Beyond Bilateralism: A Constructivist Analysis of Identity Reinforcement in The South Asian Security Triangle of Pakistan, India and China

Abstract

Instead of traditional bilateral studies, Background of this article discusses complex ideational currents inside Pakistan-India-China (PIC) security triangle. Based on constructivist theory developed by Alexander Wendt, especially ideas of so-called "CULTURES OF ANARCHY," this study examines intersubjective construction of identity & collective understandings among these three states. The Theoretical reasoning holds that concept of security in this triangle is not simply an equation of sum of two dyadic dynamic mixtures but rather a highly complicated interweaving of such socially created identities. Whilst China-Pakistan relationship has very high Kantian elements, India-Pakistan dyad definitely has bitter experiences & problematic securitization vis-a-vis its neighbor, so that it can only be largely Hobbesian/ Lockean. China-India dyad, in its turn, features Lockean culture of strategic competition. Based on a Qualitative Research design & Methodology, discourse analysis & process tracing are performed on official state documents, diplomatic communiques & large media discourse of all the three countries. These Major Findings are that strong Kantian friendship between China & Pakistan tends to deepen Hobbesian/Lockean India-Pakistan relationship & increase Lockean rivalry between China and India. This inter-dyadic identity reinforcement greatly reduces possibility of a more cooperative regional security order. This paper is beneficial to body of literature in providing a holistic constructivist explanation of a complex multi-actor regional security complex. It concludes & gives a critical implementation of Wendt cultural approaches of anarchy to capture how identity enhancement within dyads is key ideational force that explains protracted security issues and narrow possibility of mutual transformation of cooperative evolution within South Asia.