Role of Infrastructural Development of Landlocked Countries in Enhancing Regional Security: a Case of Nepal

Abstract

The research study has focused in identifying critical role of infrastructure development in landlocked countries in enabling their security at regional level in general and Nepal in particular. Infrastructure is essential for the proper functioning of society as a whole, human-natural interaction, and socioeconomic growth within a nation, as well as security. Infrastructure and facilities construction would change the landscape and current structure, enabling for the production, distribution, and trade of goods and services. Infrastructure is one of the most crucial factors for a state's development, as well as a critical role in society with long-term positive or negative implications, and regional stability. The Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) argument explains how regional security issues are related. It depicts the interconnectedness of securitized and their de-securitization issues in a given region. The centrality of 'physical' and/or 'geographical' proximity argument for security is often emphasized in the theory. Nepal, a landlocked country in South Asia, is working to improve its infrastructure and become land linked. She must, however, be vigilant of regional security. This study aimed to examine the role of infrastructure development in regional security in landlocked countries, with a focus on Nepal. The study precisely has attempted to find the answer how can the infrastructural development in LLDCs enhance the regional security in order to make human life easy by economic activities and other developmental works with three questions; (1) What is the current status of infrastructural development in LLDCs in general and Nepal in particular? (2) What is the critical role of infrastructural development to enhance regional security in landlocked states? (3) How can Nepal enhance regional security by developing infrastructure? The study adopted a case study research design using both qualitative and quantitative approaches to collect the data. These data have been analyzed and drawn the findings. Majority of respondents with more than 95 per cent agreed that there is vital role of infrastructure in regional security and among the various infrastructures needed for development, transportation issues are important challenges that landlocked countries must address. The survey analysis shows that transportation has higher priority with 79 index of composite value followed by drinking water and communication with 57 and 50 index value for infrastructural development in LLDCs. Transit states can limit transit on various grounds such as sovereignty, security, public health hazards, plant and animal diseases, drugs and weapons, wars and emergencies. Nepal can play a pivotal role as a transit route for China to penetrate into South Asia, including India. Nepal by virtue of its location is a key in linking the two economic giants. Despite of huge trade deficiency with the neighboring countries, Nepal has to take the ultimate benefit from both the economically boomed country along with the other regions of the world. The study has generated some policy relevant recommendations that LLDCs should cooperate with their maritime neighbours and focus on infrastructural development mainly transport network and related to social services. In order to meet the growing challenges and opportunities, LLDCs especially Nepal can take some pragmatic steps such as involving in bilateral and multilateral security arrangements with maritime states, improvement of good transportation network and other social services infrastructures, investing on highways, railway network and land transport, and identify specific transport corridors for development and establish country as a transit hub.