History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization: Towards Independence: Aspects of India’s International Relations 1700 to 2000: South Asia and the World (Volume X, Part VI)

The volumes of the Project of History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization aim to discover the central aspects of India’s heritage and present them in an interrelated manner. In spite of their unitary look, these volumes recognize the difference between the areas of material civilization and those of ideational culture. The project is not being executed by a single group of thinkers, methodologically uniform or ideologically identical in their commitments. Rather, contributions are made by different scholars of diverse ideological persuasions and methodological approaches. The project is marked by what may be called ‘Methodological Pluralism’.  In spite of its primarily historical character, this project, both in its conceptualization and execution, has been shaped by scholars drawn from different disciplines. It is the first time that an endeavour of such unique and comprehensive character has been undertaken to study critically a major world civilization. This volume is a modernist study of India’s international relations, which traverses pre-colonial, colonial and postcolonial perspectives. Its fourteen chapters discuss varied subjects related to South Asia’s regional and international relations, like: The institutionalization of British paramountcy in India and its effects on the region’s external relations, as well as indigenous responses to colonial rule. The influence of domestic variables upon India’s international relations. The interspersing of ethnic, economic and religious factors in the making of the British Indian Empire, and later, of the Indian state. The paradigms of nature, culture, state-making on the one hand, and political ecology and cultural politics of natural resources on the other. The changing character of foreign corporate involvement in India. The development of science and technology in India and the activities of the armed forces in India. The fostering of formal arrangements such as SAARC or SAFTA in South Asia and informal challenges to India’s security from non-state actors. The economic, political, and cultural consequences of globalization for India during the imperial-colonial phases. The evolution, in creative writing, of a discourse on the world outside India and on India’s relationship with it.  This volume will be of interest to scholars and students of South Asian studies, history, political science and international relations, and defence studies.