India in the Global Order: Emerging? Excusing? Escaping? Ladhu R. Choudhary (Please do not cite without prior permission) Abstract

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1 India in the Global Order: Emerging? Excusing? Escaping? Ladhu R. Choudhary (Please do not cite without prior permission) Abstract India has been the center of gravity in the international system. In the contemporary global order, India s rise and emergence is well-recognized fact. However, India s status in the international system is not beyond contestations. Moreover, this advancement in India s status and role in the global order has lead to significant shift in behavior and its foreign policies. This shift in India s behavior is underlined as increasing pragmatism in Indian foreign policy. However, due attention has not been given to the fact that the shift in Indian foreign policy is moving away from its foundational pillars: struggle for justice, equality, fraternity and peace. The foundational pillars of Indian foreign policy were against all kind of inequalities in the world politics. But, the contemporary tendencies suggest otherwise. Why, so? In this context, the paper attempts to unveil the emerging contours of Indian foreign policy. The puzzle that demands critical examination is: why is Indian foreign policy shifting towards instrumentality and becoming less human centric, despite, the fact that the trajectory of the nature of international relations is moving towards sociality and becoming more human centric? The paper will explain the shift from the vantage point of critical theory. It argues that the shift in India s behavior could be located in the increasing tendencies of instrumental rationality to ensure relative gains. Therefore, Indian foreign policy is becoming insensitive to human centric rationales. The arguments will be illustrated through examining the shift in India s foreign policy on various global issues Further, this shift has been strengthened and enhanced at two fronts. At the external level, the international community has supported and recognized India s emergence. Internally, with Mr. Modi at the helm, has provided a new wave of personalized energy to the melody of Emerging India. The articulation of this two-fold strategy is fine-tuned by various scholars of Indian foreign policy as pragmatic and realistic turn in Indian foreign policy. Keywords: Global Order, Critical theory, Indian foreign policy, Emerging India Introduction 1

2 The purpose of this paper is threefold: first, to analyse India s status as emerging power; two, to evaluate India s underperformance on the pressing global issues; three, to examine why India is following escape route from global responsibilities on certain critical issues, such as humanitarian intervention, refugees, and unethical armed conflict in various regions of the world. By evaluating these three aspects, the paper will depict an image of India in the World of increasing inequality and uncertainty. The paper will also discuss the consequences of India s stand and policy on the critical global issues and challenges. And how these concerns will shape the future trajectory of global order and India s position in it. The first section of the paper analyses that whether there is consensus on status of India or is it contested status? It argues that probably India has potential and ambition to become a great power in due course but India s trajectory to become a great power is very complicated and complex. Moreover, the existing discourse on India as an emerging power in the global order is over-celebrated and manufactured discourse. Therefore, it hides India actual capabilities and calibers at the global level. India s status as an emerging power is subject to many internal and external factors. The systemic level of analysis does support India s status as emerging power but the subnational level of analysis does not support the claim. Therefore, the paper argues that India s status as an emerging power is not so welcoming in actual sense. The second section deals with India excuses on the global platforms. In this section we will analyse major characteristics of India s behaviour on the global issues. Why has India taken a fundamental shift from its traditional positions? How can we categorise India s policies status quo, reformist, revisionist, and resisting? What explains India s policy choices? It argues that India s policy choices were driven by many factors and it has been constantly changing. Therefore, there is lack of coherent strategy for foreign policy. More, importantly, India has given many excuses for shift in its position. Therefore, it seems that India is in excusing mode on many critical policy decisions. For instances, India s shift in its nuclear policy after The paper will illustrate this argument in-depth through evaluating various policy decision on which India is in position of excuse me! In the third section of the paper, it will be examined that why India is following escape routes from its global responsibilities. As we know that any state who has 2

