ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to characterize the key factors that have influenced India's relationship with the European Union since the end of the Cold War. Five factors have been identified: History, geopolitics, economics, perception, and diplomacy. Firstly, the book examines India's relations with the EU prior to 1991 in order to reveal the historical context of the relationship. Secondly, it demonstrates the impact of the geopolitical changes brought about by the end of the Cold War on India's foreign policy in general and its relations with the EU in particular. Thirdly, it analyses the significance of economic liberalization in India for its cooperation with the EU. Fourthly, it analyses how the perception of the EU among Indian elites and society has changed, and how this has affected the EU's position on India's foreign policy agenda. Finally, the chapter examines India's diplomatic capacities as a possible constraint on closer engagement with the EU.
