National construction of India and foreign policy identity

This study examines the factors that make up the national identity of India and the changes in national identity. In particular, unlike other studies, this study focuses on the impact of Indian national identity on Indian foreign policy. In this context, the study argues that Indian national identity affects Indian foreign policy. Therefore, first all, examining whether the Indian national identity was built or not has been the main goal of the study. The study was supported by statistical data, analytical measurements, tests and interviews. According to the studies done, it has been seen that India is far from nation-building like Western countries, but with the influence of leaders like Nehru, it initially tried to build an Indian identity on the basis of secaularism. But it has been concluded that with the rising religious nationalism since the 1990s, secularism has weakened and Hindu nationalism has come to the fore. In addition to that, it was reealed tht the secular nationalist Indian identity, which was built up to the 1990s thanks to Nehru, was effective in the construction of a non-aligned Indian state identity with the effects of the Cold War and colonial period. It has been concluded that the Indian economy, which has developed with the rising Hindu nationalism since those date, is an important factor ın the recognition of India as a rising power.