This book investigates India’s contribution to the geopolitical landscape of the Global South, highlighting its increasing impact in shaping both regional and global dynamics.Since the formation of the United Nations, India has supported international organisations, whilst also backing non-alignment initiatives which aim to protect economically weaker countries from subordination to big powers. This has placed India in a unique position to act as both an advocate for developing countries, and as a bridge between the Global North and the Global South. This book investigates India’s increasing influence across a range of historical, cultural, economic, political, and strategic perspectives. The book encompasses India’s diplomatic strategies and soft power influence in the global south, its green diplomacy, its role as a strategic counterweight to China, and its strategic engagement with Latin America and Africa. In particular, the book brings out India’s role as an advocate for a more inclusive and equitable global order that better represents the aspirations and priorities of the Global South.Grounded in in-depth, up-to-date insights, this book will be an important reference for researchers working across the fields of international relations, global politics, Indian foreign policy, and the geopolitics of the Global South.
Shantesh Kumar Singh is Professor at the Centre for International Politics, Organization and Disarmament, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India.Radha, Department of Political Science, SGND Khalsa College, University of Delhi, India.
1. Introduction: India’s Role in Southern Geopolitics 2. India’s Historical Significance and Return of Geopolitics in the Global South 3. Bilateral Relations and Multilateral Initiatives: India’s Diplomatic Strategies in the Global South 4. India’s Soft Power and Cultural Influence: Diaspora Dynamics and Traditional Knowledge 5. Green Diplomacy: India’s Role in Global South Sustainable Development 6. Balancing Power in the Indo-Pacific: India’s Strategic Role as a Counterweight to China 7. India’s Strategic Engagement: Economic and Political Interests in Africa and Latin America 8. India’s Emergence: Redefining the Global South’s Position in the Liberal International Order 9. Charting India’s Geopolitical Trajectory: A Conclusion