Indias Nuclear Bomb and National Security

Indias Nuclear Bomb and National Security gives an analytic account of the dynamics of Indias nuclear build up. It puts forward a new comprehensive model, which goes beyond the classic strategic model of accepting motives of arming behaviour, and incorporates the dynamics in Indias nuclear programme. The core argument of the book surrounds the question about Indias security considerations and their impact on Indias nuclear policy development. Karsten Frey explores this analytic model by including explanatory variables on the unit-level, where interests are generally related to symbolic, less strategic values attributed to nuclear weapons. These play a significant role within Indias domestic political party competition and among certain pressure groups. They also impacted Indias relationship with other countries on non-proliferation matters, for example the concept of the countrys status and prestige. Identifying the role of the strategic elite in determining Indias nuclear course, this book also argues that one of the pivotal driving forces behind Indias quest for the nuclear bomb is Indias struggle for international recognition and the strong, often obsessive sensitivities of Indias elite regarding acts of discrimination or ignorance by the West towards India.