” India wants to modify the present world order, but never overthrow it. ” Introduction In the pyramid of world powers in 1947, India was perhaps at the rock bottom. However, within a short span of three or four decades India had pushed forward its position and became a most developed country among the developing countries. The 21 century is dramatic changes have happened in the shift of global power to start a power distribution in global politics. This 21 the century has been a different from cold war period.
The end in the ideological clash and strategic competition has led to a ewe hope of building a peaceful and cooperative world order. Foreign policy off country is the key to promote a peaceful world order. The foreign policy is an instrument to promote and protect its national interest. It defends the territorial integrity and sovereignty, enhance the economic and social well-being of the people and provide trading opportunities with other countries. However the foreign policy must be flexible and must keep up with the changing international as well as national environment.
The foreign policy is determined by the times in which it is inducted. During cold war period two power structures or bloc s were present- U. S. A and USSR maintaining a bipolar world order and keeping a check over the balance of power. India at that point of time did not take the side of the either of the party and evolved with a new concept of non -aligned group of nations. Non alignment was an idealistic approach aimed at maintaining national independence in foreign affairs by not Joining any military alliance formed by the USA and USSR.
In justifying this policy Nehru observed, ” ” India is too big a country. India is going to e and is bound to be a country that wants in world affairs…… While remaining quite apart from power blocs”. After the fall of USSR and marking an end of cold war as Waltz analyses there was a shift from bi-polar world to one soul new emerging unpopular world. This change brought new challenges to India foreign policy forcing it to change from idealistic to a new pragmatic realist approach.
In this unpopular world India faced challenges like balancing the relations with global powers, building a new partnership with regional organization, expanding the influence in Asia, enhance Indian’s economic and energy security, to deal with environmental threats, UN reforms and permanent membership of Security Council and active pursuit for multipart world. These challenges also include domestic and regional security, political insurgency and economic relationships with other countries. Relationship with Power blocs Indian’s main objective of Foreign policy is to achieve global power status.
This will happen if India maintains a healthy relationship with U. S. , China, Russia and European Union. Indian’s relationship with U. S. Has seen a considerable change after old war where India willing made changes economic, technological, and cultural and defense relations with US. This change will show that India has the potential to get the global power status. The civil nuclear energy cooperation deal that has been eagles Detente Don countries Is an example AT tons relation . Nine Inc-us Deliberate relationship progress through the next step in strategic partnership initiative (NASA).
This it is believed to lead towards significant economic benefits for both countries and improve regional and global security. The 123 nuclear treaty was historical event n confidence building for both countries. Some other factors such as belief in democracy and democratic values also bring India- U. S very close. Besides US, china is another important player playing in the world politics and particularly in Asia. India and China have rivalry, competition and cooperation in matters of world politics.
They are rivalry about the border issues, competitor in market economy, for influence in Asian politics, not only in SEAN but also in south and west Asia. But there are certain co-operating places like new economic world order, environment and energy issues. India and Russia relationships are in stable position where Russia is an important supplier of defense equipment’s and technology to India. Both of these countries are cooperating in oil and gas fields as in the coming years there is going to be shortage of oil and gas so both are working on energy security as to avoid dependence at time of shortage.
Their relation seems to be positive and multidimensional one including economic, security and military. Relationship with neighboring countries and regional Organizations India relations with its neighbors will be the most important factor in emergence of India as a regional rower in the near future. Indian’s Look East Policy of 1991 has been a successful one in order to maintain a relationship with other South East Asian countries. The Look East Policy focusing on Indian’s engagement with SEAN countries to include economic, security and political cooperation.
But China has its economic, security and political clout in these region posing a strong challenges to Indian’s foreign policy in 21st century. India has a border problem with Pakistan, Bangladesh and China and a solution to this is a challenge to Indian’s foreign policy. To resolve the Kashmir issue tit Pakistan India has to use its regional power in order to stabilize the democracy in Pakistan through its strategic approach. Indian’s should project Kashmir policy as a national policy and should focus on economic and nation building which will automatically mean insignificance of Pakistan to India.
