India and the new global order

Source– The post is based on the article “India and the new global order” published in The Indian Express on 16th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- International relations

Relevance– India and Global south in changing world order

News– The article explains the importance of the recently held Global South summit for India. It also explains the possibility and challenges for India leadership of Global South.

What is the importance of the Global South summit that was recently convened by India?

The forum is an important effort by India to make global governance work for the developing nations. Their concerns do not get sufficient attention in international forums.

The forum has provided valuable inputs from the Global South. These could facilitate successful conclusion of G20 summit in Delhi

The forum is helpful for India in reconnecting with a global group of nations. This group has not been a priority for the Indian foreign policy establishment since the end of the Cold War.

Over the last three decades, Indian diplomacy has been focused on reordering its great power relations, bringing stability to the neighborhood and developing regional institutions in the extended neighborhood.

What is the case for India’s leadership of the global south?

120 odd nations attended the meeting. It underlines the willingness of Global South to support Indian leadership on addressing the global challenges that have impacted many developing countries.

The crises produced by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian war in Ukraine have had a devastating and disproportionate impact on the Global South.

The international context today is not amenable to major global initiatives. Multilateralism is now in danger due to growing military tensions among the great powers. There has been a breakdown of the world trading rules and the weaponization of global finance.

The idea of India as leader of the developing world appears to have gained much currency in Delhi.

What are difficulties for India in representing the interests of the global south?

India’s own past experience with the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group-77 developing nations points to the real difficulty of uniting the Global South.

There are deep economic differentiation and sharp political divisions among the developing nations.

India has its own enduring developmental challenges, despite its impressive aggregate GDP and growing economic, industrial, and technological capabilities.

What is the way forward for India?

India can’t simply be self-centred. It cannot abandon its long-standing equities in the Global South.

India needs to contribute in more significant ways to modernising and democratising the global order.

There is a need for careful balancing between nationalism and internationalism. A practical sense of what is feasible in today’s world, and a well-defined crafted hierarchy of Indian priorities on the global stage is required.