IR- INDIA’S FOREIGN POLICY

Presented by : Aaditya Mishra

About the lesson: 1.Objective: International relations with emphasis on India. 2. End Goal of collection: Complete understanding of India’s relations with countries and world organisations.

3. Coverage: GS 2, Pol Sci Optional Paper 2 Section B etc.

What is foreign policy ?Foreign Policy ‘‘The system of activities evolved by communities for changing the behaviour of other states and for adjusting their own activities to the international environmen” George Modelski.

• It aims at furthering a country’s national interest in the international milieu.

• Country’s foreign policy does not emerge in vacuum, it is guided and shaped by it’s history, geography, culture and political system etc.

• Some factors do not change e.g. geography, natural frontiers etc. ==> brings “continuity.”

• Some factors change like external and internal environment ==> brings “change.”

HISTORY OF INDIA • What we consider as unified India today was

number of smaller kingdoms sometimes republic and sometimes other political entities.

• Mughal empire on the verge of crumbling over its own extravagance and uncontrolled expansion

• Then Britishers came and easily established control in the veil of East India company.

HISTORY OF INDIA • There is a sense in West albeit a profoundly

mistaken one that Britishers control was unalloyed good for India.

• Though there were some positive inheritances like West ministerial parliamentary democracy, judiciary but these were relentless pursuits of Indian asking for autonomy and self government.

• In reality Britishers were a disaster for India. It was a project of “economic exploitation” and was hugely successful for them but catastrophic for Indians.

HISTORY OF INDIA • OECD research by economic historians show a

strange figure:

• Pre 1750’s China had world trade around 20-25%

• India’s share pre 1750’s was 15-18%

• Post Independence (1947) it was 2%.

• So Britishers mission did fuel industrial revolution, but only in their country.

Why I told you such a long story ?

• It was because of such experience that India’s foreign policy had so much emphasis on “autonomy in decision making”; “non alignment” etc.

• So when a newly independent India was plunged into the world affairs it was certain that we would not push ourselves into “any alignment.”

Nehru’s Dilemma • Western educated, but attracted towards socialist ideology.

• No alignment would mean no help in terms of finances, technology etc. but alignment would mean loss of independence.

• Could not get away from Britishers immediately because of our trade limitations.

Nehru’s Foreign Policy Objectives

• Even before Independence in 1946 he gave the following principles of Indian foreign policy-(IFP)

• end of colonialism and racism

• independence from power blocs- we have already discussed in Bi-polarity( World Order Part 2)

• close ties with China and Asian neighbours.

Nehru’s Non Alignment • It was answer to the dilemma he and nation

faced at that time.

• Even George Washington after independence had said: “a new republic should cultivate just and amicable feelings towards all nations.”

• So it Nehru’s intellectual struggle against Bi-polar world order.

• C Raja Mohan: “It was India’s effort to carve out a niche for itself.”

What Nehru meant by NA ?• Not getting entangled with any of the military

alliances (NATO vs Warsaw Pact)

• It did not mean neutrality in world politics.

• Neutrality is relevant in times of war.

• NA meant “no a priori” commitment to support one or other nation in times of crisis.

• It was Nehru’s attempt to prevent India from becoming a theatre of cold war.

Other IFP measures during Nehru• Importance to United Nations => Kashmir issue to UN.

• Rather the issue got entangled in Cold War (Pak + USA vs Soviet) ==> Pak raises it now and then in UN.

• UNSC instead of declaring Pak as aggressor kept the issue as an instrument for pressuring India politically.

• Dulles, USA’s foreign secretary - “NA as immoral” and failure to take decision by Indian establishment.

• Intimate relations with commonwealth => buy security for India without entailing into alliance.

IPF-Tilt in NA• All this lead to tilt in NA towards- Soviet

voted for India when USA and UK voted for Pak.

• 1956 Hungarian Crisis- Soviet military intervention - India voted against the resolution asking Soviet to call back forces.

• Nehru defended the stand=> if India would have supported the resolution asking for UN supervised elections in Hungary, similar demands would have been asked for in Kashmir.

Nehru’s- Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai• Peace and friendship was cornerstone of

India’s foreign policy.

• Resolve territorial disputes through political negotiations.

• 1951- Sino-Tibetan agreement was thrusted upon the Tibetans by Chinese.

• 1954- China’s claim over Tibet conceded when we signed agreement of trade with “Tibetan region of China.”

