Synopsis India and Southeast Asia are connected to each other geopolitically, strategically and culturally. It is easy to trace out linkages between the two, but issues of constraints and complementarities need to be understood in proper perspective. The author’s book Southeast Asia and India: A Political Perspective (1987) had tried to evaluate perspective of Southeast Asia and India towards each other. The present volume may be considered a broader extension of that study.

The present book may be considered important contribution as it connects the past with the present, and examines continuity and changes in India-Southeast Asia relations. India, sharing a contiguous land and maritime frontier with them, has common geopolitical interests. The sectoral partnership with the ASEAN in 1992 and full dialogue partnership in 1995 have been useful to face the challenges of globalization and regionalism. The free trade agreement is aimed at building a common market and multilateral issues in India’s relations with Southeast Asia, and the projection is that there will be a vibrant and complimentary partnership in future.