Abstract
‘The Unfinished Quest: India’s Search for Major Power Status from Nehru to Modi’ is written by T.V. Paul, a distinguished scholar and professor in the Department of Political Science at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Throughout his esteemed career in international relations, Professor Paul has held numerous prestigious academic and visiting positions at leading institutions around the globe. He earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. His research covers a broad range of important themes, including international security, international relations theory, conflict and war, nuclear proliferation, and the politics of South Asia.
In his latest volume, Paul examines India's leadership strategies, highlighting significant achievements in economic growth, technological advancements, and military modernization through his extensive expertise in international relations. Nonetheless, he argues that India's aspirations are obstructed by domestic constraints, regional challenges, and structural limitations. The book frames India’s ambitions within a broader competition for international status, defined as the “collective international recognition of an actor based on its valued material and non-material attributes.”