Nehru’s blunder in Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai• To pacify the Chinese we removed all our military,

postal, commercial, telephonic and telegraphic services from northern border.

• Nehru gave Panchsheel:

• Mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty

• Non aggression

• Non interference in domestic matters

• Equality and

• Peaceful coexistence

China and Panchsheel • It was an attempt to hide India’s inability to

oppose Chinese expansionist designs.

• China had no intention of abiding by the agreement.

• It was evident from build up of military detachments in Aksai-Chin area.

• Construction of border roads wishing Indian territories along SINKiang border.

• Chinese maps showing NEFA (in 1972 became Arunachal Pradesh.

Benefits of Nehru’s FP• NA allowed India to take leadership role in the

developing world.

• His investment in Sciences ==> India’s space program => tool of IFP ==> SAARC satellite, ITEC etc.

• Vision of India’s role in the Global World politics still guides our FP.

• His attempts at Panchsheel etc. were based on the realisation that Indian forces were no match with Chinese forces at that time.

Drawbacks of Nehru’s FP• Nehru’s idealistic faith in fairness of UN(Kashmir question)

• Late realisation that it was “military strength” that enhances ability to negotiate political settlements.

• India gave up it’s right in Tibet without gaining any reciprocal concessions.

• Could have exercised flexibility in NA in defence on India’a NI. (could have asked for US help which was anti China during 1962 )

• His reliance on “doctrine of defence by friendship” vis a vis China was idealistic.

• Potential question because of 125 years.

• Examine the relevance of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru’s ideas in the international relations of today. (IAS, 2004)

Indira Gandhi- HARD REALIST• India Russia- Treaty of Peace and

friendship-1971

• “immediate mutual consultation” in face of military threat.

• India’s intervention in East Pakistan because of the refugee influx in West Bengal.

• Pokhran in1974. China had done in 1964 and to resist threats like ship Enterprise of USA in future.

• Also Henry Kissinger (NSA of Nixon) had communicated that India should bank on USA in case of China’s intervention in btw India and Pak.

• Met Ronald Reagan as concern was Green Revolution.

FACTORS WHICH FORM INDIA’S FOREIGN

POLICY

Geography• GEOGRAPHY: India is in unique position at

the head of Indian Ocean(I.O.)

• close to “arc of energy” - W.Asia, C. Asia etc.

• part of “arc of growth” - China and S. E Asia

• close to “arc of instability” - W.Asia, Af-Pak region

• 7500+ coastline- issues of security - Attacks through sea

• 15000 km land boundary - Pak (Army with a state), Aggressive Chine ( Malacca Dilemma), Myanmar ( ULFA insurgents), Nepal( porous border)

• Nearness to “Golden Crescent” and “Golden triangle”

• Future role: “India’s region of influence will be from Eastern Africa to Pacific.

• Net security provider in the region.

• Recent emphasis on “BLUE ECONOMY” by Modi.

• Hence emphasis on “Blue water” navy

• Project Sagarmala - improving port infrastructure.

• Project export in India’s trade policy 2015-20- Chabahar port @ Iran.

• Countering China’s green water navy invasion through Project Mausam etc.

Geography

Security • 4 types of security

• External security

• Human security ( security of Indian diaspora, migration issues)

• Energy security- (CAR’s, TAPI, HEP@ Bhutan etc.

• Food security- WTO negotiations, subsidies etc.

• Negotiating with the enemy => This was weakness during Nehru hence less effective political solutions.

• Protecting out interests => 1971 war, Kargil 1999 etc.

• 4th largest military establishment

• Indigenisation needed so that “self reliance”

Military Strength

• Technology and Capital for production here=> FDI in defence.

• Diversification of our defence suppliers.

• USA and Israel preference over Russia because of better and more sophisticated weapons of USA.

• We need FDI, FII and more integration with the global economy.

• Globalisation is seen as opportunity to increase the outreach.

• India looks the expansion and diversification of foreign trade.

• Efforts @ IMF, WB, NDB, CRA etc. so that we can get a better deal.

• WTO negotiations and India’s emphasis on both adoption and mitigation @ Climate change negotiations.

Economic development- post 1991 this has been the guiding factor

• Twin purpose of events like Madison square etc.

• Outreach to diaspora

• Gets the message to the local political leaders about the importance of the dignitary.

• Why Diaspora?

• Remittances, NRI equity investments.

