Indian Way of Constructing Strategic Culture

Abstract

The article analyzes the genesis of Indian strategic culture through the synthesis of classical Kautilya realism, Nehru idealism and modern course towards multipolarity. India positions itself as a civilizational state striving for the status of a great power through the concept of strategic autonomy, adapting ancient philosophical categories for national security. The article uses a comprehensive methodological framework that combines comparative historical analysis and a constructivist approach to study the evolution of Indian thought through the prism of discursive analysis of official documents, speeches of leaders and classical texts as well as event analysis. The results of the study show that the modern Indian way of constructing strategic culture is characterized by a synthesis of paradigms, institutionalization of autonomy and Indian civilizational features in understanding foreign policy. The article provides insight into the place and role of a multi-alignment strategy for India’s foreign policy, using the examples of BRICS and QUAD as case studies. The study revealed the similarity of strategic cultures of Russia and India, namely the key understanding of need for autonomous existence of civilizational states, need for a multipolar world, as well as strategic autonomy. A similar understanding of fundamentals as ensuring national interests and security allows us to diagnose the importance of Russian-Indian relations as equal partners and cultures with related value bases. The study of India’s strategic culture will contribute to the development of Russian-Indian relations, including diasporic ties and the formation of a favorable image of India in Russia and Russia in India, despite India’s cross-membership in QUAD.