Om Subcontinental Drift
How domestic constraints hamper Indiaâ¿s foreign policy and its potential as a superpowerOne of the most important developments in todayâ¿s changing international system is the emergence of India as a rising power. However, Rajesh Basrur finds that India is hobbled by serious domestic constraints. Subcontinental Drift explains why Indiaâ¿s foreign policy is often characterized by multiple hesitations, delays, and diversions that may ultimately hamper its rise. Basrur analyzes the concept of policy drift through the lens of neoclassical realist theory to reveal why this drift occurs so regularly in Indian foreign policy and how it affects Indiaâ¿s quest for major power status. Using four casesâ¿the India-US strategic partnership, India-Sri Lanka relations, Indiaâ¿s nuclear strategy, and crossborder terrorismâ¿Basrur identifies two basic explanations for Indiaâ¿s indecision on critical issues. The first, involuntary drift, is related to the distribution of domestic material power, while the second, voluntary drift, is produced by a responsibility deficit. Basrur develops a fresh theoretical basis for understanding the relationship between Indiaâ¿s foreign and domestic policies and introduces a series of theoretical refinements to neoclassical realism. Subcontinental Drift also provides advice on how policy makers might lower the costs of policy drift. This innovative analysis is essential to understanding the constraints around Indiaâ¿s foreign and domestic security decisions and how they will affect its rise.
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