The 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 neighboring developing world. There is an intense support to Nehru's passionate implementation of ethics and morality in India's policy-making. Whatever be the nature of engagement with Nehru's legacy in policy-making, that distinct 'Nehruvian' flavor to India's foreign policy is retained.
Despite compelling circumstances like the Iraq war, the war in Afghanistan, and India's nuclear deal, India has strived to maintain her non-aligned stance. Similarly, conflicts in the territories of immediate neighbors 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 utilize it as a marker of India's distinct foreign policy making remains a reality.
This book provides deep insights into the various dimensions of India's foreign policy, focusing on recent developments. The perspectives underscore the importance of regional co-operation-especially among South Asian countries-and engage insightfully with the debate over the Nehruvian legacy. |
