ABSTRACT
The dynamics of nuclear politics Several specific features of India’s nuclear policymaking process strongly influenced the country’s overall nuclear course. Partisan considerations within India’s party competition, the strong lobby of the nuclear scientists, the interests of the armed forces and diplomatic corps, and the role of think tanks and political NGOs contributed to the often inscrutable dynamics of India’s nuclear policy discourse. In the following, the structure and process of India’s nuclear policymaking is analysed by looking at its three core elements: first, the decision making institutions and formal structure in which the nuclear programme is embedded, which will henceforth be understood under ‘nuclear authorities’; second, the nuclear industrial complex, including nuclear science R&D, nuclear power production, and nuclear-related defence production, or ‘nuclear science’; and third, the nuclear debate within India’s political party competition, in short ‘nuclear politics’.
