A good exposition of India's strengths and weaknesses and their implication for her potential to rise as a world power. The author seems to have stuck to a narrow officially acceptable version of India's foreign policy and global strategy, and apparently has not ventured any substantial suggestions on resolving the boundary conflict with our major northern neighbour (China), preferring to rely on military strength and forging alliances with other relevant countries. Perhaps the author comes out more clearly in the last chapter, and especially the last two pages, where it is finally stated that to be recognized as a world player, India will have to solve its basic economic and social problems, improve strategic planning capabilities and coordination, and quit harping on its past civilizational glory and become more relevant to its neighbours in the contemporary world. ( )