ABSTRACT
The Indian literati's perceptions of modern Europe have been the outcome of India's colonial experience, the cultural encounter with the West and a selective admiration of Europe. Perception management is 'a legitimate priority' for sovereign governments, while uncovering reality is a prime concern for social scientists. This chapter presents significance and relevance to European Union policymakers as it provides the comprehensive and detailed overview about the perceptions of the EU in India undertaken so far, by tapping information from three sources, namely, the press, 'elite' interviews and a public opinion survey. The Indian print media play a crucial role in ensuring vibrant Indian polity, and are acknowledged as the fourth pillar of democracy. The chapter elicits the opinion of the national policymakers and decision-makers about the EU in general and India-EU relations in particular. The public opinion survey was complemented by a content analysis of selected newspapers and elite interviews, in order to facilitate a better understanding of India-EU relations.
