Abstract
India’s first Prime Minister towered over India’s international relations for nearly two critical decades. More than half a century after his death, however, scholars continue to debate the meaning and significance of Nehru’s most important initiatives in foreign policy. Some argue that he was a bold idealist crusader, one who frequently ignored important Indian interests. Others have described him as a subtle practitioner of realpolitik statecraft. This chapter argues that Nehru must be remembered as both an idealist and a realist. To make its case, the chapter delves into three of Nehru’s most important ‘idealistic’ preoccupations in foreign policy: his drive to build up the United Nations, his campaign for non-alignment, and his crusade for nuclear disarmament. In each case, the analysis reveals that Nehru was both sincerely committed to what he saw as a moral cause, but also convinced that advancing it would suit narrower Indian interests as well.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy |
Editors | David M. Malone, C. Raja Mohan, and Srinath Raghavan |
Place of Publication | Oxford, UK |
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Pages | 92-103 |
Edition | 1st |
ISBN (Print) | 9780198743538 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2015 |