Man is a social animal, same logic applies to Nation-states emerged after Westphalia treaty and even in the world of complex interdependence[1] it corroborate the fact. Nations to become developed has to take help of each other, these relations between different nations states, cross border movement of capital and people leads to web of international relations. In this web of international relations nation-states tries to maximise their interest through foreign policy on path of development.
In simple words foreign policy means shaping policy of a nation for making external environment conducive to the interest of the nation. History, geography, domestic structures, international environment, personality of decision makers etc can be termed as some of the determinants of foreign policy[2] of any country. Preparing foreign policy is a tedious job and it is not an event rather a continuous process based on the objectives of the country. Objectives can be categorized into short term and long term objectives, short term objectives needs to in coordination with long term objectives. Policy makers in India shape country’s foreign policy in the above mentioned context only.
Independent foreign policy, Unity and territorial integrity, Development of the country, world Peace, and non interference are some of the objectives[3] of the Indian foreign policy. Since 1947 those were the basics of Indian policy, in 2011 while looking towards challenges ahead of Indian foreign policy we have to take into consideration these objectives along with phenomenal growth of India post USSR and complex security, economic situation prevailing in the world.
Challenges in front of Indian foreign policy can be classified in 3 sub classes. Firstly, a Peaceful relation with neighbours is a precondition of the development of any country. India shares its border with almost all the countries in the south Asia. To have peaceful relations with these countries is a massive task for India. Creating not just economic interdependence rather creation of vested interest in the peaceful territory of every country is a way out not just for India but also of SAARC region. SAARC rhetoric needs to be realised, South Asian University is a good example of this realisation, and work needs to be done on other issues like SAARC grain bank[4], SAFTA[5] etc. We have examples of ASEAN, AU, and MERCOSUR in context of regional cooperation
While talking of periphery we cannot leave aside India’s relations with Pakistan, will power of decision makers might pave the way for new emergence. Relations with other neighbours need to be viewed from the perspective other than strategic depth. One should remember we can change friend or enemy but not neighbour.
Secondly India’s rise in recent years has been acknowledged by the world, and it created space for India to represent itself at world stage with the confidence thanks to IT and service sector. India’s growing stature helped itself in granting NSG waiver, world is looking towards India with lots of expectation, in the era when expect military sphere every field of world is galvanised by presence of multiple players. Growing stature also brings greater responsibility and India needs to face it with both the hands, present chairmanship of UNSC provides opportunity to demonstrate responsible behaviours of the Indian nation. Present economic crisis is also a challenge ahead of this ancient civilization. Managing relations with great powers like US, China, UK, France or EU will remain a daunting task for New Delhi.
Thirdly apart from relations with these countries transformation of India free of poverty, illiteracy, and ensuring safe drinking water, energy security are the responsibilities for policy makers. Here again role of other countries come into play, relations with African continent and Latin America will make big difference on the matter as well as policy of cooperation by ONGC with Gazprom needs to be viewed. MDG[6] also talks about these challenges. We can list down number of other challenges a
Challenges are the path towards opportunities. Indian policy makers can find opportunities in the area viewed as 3 concentric circles by C.Raja Mohan. First circle is immediate neighbourhood developing transit routes, basic infrastructure will generate floods of movement of people, culture, capital and also help to integrate Indian neighbourhood. Reviving silk route, building roads in the India’s east i.e. Myanmar will ensure progress of North east of India. Sitway, Kaladalan multi modal project are the recent examples of this, recent visit of PM to Bangladesh[7] tried to capitalize this opportunity. Muslims in the subcontinent constitute 40% population of world Muslims, economic integration will result in harmony in the people and this can be better example in front of west who us to shy away from Muslim.
Second circle lies in extended neighbourhood basically in Central Asia, West Asia, India can help in institutionalizing roots of democracy as they feel more warmth and synonymise themselves with Indian democracy constituting of unity in diversity, as well as India’s vibrant service sector can actually help people in our extended neighbourhood to eradicate poverty, ameliorate health services, better investment opportunities etc. India even proved its might in the technology in African continent via strengthening health services under Pan-African project[8].
Third circle is of world stage, relative decline of US in economic, political sphere and in environment of multi player world, India can grab this opportunity to shape the world order not just multi polar rather multi partner as objective of world peace and development suggest. Recent economic crisis harbinger India opportunity as member of G-20 to say decisively in deciding economic order of the world. India can play a role as supplier of services to the world, WTO, WIPO, Climate change conferences offer opportunity to reinforce spirit of NIEO(New International world Order) and NAM in a changed circumstances with leading south-south cooperation.
Indian foreign policy made a long jump since independence and specially after collapse of USSR, however there are some elements of continuity along with change in foreign policy , which need a separate discussion but inheritance of strategic policies since British era will assure us that India will remain successfully in balancing power and peace combination with order and justice in the world .I am confident that Indian diplomacy will judiciously face challenges and capitalize the opportunities available for it.
[1] Robert keohane and Joseph Nye (1977), power and interdependence, Boston: Scott publisher
[2] J.Bandyopadhyaya (2003), The Making of India’s foreign policy , N.Delhi, allied publishers pvt.ltd
[3] Panchseel Agreement 1955 between India and China
[4] SAARC website:www.saarc-sec.org , SAARC secretariat 2007
[5] SAARC website:www.saarc-sec.org, SAARC secretariat 2004
[7] 6th and 7th september 2011: opening transit route for Nepal and Bhutan through India to Bangladesh.
[8] www.panafricanproject.com
