Are India and Japan Potential Members of the Great Power Club?

Abstract

This chapter considers whether India and Japan could join the United States and China as 'great powers'. It argues that though both India and Japan may claim such status in the future, it is unclear whether either state actually aspires to this status and that, for the time being, both are some way from acquiring it. Both states face major domestic challenges, both have complex relationships with the United States and China, and both have political elites who are conflicted about the best direction for their foreign and security policies. Show more