Book Review: The Unfinished Quest: India’s Search for Major Power Status from Nehru to Modi

Authors

Patrick Bratton

Files

Description

Author: T. V. Paul

Reviewed by: Dr. Patrick Bratton, professor of national security, Department of National Security and Strategy, US Army War College

In this sweeping analysis, T. V. Paul traces India’s decades-long journey to global prominence, revealing how aspirations for major power status have been shaped—and often stalled—by internal contradictions and external constraints. Blending hard-power metrics with soft-power dynamics, Paul explores India’s evolving role as a “swing power” in the Indo-Pacific and its complex rivalry with China. From Nehru’s nonalignment to Modi’s assertive nationalism, this book offers a compelling framework for understanding India’s place in the shifting global order.

Publication Date

3-5-2026

Keywords

India, foreign policy, international relations, geopolitics, hard power

Disciplines

Defense and Security Studies

Recommended Citation

Patrick Bratton, Book Review: The Unfinished Quest: India’s Search for Major Power Status from Nehru to Modi ( US Army War College Press, 2026),
https://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters_bookshelf/132