The question is how the Indian ‘elites’ debate about the idea of ‘Indian Exceptionalism’ or ‘distinctiveness’ in ‘constructing’ and ‘marketing’ India’s maritime identity in Indian Ocean region in the post cold war era? The study adds on to the literature by focussing on political, military and strategic elite’s views on India’s strategic culture with particular reference to India’s power projection in the maritime neighbourhood in the 21st century .In the context of growing India-USA civil and military cooperation which is seen as the triumph of India’s ‘opportunism’ or ‘realpolitik’ over India’s ‘moralpolitik’ or ‘exceptionalism’ India seems to experience a ‘post Cold-War identity crisis’ situation as it seeks to reconcile the contradictory choices of retaining ‘strategic autonomy’ and maintaining security or defence collaboration with the great powers. It is a qualitative and interpretive study based on a single case research design and is based on both documentary analysis and elite interviews.
