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India's Foreign Policy Since Independence
A country's standing in the community of nations is essayed by the manner in which it conducts its foreign policy. From being one of the founding members of the nonaligned movement, India's foreign policy has witnessed several dramatic transitions. In an easy and lucid style, the book examines some of the critical phases in the evolution of India's foreign policy as well as the motivations and challenges it has faced under various prime ministers. A compelling read for any one interested in a comprehensive understanding of India's foreign policy and a must read for career diplomats and students of international affairs.
247 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 13, 2022
This book is a beginner’s guide to understanding India’s foreign policy since 1947. If we consider a chronological outlook on India’s diplomatic and foreign relations, one must truly appreciate Jawaharlal Nehru for his clear and visionary molding of India’s foreign policy. To understand India’s foreign policy, we must begin by defining the non-alignment policy as envisaged by India’s first Prime Minister. After reading this book, to my understanding:
“Non-alignment does not necessarily mean the absence of diplomatic ties. The philosophy of non-alignment is based on the core policy of autonomy in decision making to fulfill our sovereign interests first, particularly when we are about to be drawn into bloc politics.”
Today, much of the criticism against Nehru’s foreign policy is directed at the expense of a naïve understanding of the Cold War which continuously pushed India to join either of the blocs. Nehru, for all good reasons, focused on economic development rather than engaging in military adventurism with the scarce resources left with India after the colonial rule. This, the author rightly points out:
“Most people have given insufficient attention to the impact of the Kashmir issue on India’s foreign policy. The Anglo-American effort was to support Pakistan and enable it to snatch Kashmir away to reward it for making available its territory and bases for various activities aimed at the Soviet Union and China. It became a question of preserving India’s territorial integrity.”
Though subsequent Prime Ministers followed this policy of non-alignment, to my understanding, India’s foreign relations had evolved in a unique direction after the economic liberalization of 1991 and the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. In short, diplomacy was structured around three areas. Manmohan Singh referred to this as, “diplomacy has changed and today it is about economics, trade, and petroleum.”
Though the author had completely missed PV Narasimha Rao’s Look East Policy and the development of closer ties with Israel under his tenure, there is a 100-page chapter titled “India’s foreign policy under Manmohan Singh” and I urge everyone to read it to understand how economic development plays a crucial role in dictating the terms of foreign relations. Be it the nuclear deal with the US by getting rid of the sanctions (freeing India from nuclear apartheid), simultaneous procurement of defense and military hardware from Russia and the US, signing trade agreements with East Asian countries and China, closer ties with Japan and European Union, coalition against terrorism, bringing together the ASEAN+3, exploration of oil in West Asia, and purchase of nuclear fuel from France and Russia, all these were made possible only because the world recognized India as an emerging superpower with robust economy between 2004 to 2012.
Important events and developments such as Panchsheel, Tashkent Agreement, Indo-Soviet Treaty, and India-Sri Lanka Accord were well explained lucidly. Since this is the first time I chose to read exclusively on India’s foreign policy, I found this book to be effective in making the reader understand important and basic concepts.
“Non-alignment does not necessarily mean the absence of diplomatic ties. The philosophy of non-alignment is based on the core policy of autonomy in decision making to fulfill our sovereign interests first, particularly when we are about to be drawn into bloc politics.”
Today, much of the criticism against Nehru’s foreign policy is directed at the expense of a naïve understanding of the Cold War which continuously pushed India to join either of the blocs. Nehru, for all good reasons, focused on economic development rather than engaging in military adventurism with the scarce resources left with India after the colonial rule. This, the author rightly points out:
“Most people have given insufficient attention to the impact of the Kashmir issue on India’s foreign policy. The Anglo-American effort was to support Pakistan and enable it to snatch Kashmir away to reward it for making available its territory and bases for various activities aimed at the Soviet Union and China. It became a question of preserving India’s territorial integrity.”
Though subsequent Prime Ministers followed this policy of non-alignment, to my understanding, India’s foreign relations had evolved in a unique direction after the economic liberalization of 1991 and the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. In short, diplomacy was structured around three areas. Manmohan Singh referred to this as, “diplomacy has changed and today it is about economics, trade, and petroleum.”
Though the author had completely missed PV Narasimha Rao’s Look East Policy and the development of closer ties with Israel under his tenure, there is a 100-page chapter titled “India’s foreign policy under Manmohan Singh” and I urge everyone to read it to understand how economic development plays a crucial role in dictating the terms of foreign relations. Be it the nuclear deal with the US by getting rid of the sanctions (freeing India from nuclear apartheid), simultaneous procurement of defense and military hardware from Russia and the US, signing trade agreements with East Asian countries and China, closer ties with Japan and European Union, coalition against terrorism, bringing together the ASEAN+3, exploration of oil in West Asia, and purchase of nuclear fuel from France and Russia, all these were made possible only because the world recognized India as an emerging superpower with robust economy between 2004 to 2012.
