📖 Overview
The Oxford Handbook of India's National Security provides a comprehensive examination of India's security challenges and policy responses across multiple domains. The volume brings together contributions from scholars and practitioners who analyze India's defense strategies, internal security issues, and geopolitical considerations.
The handbook covers topics ranging from conventional military capabilities to nuclear deterrence, terrorism, cyber security, and environmental threats. It assesses India's relationships with neighboring states, major powers, and international institutions while exploring the evolution of national security decision-making structures.
Each chapter presents research and analysis backed by data, historical context, and contemporary developments in India's security landscape. The text incorporates perspectives from military officials, diplomats, academics, and policy experts to create a multifaceted view of India's security environment.
The work serves as both a reference guide and scholarly contribution that contextualizes India's rise as a regional power and its expanding security interests in the 21st century. Its systematic approach reveals the interconnected nature of traditional and non-traditional security challenges facing the world's largest democracy.
👀 Reviews
Limited public reader reviews exist for this academic text. Most feedback comes from academic journals and policy experts.
Readers liked:
- Comprehensive coverage of internal and external security challenges
- Up-to-date analysis through 2018
- Inclusion of cyber security and technology issues
- Clear organization by thematic sections
Readers disliked:
- Dense academic writing style limits accessibility
- High cost ($145) for hardcover edition
- Some overlap between chapters
- Limited coverage of environmental security threats
Available Ratings:
Goodreads: No ratings
Amazon: No customer reviews
Google Books: No user reviews
Academic Reviews:
"Fills an important gap in the literature on Indian national security policy" - Contemporary Southeast Asia journal
"Strong contribution but could benefit from more historical context" - Pacific Affairs review
"Valuable reference for scholars and practitioners" - Asian Security journal
Note: The book's academic/specialist nature and recent publication (2018) contribute to limited public reviews.
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🤔 Interesting facts
🔷 Sumit Ganguly has been awarded the Rabindranath Tagore Prize for his extensive contributions to the study of Indian politics and foreign policy
🔷 The book examines India's nuclear weapons program and how it transformed from being a staunch advocate of global nuclear disarmament to becoming a nuclear weapons state in 1998
🔷 Beyond traditional military concerns, the handbook addresses non-traditional security challenges facing India, including climate change, water security, and cybersecurity threats
🔷 Author Sumit Ganguly holds the Rabindranath Tagore Chair in Indian Cultures and Civilizations at Indiana University, Bloomington, and has authored or edited over 20 books on South Asian politics
🔷 The handbook explores how India's colonial legacy continues to influence its current national security policies and military doctrine, particularly in relations with Pakistan and China