3 ambition and potential to become a great power must be in front to share global responsibilities. Traditionally, India has been taking very aggressive stand on global concerns and shared responsibilities beyond its material capabilities. But in recent period it is observed that India is adopting an alternative strategy and policy. This alternative strategy is a mismatch between traditional drivers and contemporary strategic initiatives. These moves could be vital for India in short term but reduces possibilities of India to become a great power in near future. In the concluding section, the paper put forward summery of the analysis and a concluding argument. The paper also proposes some policy recommendation for modification in India s twofold strategy of foreign policy. The paper recommends that at global level India has become pro-active on political issues and at the domestic level the present government has to minimize the degree of polarization on issues of national interests and foreign policy and must engage all stakeholders in a constructive dialogue. Therefore, the paper aims to diagnose trends in India s contemporary foreign policy. Lets discuss the puzzling questions first. India s Power Status: Great Power, Rising Power, Emerging Power The foundations of contemporary global order seem very unstable and unsteady. The emerging trends such as upheavals in the Middle East, Europe s ongoing crisis and the US-China power competition in the Asia-Pacific are some of major manifestations of the instability. But these manifestations do have some latent implications on the issues such as terrorism, global economy, cyberspace governance, climate change policies, human rights discourses and many other transnational issues. In this transitional phase India s status and role becomes critical in all global affairs. As Burns argue that India s rise is as significant a feature of today s international landscape as any other. Further, he argues, the real value of the partnership (the US- India) will come when both nations begin to view the other as indispensable for resolving the challenges at the core of today s global disorder. Therefore, the contemporary literature on India s status has been seen in conjunction with its relationship with the US. 3

4 The mainstream literature on India s status suggests that India s status is multidimensional. The debates on India as an emerging power are very significant in shaping the future course of India s foreign policy. Major works on this theme deal with various aspects and attributes of India in the existing world order and its implications for international politics and India s foreign policy. For instance, Stephen Cohen (2012) examines India s rise as a major power and its implication for Indo-US relations and beyond. It assesses India s power prospects in the contemporary world order. Similarly, many scholars in Sumit Ganguly s (2003) book analyses the factors that necessitated fundamental change in India s security and foreign policy. It looks at new trajectories in in various areas of Indian foreign policy; economic, bilateral relations (Israel, Pakistan, US), nuclear, etc. Nayar and Paul (2003) argue that India s foreign policy is mainly driven by its quest for major power status in the international system. Harsh Pant (2009) also provides overlapping view on India s power status. This volume investigates multi-dimensions of Indian foreign policy under the emerging international order. It takes systemic factors more seriously over other factors and argues that systemic change has opened new foreign policy avenues for India in various fields and at various levels. These works deal with many overlapping themes but their differences are based on predictions about India s power prospects. Cohen, Ganguly, Nayar and Paul emphasise Indo-US relations, whereas Pant deals with all major actors that shape India s foreign policy in the existing world order. Another anthology of essays provides mainstream analysis of contemporary challenges to Indian foreign policy (Bajpai and Pant, 2013). Some scholars predict that India plays a critical role in nearly every region and issue of consequence from the future of democracy to nuclear non-proliferation, great power politics to climate, and the impact of technological innovation on international affairs. But India s this role is travelling through a hilly terrain instead of a smooth path. As it provides great opportunities but the opportunities have higher cost. The opportunities are coming with many challenges. Due to many challenges and lack of performance and will makes India s status as great any viewer skeptical. As Minhaz Merchant (2011) argues that India at first sight seems an unlikely global power. It 4

5 has an obsessively hostile neighbour to its northwest, a four-decade-old Maoist insurgency, corrupt political governance and over 445 million poor people who live on less than Rs 26 a day. Whereas former U.S. Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel argued that India will help to shape the a new world order that is emerging in this century. He said, When you look at the world today, and you re all quite familiar with this, that India not only represents one of the most significant countries by any measurement in the world today, but will help shape a new world order that is emerging in this young century (the Hindu, 8, Aug. 2014). But Minhaz Merchant (2011) argues: As one of the pivots in this new world order, India has three priceless assets and two damaging liabilities. The assets are its growing economy, market size and plural democracy. The liabilities? Misgovernance and social inequality. Unless good governance overlays our economic growth, poverty will persist. No nation can be great if nearly half of its people live in penury. Inclusive growth follows from good governance. Without that, India's rise as a great power will falter. These disagreements on India s status in the global order make us consider the basic questions such as what are the fundamental principles of global order? How global order is formulated? The contemporary global order is different from Westphalian world order, where sovereignty was a sacrosanct entity. The contemporary global order is constituted of formal and informal multilateral institutions, global governance, responsible sovereignty, and nature of domestic governance. In a way the contemporary global order is characterized of relationship between sovereignty, citizens and the international community. Some scholars also considers following variables: Diffusion of power; Disturbing Demographic patterns; Food, water, energy nexus; Crisis-prone global economy; Wider scope of regional instability; Role of new technologies. As Chintamani Mahapatra (2015) argues that the current global order is rapidly worsening with a volatile energy market, resilience of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and terrorist and militant groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan, serious 5

6 tensions in major power relations and continuing economic predicament in various regions of the world (Mahapatra 2015). 1 With reference to above-mentioned variable where does India stand? It is very difficult to identify India s clear stand but with India s policy tilt suggests some trends. For instances, many scholars have argued that Indo-US deal was one of the many policy decisions that indicates shift in India s foreign policy on many fronts. Some argues that the deal was more about geopolitical strategy than business ties. Others argue that it brings India into the Western fold, cementing India s strategic move from its pro-soviet tilt during the Cold War towards the West just as its booming economy also embraces markets, mortgages and malls. As C. Raja Mohan argues the US deal is not an end in itself. The deal of the century has taken India away from its traditional policy of non-alignment and political activism. But C. Raja Mohan argues that the deal is a means to an end, helping clear the way for India and the West to work together. The US saw that India s economic clout will inevitably translate into strategic power. And the US acted. Before the deal, India was not part of the international calculus in Asia. Now it is. This paper argues that the identity aspect of India s foreign policy is unexplored indepth. India s identity as a post-colonial leading champion of non-alignment to one of the emerging global power has to be re-looked from various prisms. Therefore, its serious implications have to be analyzed in a new fashion. Culture has emerged as a prominent variable in Indian foreign policy decision-making with the BJP-led present NDA government. This cultural component in foreign policy has direct implications on shaping India s global identity: Self and Other. Crude national interest has been at margin in defining India s foreign policy- realistic prescription has not been the bottom line of India s foreign policy. Therefore, it is clear that India is facing many dilemmas of identity between the global north and global south. It is also facing duality of policy options. The duality 1 6

7 and ambiguity in policy choices create a situation of excusing and escaping on certain issues. Because the bottom up approach on India s foreign policy gives a different depiction of India as an emerging power. As the tenth Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) states that despite various government initiatives and near-universal enrolment in the age group 6-14, basic learning achievements in reading and maths remain low and dismal, according to the tenth Annual Status of Education Report (ASER). 2 India s Excusing Position There are many global issues on which India is facing position of excusing, namely, climate change, nuclear governance and international trade regimes. Samir Saran and Bruce Jones argue that on the issue of climate change India is confronted with the dilemma of being between an identity as an emerging power and as one of the least developed countries (Saran and Jones 2015). 3 They further argue that it exhibits the economic weight of an emerging power while still containing many hallmarks of a least developed country in its villages and communities. They asserts that India may be one of the countries that is most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, but it is also the country most in danger of losing out on mass poverty elimination and great power status because of a forced transition from fossil fuels. According to Saran and Jones within any global climate framework, therefore, the authors believe that India should be accorded exceptional status in light of its mass poverty challenge and imminent growth opportunity. India s increasing energy demand and technological deficit continuous hampers its clear strategy on climate change. However, it needs a clear vision and policy on climate change. India also have all the reasons to lead the world on the issue of climate change. India s policy on climate change carry global consequences to a degree that is far greater than any other developing country (Saran and Jones 2015)

