India's Foreign Policy in a Globalizing World

By Prof. A. Subramanyam Raju | Pondicherry University (A Central University)

Learners enrolled: 633

About the Course:

India’s foreign policy, since its independence, has focused on idealistic principles such as peaceful coexistence, independence of decision-making, promoting world order based on equality, rendering support to the UN, advocating the peaceful settlement of disputes, and extending bilateral and multilateral cooperation at regional and global levels. India aims to promote and protect its national interest, maintain sovereignty, protect its diaspora, promote international peace and arms reduction, achieve economic and national development, and oppose discrimination and colonialism.

The Cold War politics influenced India’s foreign policy choices and defined its political, economic, and security relations with other states. However, India’s nuclear tests in 1998 and its steady economic performance have changed not only its perception of itself but the world’s perception of India. On the one hand, India is reorienting its policy towards its neighbours, and on the other hand, it is transcending its role/presence from its region to the rest of the world. The world recognises India as one of the rising powers. India is seen as not only a rule-taker but also a rule-maker and a rule-shaper. India is seen as a responsible country and reliable partner.

Course Objectives:

The course provides an outline of India’s foreign policy. The objective of the course is to understand the basic ideas, principles, goals, internal and external factors, challenges, and opportunities that determine India’s foreign policy. This course explains how India’s foreign policy plays a significant role in the globalized world. In the course, we discuss how the Cold War politics influenced India’s foreign policy choices, which defined its political, economic, and security relations with other states. We examine India's challenges and opportunities while pursuing its relations with major powers such as the US, Russia, and China in the post-Cold War period. Further, the course focuses on India’s bilateral relations with neighbouring countries and its role in SAARC and inter-regional groupings such as BBIN, BIMSTEC, and BCIM. The course also analyses India’s regional and international roles in UN, NAM, ASEAN, IBSA, BRICS, SCO, IORA, Quad, and G 20. The Course also examines India’s role in global issues such as the world trade regime, climate change, nuclear proliferation, terrorism, intellectual property rights, global governance, etc. It also analyses India’s role at the international level.

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Core
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	15 weeks
Category :	Political Science
Credit Points :	5
Level :	Undergraduate
Start Date :	13 Jan 2025
End Date :	30 Apr 2025
Enrollment Ends :	28 Feb 2025
Exam Date :	25 May 2025 IST
NCrF Level	5.5
Shift :	Shift II

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1

Foreign Policy: Meaning, Definition, Concept, Nature

Foreign Policy: Types, Objectives, Principles

Internal Determinants of Foreign Policy

Week 2

External Determinants of Foreign Policy

India Emerging as a Global Power

India as a Global Power

Week 3

India-US Relations during the Cold War

India-US Relations after the Cold War

India’s Engagement with the US in the Globalized World

Week 4

India and the USSR during the Cold War

Indo-Russian Relations in the Post-Cold War Period

India and Russia in the Globalized World

Week 5

India-China War in 1962

China as a Factor in India’s Nuclear Programme

India’s Economic Relations with China

China’s Presence in South Asia and its Impact on India

Week 6

India’s Stand on China’s Presence in the Indian Ocean

China’s Stand on India in the Indo-Pacific

China and India as Rising Powers in Asia and the World

Week 7

India’s Neighbourhood Policy

India’s Relation with Pakistan

India-Bangladesh Relations

India-Afghanistan Relations

Week 8

India-Nepal Relations

India-Bhutan Relations

India-Sri Lanka Relations

India-Maldives Relations

Week 9

India’s Role in SAARC

India and SAARC

India and Sub-Regional Grouping: India and BBIN

Week 10

India and BIMSTEC

India and BCIM

India and WTO

Week 11

India and Post-Uruguay Round Developments

Climate Change and the Rise in Sea Levels

Climate Change and its Implications for India

Week 12

India and the Nuclear Club: A Background to India’s Nuclear Programme

India and the Nuclear Club: Factors Determining India’s Nuclear Programme

India and its Maritime Neighbours: Demarcation of Borders

India and Blue Economy

Week 13

India’s Energy Security

India and the United Nations

India and the Non-Alignment Movement

Week 14

India and ASEAN

India and IBSA

India and BRICS

India and SCO

Week 15

India and IORA

India and Indo-Pacific

India and G-20

Books and references

Click here for Books and References

Instructor bio

Prof. A. Subramanyam Raju

Pondicherry University (A Central University)

Adluri Subramanyam Raju, Professor & Head of the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute for South Asia Regional Cooperation & Centre for South Asian Studies; Coordinator of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh Chair & Coordinator, UGC Centre for Maritime Studies, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry. He was instrumental in establishing the UGC Centre for Maritime Studies at Pondicherry University. He was the recipient of the Mahbub Ul Haq Award (Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS), Colombo, 2003), Scholar of Peace Award (WISCOMP, New Delhi, 2002) and Kodikara Award (RCSS, Colombo, 1998). He was a Salzburg Seminar Fellow (2006). He received the National Best Teacher Award from C.V.S. Krishnamurthy Theja Charities, Tirupati, in 2017 and the Best Teacher Award twice from Pondicherry University in 2013 & 2018. He was a Visiting Fellow at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, Colombo, May 2012; Centre for Southeast and Pacific Studies, S.V.University, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, March 2011; Centre for Himalayan Studies, North Bengal University, Darjeeling, India, April 2011 & Scholar-in-Residence, at Stella Maris College, Chennai, March 2024. He was a member of the Steering Committee, G 20 University Connect, appointed by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India & Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi. He was a member of the Third Task Force on Blue Economy, FICCI, New Delhi, twice during 2021-2022 & 2022-2023. He is a Coordinator of the University Connect Programme, appointed by RIS, New Delhi. He is an Honorary Adjunct Fellow at the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), New Delhi. He has completed an online course (50 lessons/5 credits) titled India’s Foreign Policy in a Globalizing World, under the Swayam Project, which is scheduled to launch in January 2025. He has published 27 books, including edited volumes and 54 papers, and delivered 188 lectures, including paper presentations at national and international seminars. He has organized 45 conferences and workshops. He has visited countries including Austria, France, Iran, Oman, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. His forthcoming publications include France in the Indian Ocean: Strategy, Stakes, and Engagement; Governance and Poverty in South Asia; Emerging India from Maritime Perspective; & (Co-editor), The Routledge Handbook of Maritime India: History, Strategy and Engagement.

Course certificate

Course Certificate: To obtain Course Certificate: 30 marks will be allocated for Internal Assessment and 70 marks will be allocated for end term proctored examination. Securing 40% in both separately is mandatory to pass the course and get Credit Certificate.

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