India's Nuclear Strategy

After its nuclear test on May 1998, India has become a de facto nuclear weapon state. Subsequently India declared publicly that it would continue its nuclear weaponization, and started to make and implement its own nuclear strategy. This dissertation, focusing on the emerging Indian nuclear strategy, tries to answer the following questions: Why does India adopt a policy of nuclear deterrence? What is contained in Indian nuclear strategy? And what are its characteristics? What's its implication on international security?This dissertation is a strategic research on Indian nuclear issue. Realism is the dominant analytical paradigm in the field of strategic study, and nuclear deterrence theory is the principal analytical tool for nuclear strategic study. On the basis of realistic logic, India takes China and Pakistan as the chief targets of its nuclear deterrence. Therefore, the study on Indian nuclear strategy can not go without paradigm of realism and the theory of nuclear deterrence. However, the strategy of any state originates from its domestic ground, and its strategic behavior shall be influenced by its specific strategic culture. Therefore, this dissertation also employs analytical paradigm of strategic culture, and endeavors to analyze domestic origin of Indian nuclear strategy on the basis of the conception of strategy culture.In additional to the preface, this thesis includes six chapters.The purposes of preface are: 1) raising the research question; 2) defining the objectives of the thesis; 3) reviewing the relevant literatures on this study; and 4) elaborating the theoretical tools and research methods employed in this dissertation and its basic scheme.Chapter One illustrates the nuclear strategy and Indian nuclear strategy. Based on the analysis of various viewpoints of strategy, the author gives a clear definition to strategy and nuclear strategy. After this, the thesis draws a theoretical analysis of studies on strategy, and thus, on the basis of an analysis of western theories of nuclear strategy, casts light on Indian nuclear strategy with Indian process of decision making and its historical experience in consideration.Chapter Two explores the domestic origin of Indian nuclear strategy with analytical paradigm of strategic culture. Although this paradigm has been used broadly in strategic studies, strategic culture is interpreted very differently. Consequently, this thesis defines its own concept of strategic culture based on a generalization of strategic cultural paradigm. Subsequently, this chapter makes an analysis of the origin, theoretical basis and characteristics of Indian strategy culture. The last part further examines the connections between contemporary Indian strategic culture and Indian nuclear strategy.Chapter Three analyzes the international factors that influence Indian nuclear strategy. This analysis is made of two aspects: global nuclear power system and regional security threats. On the one hand, the "discrimination" in international order of nuclear power is the important reason why India decided to pursue its nuclear deterrence strategy; on the other, for those states in pursuit of their own nuclear strategy, the external threats are important stimulating factors, for which they endeavor to establish a nuclear strategy and put it into practice. As far as India is concerned, the so-called "Chinese nuclear threats" and Pakistani factors are two main pretexts for India to develop its own nuclear strategy.The following chapters, Chapter Four and Chapter Five, deal with respectively the doctrine of Indian nuclear strategy and its practice. If the doctrine is the "software" of nuclear strategy, nuclear force will be its "hardware". An integrated nuclear strategy is composed of both these two parts. Under the guidance of the two principles of No-Frist-Use and "credible, minimum deterrence", India is engaged in the development of triad strategic nuclear force.Chapter Six reviews the implication of Indian nuclear strategy. Since Indian nuclear strategy takes Pakistan and China as its targets, it will definitely exert far-reaching influence upon the security and stability of South Asia and Sino-Indian security relationship. With nuclear learning theory developed by Joseph Nye as theoretical basis, this chapter analyzes the stability of India-Pakistan nuclear deterrence. In the following part, the thesis examines the influence of Indian nuclear strategy on China's security environment, and on this basis, it argues that China's South Asia policy should be adjusted in accordance with the new changing strategic environment.