An anthology of twenty-three article by authors subject experts which touch every component of India's foreign policy and excusive the new tendencies on the commerciality of interests.

The foreign policy of any country is not a static phenomenon and this is certainly true of a huge and complex country like India, getting ready to emerge as a major global player in the 21st century. Jawahar Lal Nehru - India's first Prime Minister - provided the ideological framework from which continuities and changes in foreign policies can be dissected and inferences drawn on the ideological or pragmatic shifts. India has showcased itself not only as a matured democratic polity, but also as an equally matured economy. It has stood tall and robust as a mammoth, amidst the domineering global financial meltdown and an equally contagious disease - authoritarianism - in the neighboring developing world. There is an intense support to Nehru's passionate implementation of ethics and morality in India's policy-making. Whatever be the nature of engagement with Nehru's legacy in policy-making, that distinct 'Nehruvian' flavor to India's foreign policy is retained. Despite compelling circumstances like the Iraq war, the war in Afghanistan, and India's nuclear deal, India has strived to maintain her non-aligned stance. Similarly, conflicts in the territories of immediate neighbors have called for a much more serious and responsible role to be played by India. Under such circumstances, an intermix of a hesitant shift from the Nehruvian legacy, as well as an attempt to utilize it as a marker of India's distinct foreign policy making remains a reality. This book provides deep insights into the various dimensions of India's foreign policy, focusing on recent developments. The perspectives underscore the importance of regional co-operation - especially among South Asian countries - and engage insightfully with the debate over the Nehruvian legacy.

Contributed articles.

Indian diplomacy, a veteran told Shashi Tharoor many years ago, is like the love- making of an elephant: it is conducted at a very high level, accompanied by much bellowing, and the results are not known for two years. In this lively, informative and insightful work, the award-winning author and parliamentarian brilliantly demonstrates how Indian diplomacy has become sprightlier since then and where it needs to focus in the 21st century. Explaining why foreign policy matters to an India focused on its own domestic transformation, Tharoor surveys the country's major international relationships, evokes its soft power and global responsibilities, analyses the workings of the Ministry of External Affairs and parliament and assesses the impact of public opinion on government policy. Indeed, Tharoor presents his ideas about a contemporary new grand strategy for the nation, arguing that India must move beyond non-alignment to multi-alignment. This book sets out a clear vision of an India now ready to assume global responsibility in the contemporary world. Pax Indica is another substantial achievement from one of our finest Indian authors.

From India’s most brilliant thinkers and analysts, comes a prescription for India’s foreign and strategic policy over the next decade. The book identifies the threats and challenges India is likely to confront, the approach it should adopt to successfully pursue its national development goals and its international interests in a changing global environment, and thus assume its rightful place in the world.

This authoritative work on India's foreign policy rests on the fundamental values of international relations that India has cherished. Efforts have been made to analyze these values and to evaluate to what extent these have been implemented and to what extent these have been effective.