India's widely acclaimed rise on the global scene masks certain enduring structural weaknesses in the country's polity which put it at a serious disadvantage vis-à-vis China. India has been unable so far to integrate states located on its periphery within its economy and build a coherent, pro-active foreign policy. The country's alleged “soft power”may not yield real, enduring benefits unless its “hard” industrial and trading might is enhanced. Until then, India's national security will remain under serious threat, both from its neghbours and from internal factors.