• Goodwill - Africa, West Asia- Oman etc.

• Recent steps like e-visa, merging PIO, OCI etc.

Indian Diaspora

• India’s commitment to world peace, anti-colonialism opposition to racism, commitment to democracy, secularism and peaceful co-existence etc. are certain philosophical values that emerged during the freedom movement.

• During the British rule India considerably developed relations with other countries to improve world peace and freedom and condemned colonialism and racial discrimination.

National Philosophy

Strategic Autonomy

• will be discussed in the next lesson in detail.

• Shifting of emphasis from political diplomacy to economic diplomacy e.g. China border dispute on back burner.

• Change from third wordliness as leader of the South towards “enlightened self interest”

• countries and people help each other but ultimately all further their own interest.

• Shift from Idealism to Realism to Intensively Pragmatic Foreign Policy (centred on India’s economic interest)

• Consensus to shift from socialist to Modern capitalist system.

Changes in IFP

BJP-2014 and FOREIGN POLICY

BJP’s Manifesto 2014• Nation 1st and then universal brotherhood.

• Brand India with 5T’s

• Trade

• Talent

• Tourism

• Technology

• Tradition

• Closer coop with BRICS, SAARC, ASEAN.

• Resurgence of India to take it’s “rightful place”

• Persecuted Hindus can take refuge in India ( was criticised later changed to Hindu’s =>Indians )

• Neighbourhood 1st. • invitation SAARC leaders for swearing in ceremony

• most countries in neighbourhood visited by PM • Bangladesh land boundary agreement.

• Sub Regional elements • BBIM MVA • land bridge btw India and SL.

• Look East to Act East (will be covered in future lectures)

Recent Foreign policy steps

• Offensive defensive policy

• Toughness in negotiations - WTO Bali package, Hurriyat leaders and talks cancelling

• Chinese intrusion and explicit expressing concern.

• Not hesitant to use hard power when required - NSCN (K) camps in Myanmar etc.

• Pro-Activeness for UN reforms

• UNGA adopted a time bound text for discussion

• Energy security

• CAR, Canada, Australia, 123 Breakthrough etc.

• Cancelled talks with EU over BTIA when they blocked generic drugs.

• Following pragmatism when required

• Khobragade issue was neglected after few hints.

• Cultural Diplomacy

• Buddhism, Buddhist circuits in India and Ramayana trail in SL

• China participating in Nalanda University

• Promoting Yoga, Bollywood and Indian culture.

• Promoting People2 People

• e-visa to 114 countries

• Leave Travel Concessions to Nepal, Bhutan etc.

• Project Mausam

• Cricket Diplomacy- calling country heads before World Cup, India- Pak series to be

• Effectively linking past and future with creative diplomacy

• PM mentioned about the sacrifices of Indian soldiers in WW1 and WW2 in Canada and Australia.

• Govt. not accepting unreasonable demands of state govt.(TN and SL policy)

• Outreach to Diaspora • Madison Square, silicon valley, Dubai etc. • Importance for brain gain and leverage to improve

relations • High power diplomacy

• Visit of PM, FM, EAM, Defence chiefs etc. • Countries were chosen with strategic interests • Visit to countries bordering China • Small countries with geo-strategic interests in Pacific

5 TOOLS OF STATECRAFT TO further ProActive foreign policy

1. Narratives: sacrifice of Indian soldiers in WW1 & WW2 ; IPKF

2. Lexicon and imagery: look east to “act east”; 1st response in humanitarian crisis in Yemen and Nepal

3. Soft Power: Please go and watch Shashi Tharoor’s video on India’s soft power on youtube.

4. Realising importance of Indian diaspora.

5. Linking foreign policy and economic development: finance, energy and technology India is ready to utilised 3D’s : Democracy, Demography and Demand.

QUESTIONS • 1. Role of Indian community in Indo-US relations.• 2. Effects of 9/11 attacks in USA on international relations.• 3. How important is Indo−US civil nuclear cooperation from Indian

perspective?• 4. What is the importance of India’s joint defence exercise in India’s

foreign policy?• 5. How India seeks to ensure its energy security through economic

diplomacy?• 6. Discuss India’s foreign policy towards USA from Nehru to

Manmohan Singh’s years.• 7. What role is to played by BIMSTEC in promoting regional

cooperation?• 8.Examine the relevance of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru’s ideas in the

international relations of today. (IAS, 2004)