India’s Geopolitical Gravity

This book examines India's geopolitical gravity, and argues that the country is well positioned to play a game-changing role in the evolving world order. It begins by mapping India's political geography, and goes on to assess India's neighbourhood diplomacy, its pluri-vectoral strategic partnerships with major powers, and identifies the geo-strategic challenges. One of the key aspects herein is to evaluate India’s emerging role in the Indo-Pacific architecture. Issues pertaining to QUAD, South China Sea, mega-regional blocs and Indian Ocean geo-economics are discussed. A very interesting aspect is to decipher the future of Asian geopolitics considering the role of the two Asian giants, India and China.

Additionally, the book examines scenarios for an India-led stability pact for the Indian Ocean. In 2023, as host of both the G20 and SCO summits, India’s geopolitical gravity culminates in its role as the key geopolitical pivot of contemporary international affairs. Maintaining non-alignment, and more recently, seeking strategic autonomy, have been at the core of India’s foreign policy imperatives. Re-emerging as a great power, India is in a unique strategic position to become a center of gravity by providing a strategic rebalance between Western dominance and the Eastern aspirations. As such, the book is indispensable for learners of international relations, geopolitics, foreign policy, and Asian and Indian Studies. It also provides useful insights for policymakers, academics, think tanks, and readers with interest in India’s future role in global geo-economic and geostrategic architecture.