Evolution of Indian Foreign Policy

1. EVOLUTION OF INDIAN FOREIGN POLICY
BY
M K REDDY ( ASSISTANT PROFESSOR )
M
K
Reddy

2. INTRODUCTION
• Foreign policy of any country, unlike domestic policy, is usually considered
to be staid and stable not subject to revolutionary change.
• Foreign policy is both static and dynamic.
• Following independence, India’s strategic outlook was shaped by Jawaharlal
Nehru.
• Nehru viewed the West with skepticism and had a rosy view of socialist
ideals.
M
K
Reddy

3. NEHRU AND FOREIGN POLICY
His foreign policy was built on three key pillars:
1.nonalignment in the international arena;
2.preservation of autonomy in domestic affairs; and
3.solidarity among developing nations, particularly those that had
recently gained independence from colonial powers.
M
K
Reddy

4. POST COLD WAR
 India’s worldview began to evolve following the collapse of the
Soviet Union and an economic crisis at home.
India slowly opened its economy through careful economic
liberalization that signaled the end of the license raj, and at the same
time began to engage with the rest of a world on a different set of
norms.
Economic attractiveness gave the country space to engage the rest
of the world on its own terms.
M
K
Reddy

5. POST COLD WAR
Indian Foreign Policy became flexible ; and engage more with the rest of a
world to achieve win-win outcomes.
As India’s economy continued to grow and the country engaged with the
rest of the world on a more equal footing, India underwent a third
evolution in the country’s strategic outlook.
This shift, which is ongoing today, seeks to position India among the great
powers by showcasing a willingness to take on more international
responsibilities.
M
K
Reddy

6. INDIA’S RISING STATURE IN THE INTERNATIONAL ORDER
Three emerging shifts in the international order have played a key role
:
M
K
Reddy
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7. M
K
Reddy