Influence of Borders on Bilateral Ties in South Asia: A Study of Contemporary India–Nepal Relations

Abstract

In South Asia, the movement of people and goods across borders is strictly controlled by states. However, there are some exceptions to these factors. India–Nepal border, for instance, is peaceful and porous with minimal restrictions on the movement of goods and people. Albeit there are times when border issues between these two friendly neighbours have taken a critical turn. One such recent border-related problem between India and Nepal was witnessed during the Madheshi movement. In 2015, an agitating section of the Madheshi community blocked the India–Nepal border. Due to the sociocultural proximity of Madheshi community with India, the blockade of the Indo-Nepal border has had repercussions on the bilateral ties. Conceptually, this article argues how border shapes relations between neighbours in South Asia. Empirically the recent blockade of the India–Nepal border is presented as an example to substantiate the primary argument of this article. There is also an attempt in this article to study the recent changes in the India–Nepal relations from the perspective of border studies.