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Strategic Challenges : India in 2030
In the shifting sands of contemporary geopolitics, this edited volume puts the spotlight firmly on urgent strategic challenges India is likely to face by the year 2030. Already, major powers like China and Russia are adopting muscular policies with the intent of changing the global order. This includes attempts to take territories--claimed by them on the basis of, at times, imagined history--through the use of military force. The US and the West are struggling to retain their pre-eminence, while emerging powers in the Indo-Pacific are demanding representation at the global high table. Each player is seeking to shape events to their advantage.
As alliances are altered, India finds itself in a position that calls for dexterous, nimble and bold policies. India is also presented with an opportunity to wield influence that would place it in an advantageous geopolitical position. Strategic Challenges aims to form a fuller picture of the situation by examining the various pieces that make up this dynamic kaleidoscope, with chapters authored by India's leading thinkers, analysts and strategists.
Beginning with an introduction by the former foreign secretary, Vijay Gokhale, the topics the book tackles include the volatility of India's neighbourhood, its hesitant embrace of the US, implications of Russia's warming ties with China, modern military technology on land, sea and air, and the challenges of artificial intelligence, among others.
As alliances are altered, India finds itself in a position that calls for dexterous, nimble and bold policies. India is also presented with an opportunity to wield influence that would place it in an advantageous geopolitical position. Strategic Challenges aims to form a fuller picture of the situation by examining the various pieces that make up this dynamic kaleidoscope, with chapters authored by India's leading thinkers, analysts and strategists.
Beginning with an introduction by the former foreign secretary, Vijay Gokhale, the topics the book tackles include the volatility of India's neighbourhood, its hesitant embrace of the US, implications of Russia's warming ties with China, modern military technology on land, sea and air, and the challenges of artificial intelligence, among others.
- GenresIndia
336 pages, Paperback
Published September 26, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 17, 2022
A collection of articles by experts from various domains of National Security. Overall an ok read
April 15, 2024
"Strategic Challenges: India in 2030"
shows a brave set of authors who would go about making predictions in today’s fast-changing geopolitics spurred while navigating the complexities of the 21st century. This book offers a comprehensive analysis of the multifaceted challenges confronting India on the global stage. “The essays in this volume, written by notable strategic experts and thinkers, look at whether India is ready for the new challenges that might come its way in this decade. They cover regional and functional challenges of national security, challenges of a kind that we might need to prepare for and suggest possible solutions for policymakers to consider” (Loc:169-173)
This book goes beyond mere analysis to offer actionable recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders. By identifying key areas of vulnerability and opportunity, the book equips readers with the knowledge needed to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape of the future effectively. The authors skillfully dissect the geopolitical, economic, and technological trends shaping India's future trajectory, providing readers with a nuanced understanding of the country's strategic imperatives. The topics covered in this book are:
China’s Major Strategic Threats to India by JAYADEVA RANADE, where Ranade suggests that “the country (China) will not merely pose a territorial challenge to India in the coming decade—in an effort to change the strategic balance in Asia—but, at a larger level, it will pose a civilizational threat that is intended to weaken India internally and damage its credibility regionally.” (Loc:186-189) Though BRI and other alternatives “financing and development mechanisms to wean countries of the region away from others and towards Beijing, by using leverages of all kinds to compel regional competitors to acquiesce to its power and by weakening regional groupings in order to create a new Sino- centric world. In the process, China appears to be eroding the American alliance system that has underpinned the Asian balance for seven decades, and is attempting to strangulate new emerging concepts like the Indo- Pacific that Beijing considers to be a nascent challenge to its vision for this region” (Loc:179-186)
Pakistan: The Inevitability of Enmity by VIKRAM SOOD, Sood feels that Pakistan is not a failing state but a faltering one. He feels “China has concluded that India could be taught a lesson with help from Pakistan in order to subordinate the only serious, long-term potential challenge to its Indo-Pacific hegemony, and where Pakistan is confident that China will guard its back as Islamabad executes the policy of techno-jihad” (Loc:216-219) thus the nuisance of Pakistan will remain and has to be delt with iron fist.
