On Foreign Policy – Henry Kissinger was a man of the world

Source: This post on Foreign Policy has been created based on the article “Henry Kissinger was a man of the world” published in “Indian Express” on 1st December 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 International Relations – Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.

News: This article discusses the foreign policy followed by the US diplomat Henry Kissinger. It also highlights the lessons India can derive from his geopolitical stance.

Background:

The recent death of Henry Kissinger, the best-known American diplomat of modern times, has brought his work into the limelight.

He is remembered in India for the American support to Pakistan during the 1971 war to liberate Bangladesh. He is also viewed as the one man responsible for the rise of China by drawing it into a long-term partnership with the United States against the Soviet Union.

His contributions towards shaping American foreign policy and his statecraft holds lessons for a rising India seeking a larger role in the world.

What are the major highlights of Kissinger’s foreign policy?

Focusing on National Interest: In Kissinger’s realpolitik, protecting an important Cold War ally — Pakistan — and turning an adversary like Communist China into a strategic partner was driven by a deep consideration for US interests in the 1970s.

Pursuing Power: Kissinger, known for power politics, openly acknowledged that he would have taken the same action as PM Indira Gandhi did during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, i.e. breaking Pakistan to establish India’s dominance in the Subcontinent.

Middle Path of Pragmatism: He steered the US toward a more balanced practical and pragmatic foreign policy approach, rather than the extremes of isolationism and ideological interventions.

What is the drawback of following the tenets of Kissinger’s foreign policy for a country like India?

Kissinger’s strategy, as discussed above, involves constantly prioritizing order and stability over morality and justice. For e.g. USA’s immoral war tactics in the Vietnam War to win at all costs.

India should not lose the balance between power and principle and the balance between interests and values, in its foreign policy.

Terminology Used:

Pragmatism: Pragmatism is a school of philosophy that judges the merit of ideas, policies, and proposals based on their usefulness, workability, and practicality. Pragmatism in foreign policy is a focus on power and material interests, rather than idealism or moral high ground.

Realpolitik: The approach of conducting diplomatic or political policies based primarily on considerations of given circumstances and factors, rather than strictly following ideological, moral, or ethical premises.

Realism: Realism in foreign policy places national interests and security above ideology, ethics, and morality. Realists argue that the absence of a legitimate monopoly of power in the international system creates a strong incentive for states to focus on survival as their primary goal. They also hold that actions like war are necessary tools of statecraft and must be used in the national interest.

Idealism: Idealism in foreign policy is the idea that a country’s internal political philosophy and values should be the goal of its international conduct. For example, if a government tries to reduce poverty, defend human rights, or promote religious freedom at home, then it should strive to do the same abroad.

Isolationism: Isolationism is a political philosophy that opposes a country’s involvement in the political affairs of other countries.

Question for practice:

“Power without Principles” is a cardinal sin as per Mahatma Gandhi. In light of this, discuss the pros and cons of following a realist foreign policy as espoused by Henry Kissinger.