India's Foreign Policy & Diplomacy

India has formal diplomatic relations with most countries of the world. India is a regional power, a nascent global power and a potential superpower. India has a growing international influence and a prominent voice in global affairs. After India gained Independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, it strongly supported independence movements in other colonies. Jawaharlal Nehru, Indias first Prime Minister, was the architect of Indias foreign policy. During the Cold War, India adopted a foreign policy of not aligning itself with any major power bloc. However, India developed close ties with the Soviet Union and received extensive military support from it. The end of the Cold War significantly affected Indias foreign policy, as it did for much of the world. In the post-Cold War era, a significant aspect of Indias foreign policy is the Look East Policy launched in 1992. Indias growing economy, strategic location, and a large and vibrant Diaspora have won it more allies and partners. India has friendly relations with several countries in the developing world. The foreign policy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicates a shift towards focusing on the Asian region and, more broadly, trade deals. This volume contains nine research articles, authored by scholars in the field of political science, international relations, comparative politics, economics, security studies, and political economy. These contributions provide useful material to understand contemporary dynamics of Indias foreign policy and diplomacy.