Security Challenges: India–US Relations by ARUN SINGH, Singh feels “Americans have taken a strategic view of India. This is an inherent opportunity to rework our engagement with the US and to recover ground lost earlier to China in terms of economic engagement. This could also mean more opportunities for deepening collaboration in defense and high-technology areas with Washington. The geostrategic compulsions that are likely to enhance the quality of this partnership are also bolstered by the common ground that we share as democracies and open societies” (Loc:227-231) thus we need to leverage Americans help to counter China.
Russia and Eurasia in India’s Calculus by P.S. RAGHAVAN, “properly outlines the dilemma that shared values and common political systems might pose. If, on the one hand, it could bring important advantages for India in both the geopolitical and technology areas, it might, on the other, also reduce India’s flexibility—something that has served our interests well in the past” (Loc:233-236) author feels that with strategic autonomy we should take help of two major powers in the face of challenges from China and Pakistan.
Wars, New Wars: Strategizing for Future Land Warfare by RAKESH SHARMA, tells us that the bast way to prevent a war is the prepare for that war. With new emerging technology the war that were fought are not like the ones men use to fight before. Sharma illustrates that we are in 7th generation war where technology is superior to men and hence provides guidance to prepare for the same.
Aerospace: A Security Perspective by RAGHUNATH NAMBIAR “This chapter focuses primarily on the military aerospace challenges and opportunities that India faces as these have significant security implications” (Loc:3525-3526) Nambiar provide the threats in the region, the possible ways to counter them and the technological advancements we would need to develop in the area of aerospace which not only provide national security against enemies but also economic security.
Trajectory of India’s Maritime Security Challenges by SHEKHAR SINHA, feels that India was sea blind for very long time till the recent Modi government. He feels that we need to do more in securing the sea as majority of the trade is through sea and to keep a check on chines aggression sea is best way to halt them.
Emerging and Disruptive Technologies by PRABHAT RANJAN, “this chapter focuses on those technologies that are called ‘weak signals’—they are hardly discernible at this stage, but may emerge as a very important trend in the coming years” (Loc:4341-4343) Ranjan enumerates and explains plethora of such technologies in this chapter.
China–India Riparian Relations: Upstream–Downstream Dynamics by UTTAM KUMAR SINHA states that China is a water thirsty state. With no water treaty and adverse relations this will be a major challenge for India. Uttam takes us through the detailed analysis of this water riparian relations that effects the dynamics between China and also Bangladesh.
The Sky Above and the Air Around New Domains of Contention: In Cyber and Outer Space by KIRAN KARNI “Cyberspace and outer space—have immense strategic significance, and are already critical to India’s security. This chapter covers both areas, but is not intended as a comprehensive look, particularly as some aspects have been covered in other chapters. It does not trace the history nor predict the future trajectory of key technologies involved. In what follows, the focus is limited mainly to the major threats and opportunities in the two domains, and possible strategic and policy responses” ( Loc:5674-5679)
Overall, this book provides a valuable resource for policymakers, academics, and anyone interested in understanding the strategic challenges facing India as it seeks to assert its influence on the global stage in the coming decade.
