| Summary/Abstract |
Democracy promotion has never been an integral element of India's foreign policy. The pursuit of its national interests in the international arena has traditionally revolved around security, trade, and energy issues. This article demonstrates, however, that in recent times India has taken a more active stance in promoting and supporting democracy abroad. It identifies the specific ways in which India has engaged in democracy promotion and support abroad. Nevertheless, ‘realist’ concerns about strategic and economic interests, namely India's desire to improve its relationship with the United States and enhancing its status as an emerging power, rather than any idealistic commitment to democracy, may help explain this behavior. The pursuit of traditional foreign policy objectives will continue to take precedence over democracy promotion and support abroad. As such, there are elements of both continuity and change observed regarding the issue of democracy promotion in India's foreign policy.
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