The Unfinished Quest

With India’s 2024 elections concluded, the nation now looks toward the future. Recently reelected Prime Minister Narenda Modi has promised to cement India’s place as a global power, but how well has he succeeded at this over the past 11 years of his administration? On one hand, India has seen high economic growth; but on the other hand, problems of economic inequality, religious conflict, and social stratification persist. Will the Indian government prioritize the latter issues? And, if so, what does that mean for India’s future?

In The Unfinished Quest: India’s Search for Major Power Status from Nehru to Modi, political scientist T.V. Paul makes the case that nations who achieve human development goals gain soft power that improves their global reputation, a factor equally as important as economic power when pursuing global status. He draws on decades of research and compares India with some of its biggest rivals in Europe, Asia, and the Americas to make a unique argument for India’s path to achieve its goals. Cogent and clear in its argument, The Unfinished Quest is a thoughtful examination of what makes a world power and how India can get there.