India's Nuclear Policy (Praeger Security International) - Hardcover

Karnad, Bharat

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0275999459 ISBN 13: 9780275999452

Publisher: Praeger, 2008

Synopsis

This book examines the Indian nuclear policy, doctrine, strategy and posture, clarifying the elastic concept of credible minimum deterrence at the center of the country's approach to nuclear security. This concept, Karnad demonstrates, permits the Indian nuclear forces to be beefed up, size and quality-wise, and to acquire strategic reach and clout, even as the qualifier minimum suggests an overarching concern for moderation and economical use of resources, and strengthens India's claims to be a responsible nuclear weapon state.

Based on interviews with Indian political leaders, nuclear scientists, and military and civilian nuclear policy planners, it provides unique insights into the workings of India's nuclear decision-making and deterrence system. Moreover, by juxtaposing the Indian nuclear policy and thinking against the theories of nuclear war and strategic deterrence, nuclear escalation, and nuclear coercion, offers a strong theoretical grounding for the Indian approach to nuclear war and peace, nuclear deterrence and escalation, nonproliferation and disarmament, and to limited war in a nuclearized environment. It refutes the alarmist notions about a nuclear flashpoint in South Asia, etc. which derive from stereotyped analysis of India-Pakistan wars, and examines India's likely conflict scenarios involving China and, minorly, Pakistan.

About this title

About the Author:

Bharat Karnad is Research Professor in National Security Studies at the Center for Policy Research, New Delhi. He was a Member of the (First) National Security Advisory Board, National Security Council, Government of India, Member of the Nuclear Doctrine Drafting Group and Adviser on Defense Expenditure to the Finance Commission, India. He is the author of Nuclear Weapons and Indian Security: The Realist Foundations of Strategy, now in its second edition (2002, 2005).

Review:

"Bharat Karnad has produced a very thoughtful and comprehensive book on the nuclear weapons issues of the next century, as seen from a definitely Indian perspective. While thus reflecting the national interests and national outlook of a citizen of India, Karnad at the same time draws in a wealth of the past fifty years-foreign literature and foreign perspectives on nuclear deterrence, far beyond what all but the very most involved Indian analysts will have ever read or contemplated, and indeed far beyond what almost all foreigners will have thought through. For someone trying to master the issues of nuclear deterrence, the footnote citations in this book by themselves would amount to a goldmine of the relevant literature." (George H. Quester, Professor of Government and Politics, University of Maryland)

About this edition

• Publisher: Praeger
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0275999459
• ISBN 13: 9780275999452
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 236