The Dynamics of India's Nuclear Identity

Through the constructivist perspective, this paper explores the transformation of India's strategic identity from an unacknowledged nuclear weapons power to a de facto one in the emerging international order. India has put forth its argument as a unique and exceptional case as opposed to Iran, North Korea and Pakistan with similar ambitions that have been labelled “rogue states”. This paper investigates the reasons behind the international community's gradual acceptance of India's nuclear capabilities and identity, especially after the Indo-US Nuclear Deal. The country's heightened global status is not solely the consequence of its 1998 nuclear tests but a calibrated projection of a responsible stakeholder in other spheres as well with democratic credentials, economic potential, market prospects and so on. By historicising India's nuclear trajectory through an inter-subjective analysis of identities, this paper provides a theoretical interpretation of state action and nuclear identity construction.