Foreign Policy of India in the 21st Century

Foreign policy of any country is not a static phenomenon and this is certainly true of a huge and complex country like India, getting ready to emerge as a major global player in the 21st Century. Jawahar Lal Nehru -- India's first Prime Minister -- provided the ideological framework from which continuities and changes in foreign policies can be dissected and inferences drawn on the ideological or pragmatic shifts. India has showcased itself not only as a matured democratic polity but also as an equally matured economy. It has stood tall and robust as a mammoth amidst the domineering global financial meltdown and an equally contagious disease -- authoritarianism -- in the neighbouring developing world. There is an intense support to Nehrus passionate implementation of ethics and morality in Indias policy-making. Whatever be the nature of engagement with Nehrus legacy in Indias foreign policy-making, that distinct Nehruvain flavour to Indias foreign policy is retained. Despite compelling circumstances like the Iraq war or the war in Afghanistan and Indias Nuclear Deal, India has striven to maintain her Non-aligned stance. Similarly, conflicts in the territories of immediate neighbours have called for a much more serious and responsible role to be played by India. Under such circumstances an intermix of a hesitant shift from the Nehruvian legacy as well as an attempt to utilise it as a marker of Indias distinct foreign policy making remains a reality. The present book provides deep insights into the various dimensions of Indias foreign policy, focusing on recent developments. It dishes out variegated perspectives on Indias foreign policy underscoring the importance of regional co-operation -- especially among South Asian countries -- and engaging insightfully with the debate over the Nehruvian legacy.