The book provides a novel analytical perspective on regional multilateralism in South Asia and its neighbouring regions and covers the genesis, evolution and status quo of the four major regional organizations.

Drawing on the fields of political economy and historical sociology, Lee dispels the overwhelming consensus among scholars that members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) never interfere in the internal affairs of other states, and pioneers a new approach to the understanding of regional politics in Southeast Asia.

India faces a defining period. Its status as a global power is not only recognized but increasingly institutionalized, even as geopolitical shifts create both opportunities and challenges. With critical interests in almost every multilateral regime and vital stakes in emerging ones, India has no choice but to influence the evolving multilateral order. If India seeks to affect the multilateral order, how will it do so? In the past, it had little choice but to be content with rule taking—adhering to existing international norms and institutions. Will it now focus on rule breaking—challenging the present order primarily for effect and seeking greater accommodation in existing institutions? Or will it focus on rule shaping—contributing in partnership with others to shape emerging norms and regimes, particularly on energy, food, climate, oceans, and cyber security? And how do India's troubled neighborhood, complex domestic politics, and limited capacity inhibit its rule-shaping ability? Despite limitations, India increasingly has the ideas, people, and tools to shape the global order—in the words of Jawaharlal Nehru, "not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially." Will India emerge as one of the shapers of the emerging international order? This volume seeks to answer that question.

In this volume, scholars specializing in different dimensions of foreign-policy analysis examine the dynamics of India's international relations. The volume reviews the economic growth that has propelled it to the status of a globally recognized power, and examines its nuclear policy and maritime strategy as a register of its present capabilities and future aspirations. The news media, often neglected in the study of international politics, are studied as an important index to-and catalysis for-the formulation of government policies. The volume also comprehensively analyses India's bilateral and multilateral relations, their influence on the stability of the subcontinent, their bearing on the country's international presence, and their relevance for its political ambitions.

This volume represents one of the rare and comprehensive exercises in critically analysing diverse aspects of India s engagement with the world after the cold war. It is primarily written for the students and scholars in international relations who are trying to grapple with different aspects of India s foreign policy. It contains 24 papers by some of the prominent academicians and diplomats on on major areas as well as some of the dominent concerns of India s foreign policy. It situates India s role in the context of the Third World. The essays included in this volume deal with a vast spectrum of subjects and issues, encompassing the political, ideological, security and economic aspects of India s foreign policy. They are related to reforms and liberalisation, regional cooperation, human, national and energy security, and the overall strategy of India s foreign policy since independence. In the process, they unveil the complexities of relations between India and major powers like the United States, Russia and China, and shed fresh insights on India s ties with important regions including West Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa and the Indian Ocean rim. India s ties with its South Asian neighbours, particularly Pakistan, are scrutinised with the idea of exploring the possibilities of promoting South Asian regional cooperation. The policy analysis and insights offered in the volume would be useful to students, scholars and policy-makers studying India s engagement with the world.

Following the end of the Cold War, the economic reforms in the early 1990s, and ensuing impressive growth rates, India has emerged as a leading voice in global affairs, particularly on international economic issues. Its domestic market is fast-growing and India is becoming increasingly important to global geo-strategic calculations, at a time when it has been outperforming many other growing economies, and is the only Asian country with the heft to counterbalance China. Indeed, so much is India defined internationally by its economic performance (and challenges) that other dimensions of its internal situation, notably relevant to security, and of its foreign policy have been relatively neglected in the existing literature. This handbook presents an innovative, high profile volume, providing an authoritative and accessible examination and critique of Indian foreign policy. The handbook brings together essays from a global team of leading experts in the field to provide a comprehensive study of the various dimensions of Indian foreign policy.