Abstract
In an article entitled “Back to the Future? A Revival of Realpolitik in Asia and Eurasia” which has been published by the Sigur Center for Asian Studies at George Washington University, the author has reflected on the new approach to realistic politics adopted by China, India and Russia. During the past few decades, China has been committed to harmonious relations with its neighbors and gotten along with big powers while India, has pursued an idealistic policy by taking side with Third World countries. Russia has been under more western liberal influences since later years of the 1980s and early years of 1990s.
The author maintains that a change of course in China, India and Russia toward more realism is the result of heightened political conflicts in Asia.
He has proposed three possible scenarios for China:
A) Maintaining the current economic growth which will most probably help to promote democratization in China;
B) Slowing down economic growth which will cause China to remain an authoritarian state, though not a big power anymore;
C) Continuation of the status quo which will increase friction between China and the outside world.
The author has ascribed the changing political atmosphere in India to the end of the Cold War and the country’s need for economic liberalization as well as its ability to test nuclear weapons. In addition, Russia’s realistic approach has been described as a result of the west’s oversight. Finally, it has reached the conclusion that when formulating large-scale strategies, the west should take all Asian and Eurasian powers into account. The author has also opined that developments in China may determine future outlooks of the world while developments in India and Russia have not been considered threatening.
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