Important events and developments such as Panchsheel, Tashkent Agreement, Indo-Soviet Treaty, and India-Sri Lanka Accord were well explained lucidly. Since this is the first time I chose to read exclusively on India’s foreign policy, I found this book to be effective in making the reader understand important and basic concepts.
April 24, 2019
This seemed to be a basic material for easy understanding of the beginners may be..
This books is heavily tilted on the American, Pakistan, Russian and Chinese side may be because our all other policies are influenced by our relations with these countries.
The author has tried to justify Nehru's non alignment in the beginning and later how India was right in 'shaking hands' with Russia to counter bon homie between America and Pakistan. He has dedicated very little space to non-Congress prime minister and has most of the time lauded the Congress foreign policies without any critical analysis.
Nevertheless the take away from this book is that modern foreign relation is based on economics and trade. Almost every powerful nation wants to have good and mutually beneficial relationships with India mainly because of vast market it provides to ever churning mills of the Europe and west.
And secondly, it's about securing peaceful borders, not letting your neighbors gain too much heft in the region, aligning with other powers with 'vested interest' to counter the imbalance and most importantly securing the supply of energy i.e., oil which was the case earlier and now its nuclear material.
Pretty much that is the gist of this book. You create a stake in the economy of your 'less friendly' country and you get them on the negotiating table to join hands for global and mutual good.
India Pakistan issue is an exception though to which the author has alluded in detail but personally I didn't gain anything from this.
Australia is not covered here.
That's about it. Any incorrectness or mistake here, in this review might be due to my limited understanding of foreign relations but I am pretty sure i have summed up the book well.
P.s I read it because my brother who is preparing for services had it.
This books is heavily tilted on the American, Pakistan, Russian and Chinese side may be because our all other policies are influenced by our relations with these countries.
The author has tried to justify Nehru's non alignment in the beginning and later how India was right in 'shaking hands' with Russia to counter bon homie between America and Pakistan. He has dedicated very little space to non-Congress prime minister and has most of the time lauded the Congress foreign policies without any critical analysis.
Nevertheless the take away from this book is that modern foreign relation is based on economics and trade. Almost every powerful nation wants to have good and mutually beneficial relationships with India mainly because of vast market it provides to ever churning mills of the Europe and west.
And secondly, it's about securing peaceful borders, not letting your neighbors gain too much heft in the region, aligning with other powers with 'vested interest' to counter the imbalance and most importantly securing the supply of energy i.e., oil which was the case earlier and now its nuclear material.
Pretty much that is the gist of this book. You create a stake in the economy of your 'less friendly' country and you get them on the negotiating table to join hands for global and mutual good.
India Pakistan issue is an exception though to which the author has alluded in detail but personally I didn't gain anything from this.
Australia is not covered here.
That's about it. Any incorrectness or mistake here, in this review might be due to my limited understanding of foreign relations but I am pretty sure i have summed up the book well.
P.s I read it because my brother who is preparing for services had it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2022
Read it when I was 13. I thought it was quite superficial back then itself. But gives a sketch of India's foreign policy under various leaderships, till UPA-1 if I recall rightly.
September 8, 2017
Light reading. Gives an overview of the lot but no in depth analysis (of anything)
February 21, 2018
GOOD BOOK TO GET KNOWLEDGE OF INDIA FOREIGN POLICY
November 13, 2018
Coursebook ..so read it for exams
Must read for those who have interest in India's international relations and it's foreign policy.
Must read for those who have interest in India's international relations and it's foreign policy.
May 22, 2020
Overnall nice Information
June 8, 2020
Foreign policy is important in this globalised era, it was clearly explained in this book with substantive affirmations.
April 24, 2016
Tried to keep things clear but real very bias towards congress specially Nehru. You will find him criticising NDA govt. at many places overall good book giving a good base towards relationship with major nations.
March 13, 2014
Good for simple introduction to foreign policy. Lack of references do not provide much credibility.
February 22, 2015
Short and simple!! It is worth for beginners..
April 10, 2015
The book is really good for the beginners, just to get a hang of India's foreign policy.
February 24, 2016
The research was not done properly. The sources quoted for information used in the book were not satisfactory. This book will fail to satisfy readers of Ramachandra Guha or Gurcharan Das.
July 10, 2013
The book was rather shallow in its content and analysis!
March 31, 2017
Good book with nice flow but at times it's not well organised.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews