- To reach its long dreamt goal of global leadership, India should raise its self-esteem, involvement in international system, architect new foreign policy with radical reforms, and advance its interest. Only a thoughtful, forward-looking and determined Prime Minister along with a complementing External Affairs Minister can get this task right.
- Foreign policies serve as mere footnotes in various party manifestos with most of them engaging in a make-believe world, or repeating vintage ideologies.
- The first step should be to craft a vision for India in Asia, in this Asian century. Asia has been redefined over time, its regions shaped by powerful nations seeking to advance their interests as by an objective reality. There are 2 Asias: The Economic Asia, a dynamic integrated Asia with 53% of its trade being conducted within the region itself with a U.S.$19 trillion regional economy that has become an engine of global growth; and The Security Asia – a dysfunctional region of mistrustful powers, prone to nationalism and irredentism, blowing out of proportion tiny regional disputes over rocks and shoals, arming for conflict.
- Asia can regain the dominant economic position it held 30 yrs ago before the Industrial Revolution by doubling its share of global gross domestic product (GDP) to 52% by 2050. But interstate rivalries, environmental catastrophes, natural disasters, climate change, terrorism, cyber security and maritime issues cloud its chances. Add to it China’s authoritative dominance.
- Firstly, India should focus on having a clear alternate vision of Asian stability, and the security requirements required for this in place. Together with like-minded Asian states, and perhaps the US, it should ensure a balance in Asia.
- Taking a leaf out of Pankaj Mishra’s brilliant From the Ruins of Empire: The Revolt Against the West and the Remaking of Asia, in which he describes how Persia’s Jamal –al Din al-Afghani, China’s Liang Qichao and India’s Rabindranath Tagore manoeuvred from eastern tradition and western onslaught to come up with new ideas to create peace and harmony, India should refrain from mimicking the west’s quest for economic growth and conspicuous consumption, conflict over economic resources and military prowess.
- Secondly, develop a comprehensive strategy for integrating South Asia. The present government’s South Asia policy, based on bilateralism, non-reciprocity, non-interference, economic integration and irrelevance of borders — failed because it lacked effective political will, instruments and expertise. Unless India settles the unrest in its own neighbouring states, it cannot be considered as a serious global player. The new government must devise a comprehensive 10-year action plan for the region.
- Finally, empower the now emasculated Foreign Secretary and restructure the archaic Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MEA&FT) to reflect the growing global emphasis on economics and trade. The present Foreign Secretary is capable of implementing the change that is needed if there is clear political direction.
- The Indian Foreign Service has since its inception boasted of supremely talented and exceedingly hard working individuals. The same in true even to this day, but it however lacks the expertise and number needed to anticipate, analyse and act on contemporary challenges and are unfortunately bound by archaic protocols.
- India’s foreign policy must be seen as a shared partnership across departments within the government of India, and academia and think tanks outside the traditional corridors of power. To increase its strength and improve its expertise the MEA must allow secondments from other all India and Central services and the armed forces.
- A new political-military affairs division with officers from the services and intelligence agencies should be created within the MEA. The new emphasis on trade must mean that a dedicated trade expert should be attached to most Indian missions.
Exams Perspective:
- Indian Foreign Policy
- Look East Policy
- Panchsheel
- India’s Nuclear Policy
- Revamping Indian Foreign Service