Who Will Be Good for India?
Amid the confusion surrounding the election of the 43rd President of the United States, the question in Indian minds was: Who between Al Gore and George Bush will be better for India?

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VIEWPOINT: TERESITA C. SCHAFFER

DIFFERENT STROKES

Bush's thumbs up to the lifting sanctions?

The Republicans and Democrats differ more in how they talk about foreign and strategic policy than in how they carry it out. This will also be true under a Gore or a Bush administration. Bush is likely to articulate his goals more in terms of power and key countries; Gore would follow the Democratic preference for articulating goals in terms of major global issues. But their actions are unlikely to differ very much. The campaign suggests two areas of contrast. On international nuclear issues, Bush has expressed strong opposition to the CTBT. He would drop or de-emphasise the CTBT issue in his dialogue with India. Gore might seek a way to resurrect the treaty-but in practice this is unlikely to bear much fruit, since the Republicans will still have narrow control of the Senate. The other contrast is on China, where Bush has staked out a much tougher position than Gore. No matter who is finally elected, India is likely to have an important place in US foreign policy, but might attract somewhat less high-profile attention in the next year or so.

Schaffer is South Asian director, Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Washington

VIEWPOINT: K. P. VIJAYA LAKSHMI

NO TECTONIC SHIFT

Gore is unlikely to give India a waiver on CTBT

There is going to be plenty of continuity if either Gore or Bush became President. We are already on the threshold of a mature, long-term relationship. We have narrowed down our differences considerably. So there will be no tectonic shifts. If Bush comes in, things may be marginally easier on the nuclear issue. If Gore wins, with the Congress being dominated by the Republicans, he will not be able to push through the CTBT. So we are likely to see a status quo on the nuclear front. India's role in south Asia is on a sound footing and we have moved from the Cold War periphery to the centre of US foreign policy. We are no more being equated with Pakistan. Both candidates favour normal trade relations with China. But the differences in approach will probably be in the nuances and the emphasis. There is now a window of opportunity created to make up for the years of inertia. If Bush takes a presidential initiative and lifts the economic sanctions it would make a substantial difference. Much also depends on how bipartisan the Congress will be.

Vijaya Lakshmi is associate professor, Centre for American Studies, JNU, Delhi

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