ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses a number of thematic areas and issues that arise when thinking about Russian–Indian relations in the context of a potentially emerging multipolar world. It focuses on the specificity of the idea of multipolarity within Indian and Russian political contexts and pinpoints some of the areas of convergence and difference in two states' material and normative approaches to building a polycentric world order. The chapter focuses on twin norms of non-intervention and Responsibility to Protect (R2P). It also explores the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as arguably one of the regional centres of unfolding multipolarity, where leading 'poles', including Russia, China and, to some extent, India, seek to challenge American hegemonic power in region of Eurasia and thus promote regional security by emphasizing Westphalian norms. The chapter then examines Indian and Russian power ambitions in Asia-Pacific and the impact of their interplay on the regional balance of power in the context of a hegemonic US and a rising China.