8 Another critical issue is about emerging tendencies of global nuclear order and disorder. The issues associated with it is nuclear proliferation, nuclear disarmament, nuclear commerce, and nuclear terrorism. India s exceptional and historical performances in all nuclear forms have been very different from the great powers. The post World War II world order was established by nuclear weapons. The established order was challenged by India in But this transformation was peaceful in nature. As William Walker argues that the nuclear Order is traditionally shaped by great wars among great powers. Nuclear order, in contrast, has evolved in the absence of major wars between major powers. But India s emergence as a nuclear power has unstabilize the existing nuclear matrix. The US and its allies has considered India in the other side of history. However, India s partial accommodation in the global nuclear order through Indo-US nuclear deal has raised many puzzling questions rather than settling it. After 1998 and especially after the deal India is facing a dilemma of its actual position on nuclear issues. Traditionally, India has taken moralistic and justice based stand on nuclear issues but at present India is taking strategic decisions on the issues. There are many complexities associated with nuclear issues. The primary scenario coming up from the present condition is that India is facing position of excuse from both the global north and south. From global north, because of its failure to develop comprehensive nuclear regulation and regimes. On the other hand, from global south due to its betrayal from fundamental principles on nuclear disarmament and right of technology for each and every member country. Therefore, as William Walker asserts India s role has become critical for securing the existing order. However, this has complicated India s foreign policy options..and dragged into a identity-crisis situation. These aspects and many other aspects will be discussed in the final version of the paper. India: Escaping? 8

9 Hill and Wallace have argued that effective foreign policy rests upon a shared sense of national identity, of a nation-state's `place in the world', its friends and enemies, its interests and aspirations. These underlying assumptions are embedded in national history and myth, changing slowly over time as political leaders reinterpret them and external and internal developments reshape them (Hill & Wallace 1996: 8). India s foreign policy stand on some issues has been also understood as running away from global responsibilities. India is facing confusion on various issues, namely terrorism, humanitarian intervention, aid, third party intervention in serious crisis in Middle East and Africa. These confusions in foreign policy projects India s image as an escaper from global responsibilities. However, it is not the case. India is facing confusion due to many reasons. India s dilemma is getting deeper as it is facing external and internal problems. It is also related to India s past experiences. But the bitter truth of international politics is that power comes with responsibilities. Without taking responsibilities of global problems power will not sustain with any great power, howsoever, mighty. Conclusion The point here is simple: India s perception of itself is very different from the reality of what it actually is. This has larger implications on India s overall foreign policy decision-making and foreign policy strategy. Because, India s behaviour in international politics has been puzzling and exceptional. India has been outlier and debunked the fundamental principles of international politics. India has undermined the principles of power politics during the Cold War era. It has been exceptional player on various nuclear fronts in international politics. However, at this juncture, India s rise in the international system and fundamental changes in domestic politics necessitates a critical debate on India s identity and pressing global issues. In this current scenario there are various new dynamics that have not been traditionally on foreign policy agenda. At the same time India is facing challenges to accommodate the expectations of the global North and South. 9

10 In this context, it is observed that India s status and concerns in the contemporary global politics have made fundamental transformations. These transformations are multidimensional and complex in nature. However, the reality of transformation in India s identity and its interests in various global issues is contested. Another factor that has tremendous impact on India s foreign policy is emerging issues that demands shift in India s foreign policy to secure India s interest in the changing global order. Traditionally, India s perception on many international and regional security issues has been filtered through prism of third world anti-colonialism. However, this thinking in Indian foreign policy has made shift with increase in India s power potential in the international system. This rise in power would enforce India to take stand on some pressing international and regional issues, conventionally that has been out of the agenda. Most importantly, as India becomes significant player in international politics, it would be pressurized by the international community to make choices in favour of one or the other great powers at least on specific issues. But the emerging issues in present contexts are more challenging due to complexity of new forces and actors. It is observed that issues such as debates on nature of international political economy, energy security, climate change, global terrorism, managing access to technology, rise of ISIS, increasing low intensity conflict in nuclear environment, and debates on human rights violations needs different foreign policy strategies to transfer India s power potentials into influence. Hence, growing impact of globalization, changing geo-political scenarios, emerging rebalancing strategies and increasing range of nontraditional security threats are also making India to redefine its position and role both at regional and global level. References Bajpai, P. Kanti and H. V. Pant (2013), India s Foreign Policy: A Reader, New Delhi: Oxford University Press. 10

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