India and Vietnam have been two foci of Soviet diplomacy in Asia. This book examines the relations between India, as a poor parliamentary democracy, and the USSR and relations with Vietnam help demonstrate the relationship between the USSR and an Asian communist power.

Contents: Introduction, Bangladesh Liberation: Aftermath, Janata Regime: Towards Understanding, Congress Party in Power, The Afghan Crisis, Disintegration of USSR, Janata Dal Interlude, Bilateral Interactions, Concluding Reflections.

The Soviet Union has invested in India a large volume of material resources and diplomatic energy; the available evidence on the Soviet-Indian relationship in recent years, however, leads to the conclusion that the return of this Soviet investment, in terms of observable political influence, has been small. Since 1967, there appear to have been only three cases in which Moscow was able to cause New Delhi to do something which it would not have done otherwise. In the overwhelming majority of cases, the Soviet Union has been rebuffed in its efforts to influence Indian behavior. In some cases there is an evident and mutual disposition to discuss differences in private to limit the impact of disagreements on a relationship both sides value highly. Indian decision makers perceive a well-defined need for Soviet support in both military and economic spheres, but India's growing self-reliance places definite limits on her perceived need of the Soviet Union. For its part, Moscow perceives that the special relationship with India has brought diplomatic and commercial benefits which the Soviets are reluctant to jeopardize. The evolution of Indo-Soviet relations has resulted in a symbiosis, but one in which the balance of dependency has changed dramatically. Developments since 1971 suggest that Soviet importance to India and its ability to influence Indian decisions peaked during the Indo-Pakistan crisis and have subsequently declined, whereas the Indian ability to exert influence in Moscow may be growing.

Gorbachev’s major speech at Vladivostok on 28 July 1986 signalled an increased awareness by the Soviet Union of the importance of the Asia-Pacific region. Subsequently there have been significant changes in Soviet foreign policy, paralleling the programme of wide-ranging internal reform and imparting a new look to the USSR’s international image. The aim of the present work is to chart the development of Soviet policy towards the region since the start of the Bolshevik regime, with whether there was any pattern or consistency in that policy. Concentration on Soviet activity in a particular part of the world might also serve to throw further light on the much discussed question whether Moscow’s policies have in the past been conceived in ideological terms (and therefore in some measure pre-determined) or whether they were truly ad hoc, ideology being used merely as justification.

This Is A Historical Narrative Of Indo-Soviet Relations From Indian Independence In 1947 To The Present (1986), With A Brief Speculative Look At The Future. Without Dustjacket.