This short introduction provides a clear and succinct account of the evolution of Indian foreign policy over six decades since Independence. It explains how the three approaches to the study of international politics decision-making, systemic/global, and national/domestic have helped in formulating and implementing India's foreign policies. The five chapters cover the ideational period, starting immediately after Independence and ending with the Sino-Indian border war of 1962; the period between 1962 and the end of the Cold War; India's greater acceptance of the importance of material capabilities following the end of the Cold War; and current trends and debates in Indian foreign policy, unresolved tensions, and the possible way ahead.

Author Biography

Sumit Ganguly is a Professor of Political Science, holds the Rabindranath Tagore Chair in Indian Cultures and Civilizations, and is the Director of the Center on American and Global Security at Indiana University, Bloomington.