Oceanic Strategy

This book introduces the concept of “oceanic strategy,” expanding beyond traditional maritime and naval perspectives to include political, economic, socio-cultural, and ecological dimensions. It highlights the Indian Ocean Region as a critical arena for global power competition, where the abundance of resources, strategic significance, and emerging interests have made it a new frontier for opportunity, growth, and conflict. By incorporating aspects like oceanic security, resource exploration, the blue economy, and hydrography, the book presents a broader view of strategic thought and the role of oceanic spaces in national and global geopolitics.

Focusing on key players such as India, China, the US, and other traditional and emerging powers, the book analyses the reorientation of national interests and the intensifying struggle for dominance in the Indian Ocean. It argues that control over this region is crucial for attaining influence in 21st-century geopolitics. The work also addresses non-traditional security threats like piracy and transnational crime, situating the Indian Ocean at the heart of modern geopolitical discourse.

This book is an essential resource for students and scholars of international relations, strategic studies, and political science, offering critical insights into the evolving power dynamics shaping the future of the Indian Ocean Region.

Late Dr Vidhan Pathak was an Associate Professor in the Department of African Studies, University of Delhi, India. Previously, he served as an Assistant Professor at the Centre for African Studies, University of Mumbai, an Assistant Professor at Maharaja Agrasen College, University of Delhi, and a Fellow at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He was the Managing Editor of the Indian Journal of African Studies (the journal of the Department of African Studies, University of Delhi), the former editor of African Currents (journal of the Centre for African Studies, University of Mumbai) and the former Assistant Editor of Diaspora Studies. He has published extensively on topics/subjects like India’s Africa Policy, Indo-African Relations, Western Indian Ocean Region, Indian Diaspora in Africa and other issues related to African affairs. Apart from African politics and Indo-African relations, his research interests cover the diaspora. His recent publications include a co-edited book titled Imagining India as a Global Power: Prospects and Challenges.

Dr. Raghvendra Kumar is an independent researcher and analyst specializing in Indian Ocean geopolitics, maritime security, and non-traditional security challenges. He holds a PhD from the University of Delhi, with his thesis titled “China’s Engagement with the Island States of Africa in the Western Indian Ocean Region: Implications for India.” He also holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Political Science from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, and an M.Phil. from the Department of African Studies, University of Delhi. He previously served as an Associate Fellow at the National Maritime Foundation (NMF) in New Delhi, where he was instrumental in establishing the Africa’s Maritime Geostrategies (AMG) Cluster. During his tenure, he made significant contributions to policy research focused on the East African littorals and the island states of Africa. Prior to his work at NMF, he taught Political Science at Maharaja Agrasen College, University of Delhi. His research centers on African affairs, the geopolitical dynamics between India and China in the Indian Ocean, and maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean Region. He has authored several book chapters, journal articles, and review essays on these subjects and served as an editor for “Maritime Perspectives 2022: Non-Traditional Dimensions of Maritime Security,” published by NMF. He has also presented papers at prominent international forums, including the NESA Indian Ocean Island Forum in Bangkok (June 2022) and a workshop jointly organized by UNODC-GMCP, ISS-South Africa, and Stellenbosch University in Cape Town (July 2022).