The Making of Indian Diplomacy: A Critique of Eurocentrism [Hardcover]

Breaks from the argument that, for Indians, the moment of colonial liberation was a false one as the colonized had internalized European practicesDiplomacy is conventionally understood as an authentic European invention which was internationalised during colonialism. For Indians, the moment of colonial liberation was a false dawn because the colonised had internalised a European logic and performed European practices. Implicit in such a reading is the enduring centrality of Europe to understanding Indian diplomacy. This Eurocentric discourse renders two possibilities impossible: that diplomacy may have Indian origins and that they offer un-theorised potentialities.Abandoning this Eurocentric model of diplomacy, Deep Datta-Ray recognises the legitimacy of independent Indian diplomacy and brings new practices He creates a conceptual space for Indian diplomacy to exist, forefronting civilisational analysis and its focus on continuities, but refraining from devaluing transformational change.TransliterationGlossaryAbbreviationsIntroductionPlan1. Delusive UtopiaModern diplomacyReflexivity and civilizationCivilized genealogyConclusions2. Irrepressible PresentManaging the MEAThe structure-of-structuresThe diplomatic presentStatus anxietyHow on earth did you get out?The jugar of negotiating the cosmosMobility's aim: progressUnspectacular sufferingNothing makes sense in this countryConclusions3. Theorizing the UncontainableToday's kit: the MahabharataManaging the textApplication: the Mahabharata dharmaThe practice of diplomacy in the MahabharataConclusions4. Inverted HistoryThe rationale for diplomacy in the Indo-Mughal EmpireThe coming of authentic, modern, European diplomacyConclusions5. Death of diplomacyDiplomacy-as-battleBattle practicesThe victory of battle-diplomacyConclusions6. Diplomacy RebornGandhi's engagement with dharmaGandhi's art-of-politicsNehru: The principled GandhianThe diplomatic apparatusSatyagraha in practice: Pakistan and ChinaConclusions7. Violence of lÓ!