Empire in 1947, and despite negotiations, four wars and multiple crises, India and Pakistan remain locked in a long-standing dispute. Evaluating relations from 1999 through to 2009, Sumit Ganguly seeks to understand this troubled relationship and why efforts at peace-making and conflict resolution, which have included unilateral Indian concessions, have not been more fruitful. Charting key sources of tension throughout the decade, including the origins and outcomes of the Kargil War in 1999, developments in the Indian-controlled portion of the state of Kashmir, the attack on the Indian parliament in December 2001 and the onset of the 2001–2 crisis, Deadly Impasse sets out to discover whether the roots of this hostile relationship stem from security dilemmas or reflect the dynamics between a status quo power and a predatory state.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521125680
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/29/2016
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	184
Product dimensions:	5.43(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.43(d)

About the Author

Sumit Ganguly is a Professor of Political Science at Indiana University and is currently the university's Rabindranath Tagore Chair in Indian Cultures and Civilizations.

Table of Contents

1. The rivaly revisited; 2. Kargil and after; 3. The troubled decade in Kashmir; 4. The road to Operation Parakram; 5. The composite dialogue and beyond; 6. An extension of the rivalry; 7. Policy implications; Appendices; Bibliography; Index.

Editorial Reviews

'… the book significantly adds to the recent literature on South Asian security, while also reinforcing themes from this literature.' Dinshaw Mistry, Contemporary Security Policy

'Sumit Ganguly’s Deadly Impasse provides an excellent objective historical account of India-Pakistan relations since the two countries became independent in 1947 … [It] is an essential read for students at all levels, scholars, policy makers and government officials who want to familiarise themselves with India-Pakistan relations especially the Kashmir issue, India’s strategic culture and the role of interest groups and domestic factors in India’s and Pakistan’s foreign policy.' Raj Verma, London School of Economics and Political Science

'… [Ganguly] offers an authoritative, well-researched, clear analysis with copious references as a guide to further reading … Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.' R. D. Long, Choice

'Deadly Impasse brilliantly uses theoretical insights to explain the persistent nature of the India-Pakistan conflict to common readers and foreign policy practitioners alike … a thought-provoking and compelling read.' Happymon Jacob, The Hindu

'Overall, Sumit Ganguly’s account of the state of the India-Pakistan relationship exceeds expectations in the depth of its analysis. It is a book that all policy makers, armed forces officers, members of the strategic community, academics and scholars must read.' Gurmeet Kanwal, Deccan Herald

'With Deadly Impasse, the reader surrenders to an old IRA hand, who knows the India-Pakistan story like the back of his hand, having written several other tomes about it. In this volume, Sumit Ganguly walks us through events from Kargil to Afghanistan, using IR theory to dash all hopes that India can change Pakistan’s conduct, but suggests ways in which it can lessen its impact.' Nirupama Subramanian, The Indian Express

'Sumit Ganguly, an experienced academic, offers a rigorous and innovative analysis that combines theory with history. His analytical framework revolves around the difference between two theoretical models that explain the dynamics of international rivalries.' Rajesh Basrur, Asian Security

'Deadly Impasse is a welcome addition to the literature on modern South Asian relations. It goes beyond analyses that privilege security-based explanations for the ongoing tension to encompass Pakistan and India’s respective self-image, the role of political division and intransigence, the impact of domestic economic crises, and the shadow of 'the bomb'. The argument is clear and founded in an impressive command of the evidence and shrewd analysis of it. Sumit Ganguly’s timely volume aids our understanding of a hugely significant and long-lasting regional confrontation that has potentially global consequences. It is to be hoped that policymakers as well as scholars pay close attention to his perceptive thoughts and recommendations on the matter.' Malcolm M. Craig, H-Net

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