This book goes beyond mere analysis to offer actionable recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders. By identifying key areas of vulnerability and opportunity, the book equips readers with the knowledge needed to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape of the future effectively. The authors skillfully dissect the geopolitical, economic, and technological trends shaping India's future trajectory, providing readers with a nuanced understanding of the country's strategic imperatives. The topics covered in this book are:
China’s Major Strategic Threats to India by JAYADEVA RANADE, where Ranade suggests that “the country (China) will not merely pose a territorial challenge to India in the coming decade—in an effort to change the strategic balance in Asia—but, at a larger level, it will pose a civilizational threat that is intended to weaken India internally and damage its credibility regionally.” (Loc:186-189) Though BRI and other alternatives “financing and development mechanisms to wean countries of the region away from others and towards Beijing, by using leverages of all kinds to compel regional competitors to acquiesce to its power and by weakening regional groupings in order to create a new Sino- centric world. In the process, China appears to be eroding the American alliance system that has underpinned the Asian balance for seven decades, and is attempting to strangulate new emerging concepts like the Indo- Pacific that Beijing considers to be a nascent challenge to its vision for this region” (Loc:179-186)
Pakistan: The Inevitability of Enmity by VIKRAM SOOD, Sood feels that Pakistan is not a failing state but a faltering one. He feels “China has concluded that India could be taught a lesson with help from Pakistan in order to subordinate the only serious, long-term potential challenge to its Indo-Pacific hegemony, and where Pakistan is confident that China will guard its back as Islamabad executes the policy of techno-jihad” (Loc:216-219) thus the nuisance of Pakistan will remain and has to be delt with iron fist.
Security Challenges: India–US Relations by ARUN SINGH, Singh feels “Americans have taken a strategic view of India. This is an inherent opportunity to rework our engagement with the US and to recover ground lost earlier to China in terms of economic engagement. This could also mean more opportunities for deepening collaboration in defense and high-technology areas with Washington. The geostrategic compulsions that are likely to enhance the quality of this partnership are also bolstered by the common ground that we share as democracies and open societies” (Loc:227-231) thus we need to leverage Americans help to counter China.
Russia and Eurasia in India’s Calculus by P.S. RAGHAVAN, “properly outlines the dilemma that shared values and common political systems might pose. If, on the one hand, it could bring important advantages for India in both the geopolitical and technology areas, it might, on the other, also reduce India’s flexibility—something that has served our interests well in the past” (Loc:233-236) author feels that with strategic autonomy we should take help of two major powers in the face of challenges from China and Pakistan.
Wars, New Wars: Strategizing for Future Land Warfare by RAKESH SHARMA, tells us that the bast way to prevent a war is the prepare for that war. With new emerging technology the war that were fought are not like the ones men use to fight before. Sharma illustrates that we are in 7th generation war where technology is superior to men and hence provides guidance to prepare for the same.
Aerospace: A Security Perspective by RAGHUNATH NAMBIAR “This chapter focuses primarily on the military aerospace challenges and opportunities that India faces as these have significant security implications” (Loc:3525-3526) Nambiar provide the threats in the region, the possible ways to counter them and the technological advancements we would need to develop in the area of aerospace which not only provide national security against enemies but also economic security.
Trajectory of India’s Maritime Security Challenges by SHEKHAR SINHA, feels that India was sea blind for very long time till the recent Modi government. He feels that we need to do more in securing the sea as majority of the trade is through sea and to keep a check on chines aggression sea is best way to halt them.
Emerging and Disruptive Technologies by PRABHAT RANJAN, “this chapter focuses on those technologies that are called ‘weak signals’—they are hardly discernible at this stage, but may emerge as a very important trend in the coming years” (Loc:4341-4343) Ranjan enumerates and explains plethora of such technologies in this chapter.
China–India Riparian Relations: Upstream–Downstream Dynamics by UTTAM KUMAR SINHA states that China is a water thirsty state. With no water treaty and adverse relations this will be a major challenge for India. Uttam takes us through the detailed analysis of this water riparian relations that effects the dynamics between China and also Bangladesh.
The Sky Above and the Air Around New Domains of Contention: In Cyber and Outer Space by KIRAN KARNI “Cyberspace and outer space—have immense strategic significance, and are already critical to India’s security. This chapter covers both areas, but is not intended as a comprehensive look, particularly as some aspects have been covered in other chapters. It does not trace the history nor predict the future trajectory of key technologies involved. In what follows, the focus is limited mainly to the major threats and opportunities in the two domains, and possible strategic and policy responses” ( Loc:5674-5679)
Overall, this book provides a valuable resource for policymakers, academics, and anyone interested in understanding the strategic challenges facing India as it seeks to assert its influence on the global stage in the coming decade.
