Does the Elephant Dance? A Discussion on Contemporary Indian Foreign Policy

India’s growing role on the world stage, including membership in the G20 and the United Nations Security Council, have thrown a spotlight on the scope of its aspirations and on the forces driving its foreign policy. Faced with an array of challenges from complex domestic issues to internal and external security challenges, how will India project itself internationally and how will its relationships in the region and beyond evolve?

On October 25, the Managing Global Order project at Brookings hosted a discussion on contemporary Indian foreign policy. David Malone, president of the International Development Research Centre, discussed his new book Does the Elephant Dance?: Contemporary Indian Foreign Policy (Oxford University Press, 2011), based on his experience as Canada’s high commissioner to India from 2006-08. Brookings experts Stephen Cohen and Teresita Schaffer also joined the discussion. Brookings President Strobe Talbott provided introductory remarks and Senior Fellow and MGO Director Bruce Jones moderated the discussion.

After the program, participants took audience questions.