The Foreign Policy of Rajiv Gandhi: An Analysis

Book excerpt: The book is based on research conducted on “The Foreign Policy of Rajiv Gandhi: An Analysis”. It is truly a path-breaking study, enabling readers to know about India’s foreign policy under the multidimensional leadership of Rajiv Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India. However, this volume is unique in the sense that the author is not from an academic background but has exhibited his resolve to display the value of the academic knowledge that the author has received. This book makes such a distinction because the author has made a significant contribution by covering all aspects of the foreign policy of Rajiv Gandhi. This book attempts to understand the significance of leadership factor in the foreign policy-making process from the perspective of the questions that relate to the influence of leadership on the conduct of India’s foreign policy and international relations. This work analyses India’s foreign policy under the dynamic leadership of Rajiv Gandhi and also attempts to capture the multifaceted roles played by Rajiv Gandhi as Chairman of the NAM, SAARC, AFRICA Fund, Crusader against Apartheid and playing a mediatory role in bringing the warring groups to the table. Taking the leadership of Rajiv Gandhi as his case, the author discusses the role of Gandhi's leadership during two significant events; the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka and the signing of the Intermediate Nuclear Force Treaty.