Power and Diplomacy: India’s Foreign Policies during the Cold War, by Zorawar Daulet Singh

Realpolitik and its terminology have dominated the discourse on the conduct and behaviour of states in ‘anarchical’ international environment. Concepts like balance of power (BoP) and security dilemma continue to draw the attention of students of international politics. It has been argued, or presumed, that in the security-driven environment of the international system, foreign policies of individual states are externally driven. Since the conduct of policies and behaviour of a state in international politics is primarily driven by security concerns, the role and significance of domestic politics, beliefs of leaders of states, their identities and vision are considered insignificant. The pursuing of a policy based on domestic structure or beliefs of leaders, or their vision in an anarchical structure may not be in state’s interest. As Kenneth Waltz states: ‘Because structures select by rewarding some behaviours and punishing others, outcomes cannot be inferred from intentions and behaviours.’1 States, therefore, have no option but to play by the rules of the anarchical international system.

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