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March 5, 2026

Book Review: The Unfinished Quest: India’s Search for Major Power Status from Nehru to Modi

Cover for The Unfinished Quest: India’s Search for Major Power Status from Nehru to Modi
Regional Studies |

Author: T.V. Paul

| Reviewed by: Dr. Patrick Bratton, professor of national security, Department of National Security and Strategy, US Army War College
 
In this sweeping analysis, T. V. Paul traces India’s decades-long journey to global prominence, revealing how aspirations for major power status have been shaped—and often stalled—by internal contradictions and external constraints. Blending hard-power metrics with soft-power dynamics, Paul explores India’s evolving role as a “swing power” in the Indo-Pacific and its complex rivalry with China. From Nehru’s nonalignment to Modi’s assertive nationalism, this book offers a compelling framework for understanding India’s place in the shifting global order.
 

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Keywords: India, foreign policy, international relations, geopolitics, hard power