New Book: Statecraft and Foreign Policy – India 1947-2023

Praise for the Book:

‘Mitra, Schottli, and Pauli have crafted a remarkably deep analysis of India’s foreign policy. They have not only reviewed the details of India’s foreign affairs, itself no small task, but they have done so in an analytic framework grounded in a profound evaluation of the intertwining of domestic and foreign policy choices and compunctions. As contemporary India has emerged as one of the world’s great powers – great in every sense of that term – this book is essential reading for policymakers, diplomats, scholars, and students of Indian affairs and world affairs. Statecraft and Foreign Policy is a tour de force that will define how we think of India in global politics for decades to come!’
Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, New York University

‘The authors have done the almost-impossible – they have provided a synopsis of the most important phases, relationships, and issues that mark the country’s policies beyond its borders. And they have done it engagingly and with sophistication ... free of jargon and abstruse theorizing, and yet with a penetrating point of view.’
Kanti Bajpai, National University of Singapore

‘A sweeping overview, in holistic perspective... narrating policy development and diplomatic actions. Incisive, balanced, and insightful.’
Kisan S. Rana, Former Indian Ambassador

‘This book offers a wide compass of Indian foreign policy that assesses change and continuity across different periods… Each chapter provides a synoptic assessment including additional readings making it an excellent reference that brings analysis of foreign policy up to date.’
Aseema Sinha, Claremont McKenna College

Summary:

Statecraft and Foreign Policy provides an in-depth introduction to India’s International Relations. It develops an analytical toolbox to analyse processes of change and continuity. The book has three main sections. (I) The evolution of India’s foreign policy after Independence. (II) Its transformation after the Cold War. (III) India's engagement with major powers, neighbouring countries, and international institutions. The book examines the interconnected challenges of trade, climate change, geopolitics, and security. The analysis draws on International Relations Theory and Foreign Policy Analysis. It combines the evaluation of domestic and international influences on foreign policy.

Authors:

Subrata K. Mitra is Professor Emeritus, Heidelberg University, and former Director of the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore.

Jivanta Schottli is Director of the Ireland India Institute and Assistant Professor in Indian Politics and Foreign Policy at Dublin City University.

Markus Pauli is Assistant Professor in Political Science at Dublin City University.