March 24, 2023
The market has been flooded with books talking about India's foreign policy with respect to those same few old countries again and again lately.
This edited volume, remarkably, comes as a breath of fresh air because it discusses issues which are of strategic relevance to India, something that a general reader will rarely find outside the exorbitantly priced compendiums of academic journals or isolated pieces in some online think tank. It serves as lucid starting point for anyone who wants to understand how the future of traditional warfare like on land, naval or air are shaping up on account of disruptive technologies like AI, drones etc. but also covers newer non traditional domains of non-kinetic warfare like cyber and information. Few chapters on India's foreign policy like on China and Russia are also added for good measure.
Below I provide a list of my favourite chapters:
1)China' Major Strategic Threats to India till 2035: Jayadev Ranade
2) Old War New Wars- Strategizing for Future Land Warfare: Rakesh Sharma
3)Emerging and Disruptive Technology: Prabhat Ranjan
4)The Sky Above and the Air Around, New Domains of Contentions- In Cyber and Outer Space.
I recommend this book whole heartedly to everyone.
This edited volume, remarkably, comes as a breath of fresh air because it discusses issues which are of strategic relevance to India, something that a general reader will rarely find outside the exorbitantly priced compendiums of academic journals or isolated pieces in some online think tank. It serves as lucid starting point for anyone who wants to understand how the future of traditional warfare like on land, naval or air are shaping up on account of disruptive technologies like AI, drones etc. but also covers newer non traditional domains of non-kinetic warfare like cyber and information. Few chapters on India's foreign policy like on China and Russia are also added for good measure.
Below I provide a list of my favourite chapters:
1)China' Major Strategic Threats to India till 2035: Jayadev Ranade
2) Old War New Wars- Strategizing for Future Land Warfare: Rakesh Sharma
3)Emerging and Disruptive Technology: Prabhat Ranjan
4)The Sky Above and the Air Around, New Domains of Contentions- In Cyber and Outer Space.
I recommend this book whole heartedly to everyone.
November 11, 2022
⚜ This book presents opinions on a wide range of intriguing subjects. The book's content is already heavily implied by its title.
⚜ The book contains 10 chapters. The former foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale first discusses the major issues in the introduction section. Then ten individuals presented their expertise on various subjects related to the title. The top strategists and thinkers in India penned these chapters.
⚜ This book emphasizes the serious strategic issues that India is currently facing and will confront by the year 2030.
⚜ The information in this book is simply too good. The authors have done a good load of research to write their analysis on the topics.
⚜ Some of the themes covered in this book include: India-US Relations, Aerospace: From a Security Perspective, India-China Relations, Land, Sea, and Air Technology, Challenges of AI, etc. This book has been expertly edited, making it concise enough to maintain interest while also being elaborated enough to give readers a thorough understanding of the uncharted territory within their grasp.
⚜ The book contains 10 chapters. The former foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale first discusses the major issues in the introduction section. Then ten individuals presented their expertise on various subjects related to the title. The top strategists and thinkers in India penned these chapters.
⚜ This book emphasizes the serious strategic issues that India is currently facing and will confront by the year 2030.
⚜ The information in this book is simply too good. The authors have done a good load of research to write their analysis on the topics.
⚜ Some of the themes covered in this book include: India-US Relations, Aerospace: From a Security Perspective, India-China Relations, Land, Sea, and Air Technology, Challenges of AI, etc. This book has been expertly edited, making it concise enough to maintain interest while also being elaborated enough to give readers a thorough understanding of the uncharted territory within their grasp.
February 13, 2023
My first book of 2023. Breezy and a good introduction for a newcomer to strategic studies. Very informative. But, could've done with a bit more proofreading and coordination to minimise the overlap amongst chapters.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews