Abstract
In terms of India's national security and
development paradigm, this article examines the strategic significance of
Sikkim as a border state. Using Human Security Theory and the Borderland
Governance framework, it analyzes Sikkim’s integrated approach to border
development, environmental sustainability, and institutional synergy. It makes
the case that Sikkim is a successful example of securitized development that
fits India's external strategic posture in the Eastern Himalayas as well as
internal stability.
Beyond the conventional state-centric,
militarized framework, national security is now conceptually viewed through a
wider range of lenses. Rethinking border governance in high-altitude and
fragile regions has been prompted by the emergence of Human Security, which
emphasizes economic, environmental, and social aspects (UNDP, 1994). Sikkim,
situated at the confluence of the India-China-Nepal tri-junction, offers an
insightful case of how a Sikkim can become a fulcrum of national strategy.
This research integrates knowledge from
international relations, environmental governance, and development policy
through a qualitative case analysis approach. The border states of Bhutan,
Gilgit-Baltistan, and Ladakh, India, are used as comparative examples.
Theoretical
Framework
Human Security Theory (King & Murray, 2001)
emphasizes that security is not merely the absence of conflict, but the
presence of stability in human livelihoods, environmental resilience, and
access to basic infrastructure.
Peripheral State Theory (Scott, 2009) examines
how borderland regions act not only as buffers but as active agents in shaping
national sovereignty, infrastructure diplomacy, and regional stability.
Sikkim’s development policies and geopolitical
placement enable it to function as a strategic federal unit, enhancing India’s
soft security posture in the Himalayas.
Sikkim, although constitutionally a state of
India, functions as a quasi-diplomatic buffer in the context of regional
geopolitics, fulfilling roles that align with both theories.
Sikkim’s
Strategic Relevance: Geography and Geopolitics
Sikkim shares borders with China (Tibet
Autonomous Region), Bhutan, and Nepal. This region is important in Sino-Indian
strategic calculations, as demonstrated by the Doklam standoff in 2017 (Pant,
2018). In contrast to Ladakh or Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim has not experienced
widespread civil unrest or militarization. Rather, its development trajectory
has placed a higher priority on ecological preservation, health, education, and
infrastructure.
Because of this stability, India has a
soft-power frontier where advancements deter external aggression and serve as a
warning to other nations.
National Security through
Integrated Development
India’s Act East Policy and Vibrant Villages
Programme have emphasized that border areas need more than military
presence—they require resilient civilian ecosystems (MEA, 2022). This paradigm
is in line with Sikkim's policies:
Energy Security: With over 1,080 MW in
hydropower capacity and solar integration on government rooftops, Sikkim
achieves a level of energy autonomy rare among Indian states (CEA, 2024).
?
Ecological Defense: Initiatives
like “MeroBato, Mero Bot” and a
strict anti-plastic policy under the Sikkim Eco-Tourism Policy demonstrate how
green infrastructure can serve as a defense mechanism against environmental
degradation and demographic displacement.
?
Health and Sanitation: Health
indicators in Sikkim outperform many mainland states, reducing the
vulnerabilities that often destabilize frontier populations (NITIAayog, 2023).
In terms of human security, these indicators are essential, not a supplement to security.
Inter-Agency Synergy and Institutional Integration
Sikkim provides a functioning model of
inter-agency coordination, often lacking in other border states. Departments
like Tourism, Roads & Bridges, Agriculture, Forestry, and Disaster
Management work with the knowledge that their objectives overlap.
This synergy fulfills the criteria of
Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Nation approaches, often recommended in
conflict-sensitive development (OECD, 2009). In contrast, states with siloed
agencies and poor civil-military relations tend to face infrastructure
duplication or strategic incoherence.
Indian Foreign Policy and
Peripheral State Diplomacy
Sikkim carries out informal diplomatic duties
through cross-border environmental policies, cultural exchanges, and symbolic
representations of Indian democracy, even though it does not participate in
formal diplomacy.
The internal stability and
development of Sikkim provide a non-militarized counter-narrative that India
can project globally in the context of China's border assertionism and the
conversations between Bhutan and China.
Conclusion
In addition to guaranteeing political
stability, Sikkim's transition from a princely protectorate to a fully fledged
Indian state has made it a test bed for securitized development. Through the
integration of civil administration, ecological management, and strategic
objectives, Sikkim is a prime example of how peripheral state can be essential
tools for national security.
It would be beneficial for India to
view Sikkim as more than just a state; rather, it should view it as a model—a
reproducible, resilient, and responsive frontier—as it negotiates the
difficulties of border conflicts, climate vulnerability, and regional
diplomacy.
To put it simply can 'Peace’ be considered one of
the greatest strategic tool?
References
? Aldecoa, F., & Keating, M. (1999). Paradiplomacy in Action: The Foreign Relations of Subnational
Governments. Routledge.
? CEA (Central Electricity Authority). (2024). Report on Hydropower Capacity by State.
Ministry of Power, Government of India.
? King, G., & Murray, C. J. L. (2001). Rethinking Human Security. Political Science Quarterly, 116(4),
585-610.
? MEA (Ministry of External Affairs). (2022). Act East Policy and Border Development.
Government of India.
? NITI Aayog. (2023). Health
Index of States and UTs. Government of India.
? OECD. (2009). Whole of
Government Approaches to Fragile States.
? Pant, H. V. (2018). India’s
China Strategy: Standing Up to the Pressure. Journal of Strategic Studies.
? Scott, J. (2009). The Art of Not Being Governed: An Anarchist History of Upland Southeast Asia. Yale University Press.
(Views are personal. Email:gauravsubba28@gmail.com)
