Development diplomacy is seen as the new frontier of strategic studies. It is an arm of economic cooperation that involves a range of actions, from infrastructure building to skill development. It implies sustained and long-term cooperation which apart from ensuring socio-economic upliftment of the recipient country, is used as diplomatic leverage for foreign policy manoeuvres. The book examines India’s development cooperation policy over the years, in its neighbourhood and aims to fill the gaps in its approach. It compares the practices of traditional donors like the United States and emerging donors like Japan and South Korea, among others, to find the best practices for India. It particularly helps dissect China’s Belt and Road Initiative as a challenge to India’s development cooperation policy in South Asia. Development cooperation as a pillar of foreign policy is a means to extend India’s influence in its dynamic neighbourhood, an avenue for greater South-South cooperation and a vehicle to counter Chinese economic prowess. Contents Foreword Preface Acknowledgements List of Tables and Figures 1. Introduction: Development as a Form of Diplomacy—Tracing its Roots and Relevance 2. Development Diplomacy in Practice: Comparing the Objectives and Strategems of China, Japan and South Korea 3. The Northern Model of Development Cooperation: Analysing the Development Cooperation Policies of the US, UK and Germany 4. The North-South Debate: Problematising Similarities and Differences 5. India’s Development Diplomacy with Nepal and Bhutan: Examining Trends, Potentialities and the Chinese Influence 6. India’s Development Diplomacy with Sri Lanka and Maldives: Tracing Development Practices and the Impact of Chinese Presence 7. India’s Development Cooperation Policy:The Way Ahead 8. Conclusion Endnotes Index About the Author: Urmi Tat is a seasoned policy professional whose research focuses on trade, infrastructure and political economy of South Asia. She’s worked with think tanks in the development and foreign policy space, including the Centre for Air Power Studies, New Delhi, Enquire, Washington D.C., Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi and Centre for Studies in International Relations and Development, Kolkata. Ms. Tat holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government from Lady Sri Ram College, University of Delhi. She also holds a Diploma in Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding from Delhi University.