A limited strategic partnership with the US is beneficial for India, the UPA, and the Left. An exciting move if ever there was one: the Tata group's acquisition of Jaguar and Ford. Unthinkable some years ago. Yet it is credible now, especially after Tata Steel's acquisition of Corus.* Real potential for cooperative gains, although there are risks. Meanwhile, in India's public space, the bid for nuclear fuel and technology is faring badly. Caught in an almost surreal wrangle between the Congress-led UPA and the Left, with the BJP in a huff playing irresponsible spoilsport. What insights might a collaborative approach bring to public policy? Here's a look from the perspective of game theory. Many real-life situations can be viewed as non-zero-sum games, including the UPA-Left contention on the 123 Agreement, because one side's gains do not necessarily have to be at the other's expense. Game theory provides two critical insights to understanding how cooperation can lead to better outcomes. These are: a) When players make rational choices in their perceived self-interest, their actions perversely lead to a