"India After Nonalignment examines the evolution of India's foreign policy and its self-perceptions as an actor in world affairs since independence in 1947. Happymon Jacob argues that India's aspirations and actions today are aimed at making the country a distinct pole in the international system, defined as a center of power, norms, and geopolitical activity in a multipolar world. India's desire to influence the international system is old, but today its rise gives it the potential to achieve its aspirations. Jacob argues that India's post-independence grand strategy of nonalignment is dead and the country is rapidly moving beyond the more recent era of strategic autonomy. The current aspirations have become more explicit in recent years thanks to India's growing economic and military power, geopolitical significance, and recognition by the international community of India as a major global player. The book highlights what its aspirations mean for India's foreign policy behavior and the implications going forward"-- Provided by publisher.
The deep roots of India's changing role in international affairs
In 1947, India's adoption of a strategy of nonalignment was primarily seen as a way to preserve the country's sovereignty and independence amid Cold War rivalry. But what if preservation was actually ambition?
India After Nonalignment traces the history and evolution of India's foreign policy to uncover a century-old aspiration: the nation's ambition to become a distinct pole––a center of power, norms, and geopolitical activity––in a multipolar world. Using a fresh conceptual framework, Jacob examines how India's old nonalignment policy, ongoing aversion to military alliances, and recent enactment of strategic autonomy have collectively been driven by this deeply rooted desire to become a consequential and unique actor in foreign affairs. He discusses India's paradigm shift from a reactive posture to a proactive role in shaping international norms and culture, the balance of power, and the future implications of these aspirations for its foreign policy behavior.
As the country's growing power and geopolitical significance make its ambitions more explicit, Jacob provides the perspective necessary for scholars, students, and other readers interested in international relations and South Asian studies to better understand how India perceives its journey in the international system.
