India's Diplomatic Entrepreneurism: Revisiting India's Role in the Korean Crisis, 1950–52. (August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thakur, Vineet
• Is Part Of: China report. Volume 49:Number 3(2013)
• Page Start: 273
• Page End: 298
• Publication Date: 2013-08
• Subjects: Indian diplomatic history -- Korean crisis -- United Nations -- China -- Ceasefire Group -- Menon's proposals; China -- History -- 1949- -- Periodicals; 951.005
• DOI: 10.1177/0009445513502266
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-4455

Abstract

The article documents India's involvement in the Korean crisis from 1950–1952. It argues that India's 'diplomatic entrepreneurism' allowed it to become the interlocutor, mediator and adjudicator, all rolled into one, helping India to create a space of manoeuvre for itself in the fast polarizing international system. Jawaharlal Nehru expectedly is the main protagonist in this tale, yet it also seeks to bring forth contributions of other Indian diplomats which have generally been buried under Nehru's weight, in studies on Indian foreign policy. Moreover, it responds to the call for a greater engagement with Indian diplomatic history, a field that is severely understudied.