Why India Is an Obstacle to Its Own Success

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants nothing more than for his country to take on a bigger role in international politics. Since assuming office in 2014, he has traveled to 54 countries spanning six different continents. And in the past eight weeks alone, he has attended summits with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, East Asian countries, G-20 members and the BRICS states. Yet for all of the diplomatic bustle, India's aspirations of becoming a great power will likely go unrealized as a lagging economy and a tradition of avoiding foreign alliances continue to restrict New Delhi's movements abroad....