Many countries of South Asia have recently adopted democracy and international communities and are trying to help to promote democracy in this region. India in this region is the larger one and all countries have a fear that India will grasp their own economic system, and India ill play hegemonic role in region. This thought is imposing a threat towards SACRA. To overcome this Indian’s South Asia policy should be economically diplomatic and should use soft power in order to engage with this countries. However China’s involvement within the South Asian countries is posing a threat to India.
China as an observer to SACRA is an ally of Pakistan and has also begun to engage with Bangladesh, Sir Lankan and Nepal, on energy cooperation and economic development. China’s involvement may force India to change its South Asia policy. Relationship with United Nations India is the member country of United Nations but a not a member of NUNS. India foreign policy should focus over the United Nations reforms and organizational and institutional restructuring. UN happens to be an independent body but the reality is that it is under the influence of US.
Indian’s policy should focus over decentralization Ana demagnification AT ON. IANAL role In unlace Matrons NAS Eden an Important one during 1991-91 when Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait happened, the beginning of disintegration of Yugoslavia stated and UN peacekeeping missions started in Cambodia, Macaque and El Salvador. It increased its role during 1992 ROI environmental summit by signing UNFROCK report to reduce the emission of polluted waste in the air. India from then on started to focus over global warming and climatic change in its foreign policy.
Another issue since 1996 is that India wants to be the permanent member of NUNS and to achieve this India has formed G-4 demanding a permanent seat in NUNS. Regional Security Challenges Bilateral issues with Pakistan: India had witnessed 3 major aggressions in the year 1984 (Kashmir) and 1999(Cargill war) and 1971 Bangladesh war. During cold war both US and China were the ally of Pakistan providing with the funds and weapons. But India has a threat from the friendship of Pakistan and China as China transfer of nuclear weapons technology and missile systems to Pakistan.
In recent years both China and the US have established a more balanced approach to the Indo-Pakistani rivalry after the time of the Cargill war of 1999. Peace talks has been carried out after Cargill war by Payees and Mammon but failed as Pack. Attacked Bombay in 2008. Bilateral Issues with China: In South Asia India and China are 2 developing countries UT China economic growth is higher than India making China a big competitor to US by completely overthrowing India out of the race.
Tibet issue is an important one where china keenly observes Dalai Lama moves in India. Another issue is that China claims most of Raunchy Pradesh, a contested disputed territory of north-east India by not recognizing the McMahon Line. Some analyst fears that china is encircling India. China has setup a base in Indian Ocean and analysts see it as ” string of pearls” which China is making forcing India to its territory. Rise of Economic diplomacy Indian’s economic policy has been increasing in leaps and bounds over the years.
Economic diplomacy provides the path of least resistance for coalition governments struggling to pull their members together on foreign policy decisions. From a foreign policy perspective, economic prosperity is now seen as the key to Indian’s attainment of Great Power status by those who seek it, and the imperative of attaining it is the driving argument behind Indian’s current world-view. Trade and bilateral economic cooperation have become the keystones of Indian’s relations with the world, even with China, today Indian’s largest trading partner. India is willing to do business with all.
Thus India is currently engaged in promoting economic development in Africa, securing oilfields in Central Asia, promoting trade and nuclear cooperation with the US and acting as 2nd Israel’s biggest arms market. Conclusion With end of cold war many new challenges came in front of the countries forcing them to make changes to their foreign policy. Indian’s foreign policy with her short and long term national interest the policy becomes closer to realist approach. After the cold war India began to make relationship with the powerful countries. This legislations caused India to ignore the neighboring countries.
The foreign policy for the neighboring states like Nepal and Bangladesh is unclear where India has a border issue with Bangladesh. In present day environmental threat is increasing and India should focus on sharing responsibilities through international communities’ to decisions and maintaining the right to development for both developing and developed countries. Expanding economic relations can also prove a channel AT cooperation with potential competitors or rivals, as for example in Indian’s securing oilfields in Central Asia in collaboration with China.
However economic growth alone would not be able to secure India a global power. India has to work on the regional bilateral issues with the neighboring countries through pragmatic approach. With realistic approach India can make changes in the world order and can make its visibility as a power structure among other nations.
