India and Indonesia : renewing Asia's "collective destiny"

Abstract

Civilizational, cultural, and geographic neighbors, India and Indonesia share striking commonalities in their modern historical trajectories. With a view to renewing their collective destiny in a post-Cold War Asian geopolitical canvas that once again bears both the flux and promise reminiscent of the early post-independence period, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono paid a three-day visit to India in late January 2011. Sourabh Gupta argues that, despite past missteps and future hurdles, India and Indonesia's parallel histories, similar policy preferences, and opportune international circumstances are drawing both countries closer to revitalize bilateral relations and potentially reconfigure Asian geopolitics.