BETWEEN NEOREALISM AND HUMANITARIAN IMPERATIVES: A THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF BANGLADESH’S STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS IN RESOLVING THE FORCIBLY DISPLACED MYANMAR NATIONALS (FDMN) CRISIS

Abstract

Strategic partnerships have emerged as a cornerstone of modern foreign policy, offering a flexible, non-binding framework for sustained bilateral cooperation in a multipolar world. The paper contends that Bangladesh’s current strategy is insufficient and disjointed and analyses the effectiveness of its strategic partnerships in resolving the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) crisis. Through the use of an integrated theoretical framework, the analysis shows that, although neoliberalism explains Bangladesh’s institutional engagement and neorealism highlights the structural barriers of power asymmetry and conflicting interests, especially those of China and India, collective action theory best explains implementation gaps in burden-sharing. An assessment of potential partners identifies China and India as a geopolitically vital, but self-interest ally, the US as a crucial humanitarian ally with potentially conflicting political objectives, and Türkiye as a very useful but underutilized middle-power mediator. The crisis ultimately validates neorealism as the dominant explanatory lens, demonstrating that strategic partnerships cannot transcend power politics but are instead essential instruments for navigating them. The study explores the idea that in order to achieve a sustainable solution, Bangladesh must embrace a complex, multifaceted approach that skillfully balances its humanitarian goals with the strategic interests of a diverged international community. It must actively promote middle-power partnerships to create a more robust and successful coalition while utilizing major powers for their influence