A TIMELY TREATISE ON FOREIGN POLICY

KV Prasad's 'Indian Parliament: Shaping Foreign Policy explores the limited but expanding role of the Indian legislature in foreign policy formulation-dominated by Prime Ministers-led executive.

- SANJEEV CHOPRA

The book delves into critical debates on India's inclusion in the Commonwealth and WTO, participation in IPKF, and the India-US Nuclear Deal. among other things

Is the Parliament really supreme?

There is no doubt that from the point of view of political theory, among the three organs of governance—executive, legislative and judiciary—the legislative is supreme. The executive is in power for as long as it commands the majority on the floor of the house, and the courts can only interpret the laws enacted by them. However, in the practice of politics, parliaments have had to work hard to assert their control over the actions of the executive, especially with regard to issues connected with foreign affairs and national security.

As KV Prasad brings out in his masterly treatise