INDIAN FOREIGN POLICY AND CULTURAL VALUES

Book Details

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

• Author: Kadira Pethiyagoda

• Language: English

• Edition: 2024

• ISBN: 9783031469510

• Pages: 382

• Cover: Hardback

• Release Date: 2024

• Sale Territory: India Only

About the Book

As India emerges as a major power in the shifting global order, the influence of its rich and ancient culture on foreign policy becomes increasingly significant. This book explores how cultural values, often more than strategic interests, have shaped India’s foreign policy decisions. It delves into thousands of years of history to identify key cultural values that continue to influence contemporary foreign policy.

The book examines three major areas of Indian foreign policy: nuclear policy, humanitarian intervention, and relations with the Middle East. It argues that India’s decisions, such as testing nuclear weapons or its approach to international law on arms control, were influenced not just by security concerns but by India’s hierarchical worldview. Similarly, India’s pluralistic values have facilitated strong, often conflicting, relationships with both America and Iran. Non-violence, a cornerstone of India’s soft power, has influenced its stance on Western interventions, particularly in Iraq.

By analyzing state behavior and conducting interviews with diplomats, the book tracks the evolving influence of cultural values from Rajiv Gandhi to Narendra Modi. It offers a compelling insight into the intersection of culture and foreign policy, emphasizing the role of values in shaping India’s international relations.