{"id":20412,"date":"2018-05-23T18:04:50","date_gmt":"2018-05-23T12:34:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=20412"},"modified":"2018-05-23T18:04:50","modified_gmt":"2018-05-23T12:34:50","slug":"indias-foreign-policy-changing-dynamics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/indias-foreign-policy-changing-dynamics\/","title":{"rendered":"India\u2019s Foreign Policy: Changing dynamics"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Context:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has been taking an increasingly pragmatic stance in the conduct of its foreign affairs in recent times. This shows a gradual shift from conventional foreign policy that india had adopted.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What is foreign policy:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Foreign policy refers to the general guidelines that a country follows in establishing and conducting relations with other countries. It brings in predictability in foreign relations and builds trust between two nations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-20415 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blog.forumias.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/policy.jpg?resize=449%2C183\" alt=\"\" width=\"449\" height=\"183\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/policy.jpg?w=449&amp;ssl=1 449w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/policy.jpg?resize=150%2C61&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/policy.jpg?resize=300%2C122&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 449px) 100vw, 449px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>Determinants of India\u2019s Foreign Policy:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1)Geographic location:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India is located between Middle-east, South-East Asia and far East. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is present close to one of the busiest trade routes in the world. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It shares most of its land boundaries with hostile neighbours. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The increasing presence of China in the Indian Ocean is a source of major concern. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2)Population<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has a huge population who need to be provided with basic amenities and employment opportunities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India also ensure the well being of its Non Resident Indians abroad.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3)Economic Concerns<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India is in dire need of foreign investments. Over the years it has liberalised its economy to incentivise foreign investments.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4)Political <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India aims to become a major global player in the future. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It has been trying to join the UNSC as a permanent member.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5)Security and Defence<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Terrorism from hostile neighbours has been a major concern. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Home grown terrorists use neighbouring countries as a hide out.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has signed land boundary agreements to strengthen border defence .<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6)Ideology<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since ancient times India\u2019s Foreign Policy has been guided by values like peace and non violence.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was the basis for India\u2019s Non Aligned Movement.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>India\u2019s Foreign Policy &#8211; dynamics<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s foreign policy since ancient times have had elements of both continuity and change. The elements of continuity include quest for securing peace in the neighbourhood, increasing trade, attracting foreign investments, playing a major role in the global arena.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As per foreign policy analysts, presently India\u2019s foreign policy has become more pragmatic.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Rise of Realpolitik in India\u2019s Foreign Policy in recent times:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>1)What is Realpolitik:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b> \u00a0\u00a0<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Realpolitiks, Foreign policy is conducted on the basis of practical and material concerns rather than ideological or ethical principles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>2)Changing dynamics of Foreign Policy \u00a0to realpolitik<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.Indian foreign policy for centuries has been guided by \u00a0civilizational values like non violence, tolerance, Sarva Dharma Sambhava etc which prompted India to take a leadership role in the Non Aligned Movement ( NAM). <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.Later the Gujral doctrine talked about non-reciprocal accommodation of India\u2019s neighbours and stated that India must help its neighbours without expecting anything in return. <\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> According to foreign policy experts like Happymon Jacob, Harsh V Pant, Kanti Bajpai, etc under the present regime India is showing more Realpolitik viz<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1.Multi alignment rather than Non- alignment<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2.Increasing cooperation with USA, <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3.Dehyphenation of Israel-Palestine etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4.Focus on BIMSTEC rather than SAARC<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5.Look East to Act East policy<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6.Wooing foreign investments <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7.Neighbourhood first policy etc<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8.Offensive -defensive strategy against Pakistan<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4.However Kanti Bajpai, a political analyst has observed that the present government has been following a \u201ccooperation-defection\u201d cycle. The government cooperates with other countries but on its own terms and defects when it is not able to do so<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>3)Instances where Realpolitiks dominated concerns:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s stance against the Rohingya refugees reflects a shift from its traditional stance of welcoming refugees though India is not a party to UN convention on refugees<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India is taking a dehyphenation stance on Israel and Palestine. That means India\u2019s relationship with Israel would stand on its own merit and will be independent from her relationship with Palestine. PM Modi also became the first Indian PM to visit Israel<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s offensive defensive strategy against Pakistan was visible when it conducted a surgical strike which was a departure from the past. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the recent past,India is not showing importance to Non Aligned Movement ( NAM) and even Indian PM skipped a meeting of NAM. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simultaneously growing India-US ties is evident in the defence relationship between the two countries.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India began pursuing the neighbourhood first policy with increased vigour in 2014. But it has hit a roadblock. India is now selectively engaging with these countries with one big agenda-countering the presence of China<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SAARC has hit a roadblock with the recent summit being cancelled after Pakistan\u2019s aggression towards India. India has now shifted its focus to sub regional groupings like BIMSTEC <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India also showed diplomatic maturity during the Doklam standoff and prevented it from escalating into a full scale war<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PM Modi himself is leading the high level political visits across the world. Political considerations took a backstage while economic considerations were given priority.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>4)Consequences of increasing reliance on Realpolitik:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India would no longer be considered as a \u201csoft state\u201d.(Soft state is a concept given by Gunnar Myrdal which says that the State is unable to implement its policies.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Concerns of a two &#8211; front war from China Pakistan alliances<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though India is successful in the diplomatic isolation of Pakistan in the international arena, it is pushing Pakistan to forge new alliances with countries like Russia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India would be projected as a country which can take initiative thus helping its case for a permanent seat at UNSC.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increasing closeness with countries like USA and Israel is pushing our traditional allies like Russia to realign its relationship with China and Pakistan.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>Criticism of rise of Realpolitiks in India\u2019s Foreign Policy<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s focus on hard power(military power) for foreign policy outcomes sidelines our rich soft power(ideological power, goodwill) attributes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The concerns among the small neighbouring countries like Nepal against India\u2019s \u2018big brother\u2019 attitude <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even though countries like China have the military might to use hard power, there is an increased focus on soft power. The BRI is an important part of China\u2019s Soft power. It seeks to make the countries economically dependant on it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Basing a foreign policy on immediate practical concerns is not advisable in a dynamic global scenario. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It would reduce the element of trust in bilateral ties.For example, USA\u2019s reversal of many of the commitment\u2019s given by the previous government has reduced the trust on US.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><b>Way forward:<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For India to become a global power, it must first become a regional power.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Domestic capacity has to be built in order to sustain India\u2019s global ambitions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sustained economic growth is very important to become a major player in the world<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The government must pursue Neighbourhood First policy with the same thrust as before. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the changing geopolitical order India must build a strong foundation based on both India\u2019s civilizational values as well as new considerations. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Context: India has been taking an increasingly pragmatic stance in the conduct of its foreign affairs in recent times. This shows a gradual shift from conventional foreign policy that india had adopted. What is foreign policy: Foreign policy refers to the general guidelines that a country follows in establishing and conducting relations with other countries.&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/indias-foreign-policy-changing-dynamics\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">India\u2019s Foreign Policy: Changing dynamics<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":20416,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20412","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-editorials","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Indian_Foreign_Policy.jpg?fit=1463%2C482&ssl=1","views":{"total":16,"cached_at":"","cached_date":1698346672},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20412","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/61"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20412"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20412\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20416"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20412"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20412"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}