Overview

In view of the fast-changing world order, emerging countries are increasingly influencing the dynamics of regional securities. This timely and in-depth book examines India's reorienting strategic posture and describes how New Delhi's security policy in the Indo-Pacific region has evolved and expanded over the past two decades. The author argues that India's quest to leverage its geostrategic location to emerge as an Indo-Pacific actor faces multiple challenges, which create a clear divide between the country's political rhetoric and action on the ground. The author critically examines these contradictions to better situate India's security role in an increasingly fluid Indo-Pacific region.

Full Product Details

Author:   Aditi Malhotra
Publisher:   Verlag Barbara Budrich
Imprint:   Verlag Barbara Budrich
Volume:   8
Dimensions:   Width: 14.80cm , Height: 2.00cm , Length: 21.00cm
Weight:   0.453kg
ISBN:  

9783847424741

ISBN 10:   3847424742
Pages:   355
Publication Date:   13 June 2022
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

1. Contextualising the Indo-Pacific 1.1 Mapping India’s Rise in the Indo-Pacific 1.2 The Puzzle 1.3 Overview of the Argument 1.4 Relevance and Significance 1.5 Structure of the Book 2. Literature Review and Conceptual Framework 2.1 Balance of Power Theory (Neorealism) 2.2 Constructivism 2.3 Alternate Theoretical Explanation: Role Theory 2.4 Methodology 3. Historical Overview of India’s Role Conceptions: 1947–2000 3.1 Early Years to Early 1960s: Non-Aligned Asian Power and Peacemaker 3.2 Mid-1960s to Late 1980s: Subcontinental Power and Security-Seeker 3.3 Early to Late 1990s: Emerging Economic Actor and Benign Power 3.4 Summary and Conclusion of the Chapter 4. India’s Master and Auxiliary RCs: Emergence and Evolution 4.1 Major Power Role (2001 onwards) 4.2 Emerging Auxiliary RCs (2001–14) 4.3 Master RC: Leading Power Role (2015 onwards) 4.4 Act East Policy 4.5 Summary and Conclusion of the Chapter 5. Self-Conception: Domestic Determinants of Role Conception 5.1 Permanent Determinants 5.2 New Determinant: Rise in Economic Potential 5.3 Growing Salience of Naval Factor 5.4 Reasons behind the Conception–Performance Gap 5.5 Summary and Conclusion of the Chapter 6. Role Prescription: External Determinants of Role Conception 6.1 India and China 6.2 India and the United States 6.3 India and Japan 6.4 ASEAN Countries and India 6.5 Summary and Conclusion of the Chapter 7. Conclusion 7.1 Contributions 7.2 Changing Role Conceptions 7.3 Drivers of Changing Role Conceptions 7.4 The Conception–Performance Gap 7.5 Implications of the Study 7.6 Limitations of Study and Directions for Future Research Bibliography

Reviews

“Overall, India in the Indo-Pacific covers a vast canvas with equal intensity and rigor explaining different phases in India’s foreign policy evolution, along with a careful emphasis on both internal and external factors leading to the conceptualization of particular roles and a sound methodology of interpretative content analysis.”  Shailza Singh, Pacific Affairs 98, No. 2 – June 2025 “Vor dem Hintergrund so vieler kon­kurrierender Ordnungsvorstellungen und teils überlappender strategischer Partnerschaften in der Region scheint Malhotras rollentheoretische Einord­nung der indischen Außen- und Sicher­heitspolitik in der Region plausibel. Zahlreiche endo- wie exogene Faktoren lassen sie als ein Rollenkonzept erschei­nen, das sowohl eigene Vorstellungen - Weltbilder, Werte - als auch Erwartun­gen der Außenwelt (Rollenerwartungen) bezüglich eines angemessenen Verhal­tens in den internationalen Beziehungen enthält.” FAZ, 20.09.2022   “Overall, India in the Indo-Pacific covers a vast canvas with equal intensity and rigor explaining different phases in India’s foreign policy evolution, along with a careful emphasis on both internal and external factors leading to the conceptualization of particular roles and a sound methodology of interpretative content analysis.”   Shailza Singh, Pacific Affairs 98, No. 2 – June 2025

“Overall, India in the Indo-Pacific covers a vast canvas with equal intensity and rigor explaining different phases in India’s foreign policy evolution, along with a careful emphasis on both internal and external factors leading to the conceptualization of particular roles and a sound methodology of interpretative content analysis.”  Shailza Singh, Pacific Affairs 98, No. 2 – June 2025 “Vor dem Hintergrund so vieler kon­kurrierender Ordnungsvorstellungen und teils überlappender strategischer Partnerschaften in der Region scheint Malhotras rollentheoretische Einord­nung der indischen Außen- und Sicher­heitspolitik in der Region plausibel. Zahlreiche endo- wie exogene Faktoren lassen sie als ein Rollenkonzept erschei­nen, das sowohl eigene Vorstellungen - Weltbilder, Werte - als auch Erwartun­gen der Außenwelt (Rollenerwartungen) bezüglich eines angemessenen Verhal­tens in den internationalen Beziehungen enthält.” FAZ, 20.09.2022 “Overall, India in the Indo-Pacific covers a vast canvas with equal intensity and rigor explaining different phases in India’s foreign policy evolution, along with a careful emphasis on both internal and external factors leading to the conceptualization of particular roles and a sound methodology of interpretative content analysis.”   Shailza Singh, Pacific Affairs 98, No. 2 – June 2025

Author Information

Aditi Malhotra is a co-editor of the Journal for Intelligence, Propaganda and Security Studies (JIPSS). She completed her Ph.D. at the Graduate School of Politics (GrasP), Institute for Political Science, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.

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