Difference between the Act East Policy and Look East Policy?
A clear difference between the two policies is that the Act East Policy worked on extending the neighborhood of Southeast Asia and incorporated security cooperation whereas the Look East Policy centered on ASEAN nations regarding their economic cooperation.
Also, the Act East policy had a greater focus on Security whereas for Look East Economy was an important dimension.
Factor |
Act East Policy |
Look Act Easy Policy |
---|---|---|
Geographical Focus |
Directed towards Southeast Asia, especially ASEAN |
Expanded scope covering East Asia and the Pacific Islands |
Primary Emphasis |
Focuses mainly on economic cooperation |
Balances economic, cultural, and strategic interests |
Strategic Approach |
Often defensive and cautious |
Embraces a proactive and assertive stance |
Engagement Strategy |
Predominantly bilateral in nature |
Shifts towards increased multilateral and regional engagements |
Look East Policy: Objective, Difference
The Look East Policy launched by the Government of India in 1991 and led by the former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao had a clear objective to develop economic, political, and security cooperation amongst the countries belonging to Southeast Asia.
The Look East Policy led to a prudent shift in India’s reputation concerning the entire World’s perspective. Further improvements regarding this act were made by successive administrations that included Atal Bihari Vajpayee whose tenure was from 1998–2004 and Manmohan Singh whose tenure was from 2004–2014.
Table of Content
- What is the Look East Policy?
- What is the East Act East Policy Policy?
- Difference between the Act East Policy and Look East Policy?
- What are the main Objectives of Look East Policy?
- A Deeper insight into The Look East Policy