India and Germany in a Turbulent World: Perceptions, Perspectives, Prospects

Rajendra K. Jain

India has a multi-dimensional relationship with the Federal Republic of Germany, which is its largest trading partner within the European Union, a major source and destination of foreign direct investment, a significant donor, and an important source of technology.

This timely and in-depth book examines the evolution and expansion of India’s economic, political, defence, and scientific-technological relationship with Germany from 1947 to the present day. It analyses mutual perceptions, highlights the elements of convergence and divergence, and discusses the challenges and prospects in a world that is in geopolitical flux and disarray. The book argues that India and Germany have an incrementally increasing relationship with more overlapping than conflicting interests.

Drawing on extensive English and German language source material, including declassified documents of the German Foreign Office, and interviews with past and present policy-makers/stakeholders, this volume fills a long-felt gap in existing literature.

Rajendra K. Jain was formerly Professor and Chairperson at the Centre for European Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and Visiting Professor, Warsaw University (February-May 2022). He was Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellow/Professor at the universities of Constance, Freiburg, Leipzig, and Tübingen and Science and Politics Foundation (SWP), Ebenhausen (1995). He has been the first Jean Monnet Chair in India and Adjunct Research Professor, Monash European and EU Studies Centre, Melbourne (2010-2015). He has also been Professor at the Maison des Sciences de l’Homme, Paris and ICCR Professor of Contemporary India at Leuven University (2015).

He is the author/editor of 36 books and has written over 140 articles/book chapters. He has travelled extensively in Asia, Europe, and North America and has lived in the United States (5 years) and Germany (3 years). He has most recently published an edited volume India and Europe in a Changing World: Context, Confrontation, Cooperation (Palgrave, 2023).

Contents

List of Tables
Acknowledgements
List of Abbreviations

1. Nehru and Adenauer, 1949-1964
2. Benign Neglect, 1965-1990
3. Relations in the Post-Cold War Era, 1990-2004
4. Manmohan Singh, 2004-2014
5. Proactive Engagement: Modi, 2014-2023
6. Perceptions and Misperceptions
7. Defence Cooperation and German Arms Transfers to India
8. Conclusions

Notes
Appendix 1
India-German Visits, 1946-2023

Appendix 2
India-Germany Agreements, 1948-2023

Appendix 3
Formats of Indo-German Dialogue

Bibliography

Index