The Limits of British Influence

Dr Inder Singh sets out to assess the impact on Britain's international position of the transfer of power to India and Pakistan in the context of the Cold War and its "special" relationship with America. The British had no illusion that their position in Asia had suffered after 1947 but they tried with skill to prolong their influence, as well as their "usefulness" as America's principal ally. This is a retelling of an unfamiliar story. In a series of closely argued subtexts, the author has produced a detailed analysis of two Western countries, which, although in the frontline of the global struggle, often spent as much time parrying with each other as they did with their mutual enemy. The book throws light on the limits of American as well as British influence. If their respective resources determined the means each wish to use, the means in turn created new ends. In this respect, this study should be of interest not only to historians but also political scientists, not least in the field of international relations.
Finally, this account offers a new insight into India's determination to retain its independence of manoeuvre, to find in non-alignment a guarantee of sovereignty it felt it would never find in alignment with the two principal Western powers.