BM Jain is an Indian political scientist and Sinologist, who has developed and popularized psycho-cultural and geopsychological paradigms in the field of international relations (IR) and international security. He has developed the theory of geopsychology in IR as an alternative to mainstream IR theories. He defines it as "a set of perceptions, images, and belief systems, formed of shared history, culture, nationalism, religion, and ethnicity, which shape the mindsets and behavioral patterns of non-state and authoritarian actors and communities inhabiting a specific geographical area." In understanding China's foreign policy behavior, for instance, he has applied the geopsychology theoretical framework that lists core elements of China's geopsychology: Century of humiliation, the Middle Kingdom syndrome, cultural pride, nationalism, strategic culture, and the anti-hegemony discourse. Career Jain obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Rajasthan (1977-1981). He has been a Professor and Senior UGC Research Scientist in Political Science at South Asia Studies Center, University of Rajasthan in India, and Senior Fellow of the Indian Council of Social Sciences Research (Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India). Editors of academic journals He has been editor-in-chief of the Indian Journal of Asian Affairs since 1988, cooperating with Sumit Ganguly, Patrick James, Kevin P. Clements and T.V. Paul. Jain sits on the editorial board of Inter-Cultural Studies (University of Newcastle), Journal of International and Global Studies (Lindenwood University), and Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs (Air University). Memberships Jain has been a member of: International Political Science Association (IPSA) Association of Third World Studies International Peace Research Association International Congress of Psychology International Association of Historians in Asia Indian Congress of Defence Studies Theoretical Contribution In his 2021 book on the geopsychology theory (GT) of international relations, Jain argues that the GT fills the ‘knowledge gap’ in mainstream IR theories that have neglected the role of historical narratives, societal structures, cultural and civilizational values, and belief systems of political actors in constructing and shaping their foreign policy behavior. The key assumptions of the GT are: Non-state/transnational actors are the primary actors in the international system, capable of influencing the course of global and regional politics. States’ employment of punitive measures is unable to change fixed mindsets and behavioral patterns of authoritarian, theocratic, and violent non-state actors (NSAs). Historical narratives, collective memories, geography, and nationalism shape the behavior of authoritarian and NSAs. Rational choice theory is unworkable in dealing with non-state and autocratic state actors. It is