THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in its pursuits, of fulfilling the dream of global hegemony, since the days, of President Roosevelt,has an unending story. A recent book-"Strategic Vision::America and the Crisis of Global Power"-, written by Zbigniew Brazezinski , published by Basic Books, has highlighted many interesting points of growing ambitions of the USA. The book is thought provoking.In the process of of its hegemony, America is browbeating other super powers like Russia , China and many of even European countries and is aiming to strengthening its position by "capturing more slots in Asia" through its own"narrow self-interest". And India, which is developing fast in Asia, has become new target of USA to bring it in its fold ! In my opinion recent closeness of India government of Manmohan Singh to USA in several aspects is point to be noted ! Just I am subscribing below certain portion of the Brazezinski's book to substantiate my apprehension about India, being falling in the trap of USA !
Brazezinski has written in the book about India, " Contemporary India is a complicated mixture of democratic self-governance, massive social injustices, economic dynamism and wide-spread political corruption. As a result, its political emergence as a force in the world affairs has lagged behind China. India was prominent in sharing leadership of the so called non-alingned nations, a collection of neutral but politically wavering states including Cuba and Yugoslavia, all allegedly opposed to the Cold War. Its brief military collision with China in 1962, which ended in India's defeat, was only practically redeemed by its military successes in the two wars with Pakistan in 1965 and 1971. By and large, the prevailing view of India up til relatively recently has been one of a country with strong moralistic opinions about world affairs but without commensurate influence.............."
The book further adds, "..... India's political elite is motivated by an ambitious strategic vision focused on securing greater global influence and a conviction of its regional primacy. An the gradual improvement in U.S-Indian relations during the first decade of the twenty-first century has further enhanced India's global stature and gratified its ambitions. However, its simmering conflict with Pakistan, which includes a proxy contest with it for greater influence in Afghanistan, remains a serious diversion from its larger geopolitical aspirations. Therefor-the view held by its foreign policy elite- that India is not only rival to China but also already one of the world's super power lacks sober realism......."
Brzezinski has also sharply commented on the domestic set-up as well as media;s hysterics on China ! He writes, ".......The Indian political system has yet to prove that it can function as the 'world's largest democracy'........That test will take place when its population becomes truly politically awakened and engaged. Given the country's very high-level of public illiteracy as well as the connection between privilege and wealth at the top of political establishment, India's current 'democratic' process is rather reminiscent of the British aristocratic 'democracy', prior to the appearance of trade unions, in the second half of the nineteenth century. The operational viability of the existing system will be truly tested when the heterogeneous public at large becomes both politically conscious and assertive. Ethnic, religious, and linguistic differences could then threaten India's internal cohesion.......In that potentially conflicted setting, the stability of Asia will depend in part on how America responds to two overlapping regional triangles centred around........."
The author further writes in the book, " On India's side, the existing tensions and reciprocal national animosities are fuelled by the relatively inhibited hostility towards China expressed in India's uncensored media and in India's strategic discussions. Invariably, China is presented in them as a threat, most often territorial in nature and India's publications frequently make references in China's 1962 occupation by force of disputed borderline territories. China;s efforts to establish an economic and political presence in Myanmar and in Pakistan's Indian Ocean ports are presented to the public as strategic design to encircle India. The Chinese mass media, under official control, are more restrained in their pronouncements but patronise India as a not-so-serious rival, further inflaming negative Indian sentiments......'
Brzezinski further writes in the book, :" To a considerable extent, such Chinese feelings of aloofness towards India are derived from China's superior societal performance. Its GNP is considerably larger that India's and its population is considerably more literate as well as ethnically and linguistically more homogeneous. In any case, both sides are the strategic captives of their subjective feelings and of their geopolitical context. The Indians envy the Chinese economic and infraststructural transformation. The Chinese are contemptuous of India's relative backwardness (on the social level most dramatically illustrated by asymmetrical level of literacy of their respective populations) and lack of discipline. The Indians fear Chinese-Pakistani collusion, the Chinese feel vulnerable to India's potential capacity to interfere with Chinese access through the Indian Ocean to the Middle East and Africa.........
"......America's role in this rivalry should be cautious and detached. A prudent U S policy, especially in regard to an alliance with India, should not, however, be interpreted as indifference to India's potential role as an alternative to China's authoritarian political model......The unwise U S decision of 2011 to sell advanced weaponry to India, in contrast to the ongoing embargo on arms sale to China, while also enhancing India's nuclear programmes is already earning the United States the hostility of the Chinese by conveying the impression that America sees China as its enemy even before China itself had decided to be America's enemy."
Apart from Asia, particularly India, USA has similar approaches towards other nations of the world, looking China , Russia and many other many countries Middle East and Arab world, dangerous potentials and not allowing the global hegemony of America ! Just I have mentioned the references in the book about India, falling in the grips of imperialist USA and it is upto people of India to decide !
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