As the global order shifts beneath our feet, former R&AW chief Vikram Sood offers a commanding account of how nations wield power, shape narratives, and influence the course of history. In Great Power Games, Sood traces the arc of international politics from the aftermath of the Second World War to today’s volatile multipolar world.

For decades, the United States and its Western allies defined the rules of the global system through treaties, institutions, and a carefully constructed rules-based order. That edifice is now under strain: wars rage across continents, the West is unsettled by internal discord, and the U.S., particularly during the Trump presidency, has abandoned many of the frameworks it once upheld.

Sood lifts the veil on the hidden dynamics of power: espionage, covert operations, proxy wars, disinformation campaigns, and economic coercion. From Cold War shadow battles to America’s post-Soviet unipolar dominance, he charts the rise – and faltering – of the West. Meanwhile, China flexes its economic and military muscle, India asserts its strategic significance, and traditional powers like the U.S. and Russia continue to compete in high-stakes games of ambition. The result is a world where rules are being rewritten in real time, and uncertainty is the new normal.

Panoramic in scope and incisive in insight, Great Power Games combines history, intelligence, and analysis to reveal how nations protect their interests and pursue influence. It is both a study of global geopolitics and a guide to understanding the turbulent world we inhabit – with a special focus on India’s emerging role.

About the Author:
Vikram Sood served as the chief of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) for 31 years before retiring in 2003. A recognized authority on security, foreign policy, and intelligence, he has contributed extensively to journals, newspapers, and books on strategic affairs. His previous works include The Ultimate Goal: A Former R&AW Chief Deconstructs How Nations Create Narratives (2020) and The Unending Game: A Former R&AW Chief’s Insights into Espionage (2018). He currently serves as an adviser at the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi.

Why This Book Matters:

• Provides rare insight into the covert and overt mechanisms of global power.
• Explains how intelligence, economics, and diplomacy shape international outcomes.
• Maps the rise of China, India’s strategic positioning, and the decline of Western dominance.
• Essential reading for students of geopolitics, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding India’s place in a changing world.