Foreign Policies of Major Nations: India, The United States, China, Russia, Japan, England
Chapter – 11
Table of Contents
INDIA’S FOREIGN POLICY
Origin and Philosophical Base
- Foreign policy of any nation reflects its tradition, cultural heritage, and socio-political and economic conditions.
- India’s foreign policy is influenced by peace, universal brotherhood, non-interference, and non-violence.
- The philosophical basis is rooted in India’s cultural heritage, including Buddha’s tolerance, Emperor Ashoka’s non-violence, Sri Chaitanya’s love for humanity, Kabir’s religious harmony.
- Influential figures include Guru Nanak’s ritual-free religion, Tagore’s internationalism, Gandhi’s non-violence, and Nehru’s socialist inclination.
- The Second World War and the use of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki reinforced India’s commitment to non-violence and peace.
- Post-WWII bloc politics and Cold War tensions led India to adopt non-alignment.
- In recent times, globalization and the free market have influenced India’s foreign policy, along with socialism, democracy, and liberalism.
- The philosophical base of India’s foreign policy draws from cultural heritage, socio-political views, and internal/external events.
- India emerged as a nation-state in 1947 after independence from colonial rule.
- Modern India’s foreign policy traces back to 1946, when the Interim Government was formed.
- Jawaharlal Nehru, leader of the Interim Government and later the first Prime Minister, envisioned India’s foreign policy, especially the concept of non-alignment.
- Nehru’s 1946 radio address emphasized staying away from power politics and group alignments, which had led to past world wars.
- Non-alignment was a core part of India’s foreign policy even before independence.
- Foreign policy has two sides: policy side (philosophical or theoretical base) and application side (pragmatic, influenced by changing national and international politics).
- The policy side remains largely unchanged, reflecting the nation’s tradition, culture, and political ideas.
- The application side is dynamic and adjusts to the changing demands of global politics.
- Non-alignment in India’s application was questioned during the Cold War, showing a disconnect between theory and practice.
- Similarly, the US foreign policy claims non-interference in sovereign states, but its application has sometimes contradicted this principle.
- Theoretical foreign policy relates to the idealistic plane, while the application is the realistic plane.
Basic Principles of India’s Foreign Policy
- India’s foreign policy is based on several philosophical principles.
- Jawaharlal Nehru believed that in the nuclear age, wars became irrelevant as nuclear war could cause immense destruction, hence, states should follow peace and friendship. India denounces war and calls for peace among nations.
- Following the ideologies of Buddha, Ashoka, and Gandhi, India believes in non-violence. Violence only escalates violence, as shown by two world wars and several regional wars. India advocates for tolerance and avoiding violence in international politics.
- India respects sovereignty and territorial integrity of every state. It believes that states have the right to determine their own course without external interference and must preserve their sovereignty at all costs.
- India advocates for harmonious coexistence with all states, especially its neighbours. It seeks to resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue and negotiation without external intervention.
- India is committed to regional cooperation, particularly with its South Asian neighbours, and supports the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for peace and cooperation in the region.
- India adheres to and respects the purposes and principles of the UNO and other world organizations, which strive for peace and security. India supports the efforts of these organizations, especially for developing countries, without compromising its sovereignty.
- India respects and upholds international treaties, conventions, and statutes it is a part of, and aspires to respect others as well for global peace and security, though its accountability is limited and optional.
- The principle of nonalignment has been a core part of India’s foreign policy. Nehru believed bloc politics caused rivalry and infringed upon the sovereignty of states. India prefers not aligning with power blocs and advocates for the freedom of sovereign states.
- India believes Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) remains significant even after the Cold War and can address global issues like social and economic injustice, terrorism, environmental problems, and the digital divide.