India’s Challenge to US Binary Thinking

Ashley Tellis' Foreign Affairs article questions whether India, as the world's largest democracy, is a friend or foe to the US.

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US categorizes nations as allies or enemies. George W. Bush's "axis of evil" remark reflects the binary perspective: with us or terrorists.

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The Cold War era shaped the US mission in a new world order, seeking to assert leadership without appearing neo-colonialist.

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World Wars dismantled empires, transformed colonialism. Eisenhower saw a divided world based on conflicting ideologies.

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Eisenhower envisioned capitalism versus communism, nations choosing allegiances like feudal Europe's barons and vassals.

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The Cold War adopted allegiance as a key concept, influenced by the US's pledge of allegiance and opposition to Marxism.

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Tellis asserts that India lacks inherent allegiance to preserving the liberal international order and is reluctant to engage in mutual defense.

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India's non-alignment preference doesn't hinder collaboration with the US, particularly in monitoring China and sharing shipping information.

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