Three Phases of India’s Foreign Policy

For around 15 years of independence, India’s foreign policy admirably served the national interests. India succeeded in establishing a network of mutually beneficial relations with all countries of the world. There were occasions where India actively contributed in lowering tension between the rival power blocs. After the launch of NAM, India was universally regarded as its most important leader. In the later years of Nehru’s era and afterwards, both the internal and external factors started India depriving of its foreign policy effectiveness. Thus, on the foreign policy front, outstanding achievements stand besides dismal failures for India. To make an assessment, India’s foreign policy can be divided into three distinct historical sections as follows:

Period-I: 1947 till 1962

This period was the most idealistic phase of India’s foreign policy under Jawaharlal Nehru. Click Here to Read more.

Period-II: 1962 till 1991

This began with disastrous defeat in 1962 at hands of China and ends with end of Cold War in 1991. India gradually shifted from early idealism to more realistic approach. However, this period retained the Nehruvian rhetoric. Click Here to Read More

Period 3: 1991 till 1998

This period also can be divided into two subsections viz. 1991 till 1998 (Pokharan-II) and 1998 till present. This phase began with the end of the Cold War and is marked by a pragmatic foreign policy with close to principles of Realism. Click Here