The Nexus of Naval Modernization in India and China: Strategic Rivalry and the Evolution of Maritime Power (Oxford International Relations in South Asia)

Abstract

Analyzing society scientifically is always a challenge, even for those engaged in the social sciences. There are many reasons why a state may adopt a certain course of action. We must carefully study various aspects such as historical background, political situation, and foreign relations. It has often been a point of contention between International Relations (IR) which often simplify the issues too much and Area Studies which tend to emphasize the characteristics of the state. However, even for regional researchers, having a theoretical background in IR can help in explaining the behavior of the state. This book, The Nexus of Naval Modernization in India and China: Strategic Rivalry and the Evolution of Maritime Power by Christopher K. Colley, also succeeds in building a quality theory with field research and numerous interviews. ‘This book seeks to explain the driving causes of naval modernization over the past 30 years. In particular, it examines the case studies of two traditional land powers, China and India, and poses the crucial question as to why these two states have embarked on naval modernization. The core argument of this book is that strategic rivalry is the most important driver of this phenomenon and counterarguments are only partial explanations. In the absence of a strategic rivalry, states do not feel compelled to develop powerful navies’ (p. 2). The argument itself is nothing new, but the author emphasizes “there has yet to be a detailed theoretical study that provides a granular analysis of the drivers” (p.8).