IR

Basics
Sunday, 13 September 2015

1:07 pm

What exactly is FOREIGN POLICY?

Foreign policy = Maintenance

of relations with other
countries + Participation in
international political and
economic affairs

What is the main AIM of any country's foreign

policy?

Main aim of any country's

foreign policy = PROTECTION
OF NATIONAL INTEREST

Why is foreign policy so IMPORTANT?

Because in today's world, our

NATIONAL INTEREST can NOT
be pin pointed in isolation. In a
lot of cases, our national
interests are BEST SERVED by
maintaining relations with
other nations and
international organizations.
To protect our national
interest, we MUST participate
with the international
community when it comes to
global concerns like PEACE,
DISARMAMENT, JUSTICE,
DECOLONIZATION etc.

Foreign policy is determined by several FACTORS Domestic 1. NATIONAL

Factors -->
INTEREST
2. GEOGRAPHICAL
AND POLITICAL
LOCATION AND
SITUATION
3. HISTORY AND

2. GEOGRAPHICAL
AND POLITICAL
LOCATION AND
SITUATION
3. HISTORY AND
CULTURE
4. NATIONAL
IDENTITY,
PHILOSOPHY
5. POLITICAL
SYSTEM
6. DEMANDS OF
ECONOMY
Internatio 1. TYPES OF
nal
NEIGHBOURS
Factors -->
AND OUR
RELATIONS
WITH THEM
2. INTERNATIONAL
ENVIRONMENT
ALL OF THESE FACTORS ARE DYNAMIC AND KEEP
ON CHANGING FROM TIME TO TIME. --->
Therefore, our FOREIGN POLICY ALSO HAS TO
CHANGE FROM TIME TO TIME TO ADAPT ITSELF
TO THE CHANGING ENVIRONMENT

All of the above mentioned factors ALSO have some LONG TERM ASPECTS. It is
upon those long term aspects, that certain BASIC TENETS of our FOREIGN POLICY
have been created. While other aspects of our foreign policy might keep on
changing from time to time, these certain BASIC TENETS RARELY CHANGE. They
form the BED ROCK of our foreign policy.

DOMESTIC FACTORS
How did our
history and
culture shape
our foreign

1. India's had a long and complex history

2. This gave us a:
i. PLURALIST SOCIETY and

DOMESTIC FACTORS
How did our
history and
culture shape
our foreign
policy?

1. India's had a long and complex history

2. This gave us a:
i. PLURALIST SOCIETY and
ii. A VALUE SYSTEM
3. The BRITISH RULE + the NATIONAL FREEDOM MOVEMENT
also impacted our foreign policy after independence

The important VALUES which have had an impact on our foreign

policy = TOLERANCE and NON-VIOLENCE
What is a PLURALIST SOCIETY? = Where various religions,
ethnicities, races, political groups thrive together in a single
society.
+ So many religions were BORN in India whilst others entered
later on.
+ We got to be SENSITIVE to the VARIOUS COMMUNITIES living
in India (For eg.- Sizeable Tamil population in Sri Lanka.
Therefore we got to be careful in dealing with Lanka lest we
hurt the sentiments of Tamil Nadu + Huge Gujarati population
in the UK + Bengalis in Bangladesh etc.)
How did the NATIONAL FREEDOM MOVEMENT impact our
foreign policy? = India became more sensitive and sympathetic
to the freedom movements against colonial rules in other
nations
+
Indians had been racially discriminated against by the British,
therefore India in her foreign policy, has always championed
the fight against racial discrimination
+
Indians had been out of touch with global diplomacy under the
British rule, therefore after freedom, India YEARNED TO BE A
PART OF GLOBAL INSTITUTIONS (one of the reasons why we
chose to continue being a member of the Commonwealth)
How does India's
geographical location
affect our foreign policy?

1. Volatile neighbourhood; Cross border terrorism,

criminal activities
2. We share borders with Pakistan, Afghanistan (via
PoK), China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar..
And to a certain extent Sri Lanka as well

geographical location
affect our foreign policy?

criminal activities
2. We share borders with Pakistan, Afghanistan (via
PoK), China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar..
And to a certain extent Sri Lanka as well
3. China = Frenemy; Bhutan and Nepal = super friends
4. Interest of superpowers (US backing Pak, Russia
backing India) in this region

How does our national

philosophy and identity affect
our foreign policy?

1. Our history and culture

2. During our national movement, the freedom
fighters were responsive to international
events
3. India's commitment to world peace,
disarmament, freedom, democracy, peaceful
coexistence, secularism
4. PROTECTION of territorial Indian identity --->
since a concept of a national identity
developed during British rule

How did demands

of economy shape
our foreign policy?

1. To secure foreign aid

2. Promotion of trade through foreign trade policies, trade
agreements
3. Joint ventures with other countries
4. WE PROMOTED PEACE CAUSE DURING WAR, PRECIOUS
RESOURCES WHICH COULD'VE BEEN USED TO PROMOTE
TRADE AND INDUSTRY ARE DIVERTED TO MAKING
WEAPONS ETC.
5. Plus, A PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT PROMOTES INDUSTRIAL
GROWTH
6. Plus, we've had to WALK A TIGHTROPE b/w MAINTAINING
OUR SOVEREIGNTY AND STILL RECEIVING AID ---> We
received aid from the US, but NEVER did become their

5. Plus, A PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT PROMOTES INDUSTRIAL

GROWTH
6. Plus, we've had to WALK A TIGHTROPE b/w MAINTAINING
OUR SOVEREIGNTY AND STILL RECEIVING AID ---> We
received aid from the US, but NEVER did become their
"satellite". Ditto for other countries.

How did our

political system
shape our foreign
policy?

1. Ours is a democracy ---> ultimate power lies with the

people ---> People elect their representatives who frame
foreign policy ---> Therefore PUBLIC OPINION expressed
through media etc. IS VERY IMPORTANT

INTERNATIONAL FACTORS:
The 2 blocs At the end of the 2nd world war, the World stood divided into 2
blocs --- CAPITALIST AMERICAN BLOC and the COMMUNIST SOVIET
BLOC
+
Cold War b/w the 2 blocks (ARMS RACE, SPACE RACE etc.) + Threat of
NUCLEAR WAR
New
countries

Post the 2nd world war, many countries in LATIN AMERICA, ASIA AND
AFRICA gained independence from the colonial powers

UNO

UNO was established of which India is a founding member

Partition

Bloody partition forever stained our relationship with Pakistan

FOREIGN POLICY OBJECTIVES OF INDIA:

1. We shall maintain OUR FREEDOM to draft OUR OWN FOREIGN POLICY AS WE
SEE FIT ----> We chart out our own independent course in international affairs
===> Therefore, we chose NON-ALIGNMENT policy
2. We shall PROMOTE GLOBAL PEACE ===> Because we'd rather NOT spend
money on WAR ===> Plus, we shall NOT BE A STATE PROMOTING "PACIFIST
NEUTRALISM".. We shall be ACTIVE towards PROMOTING PEACE
3. COOPERATION WITH UNO ===> Since this is a VITAL organization for
maintaining global peace + good relations
4. DISARMAMENT ===> Waste of resources + Therefore, we've always
ADVOCATED NON-PROLIFERATION

3. COOPERATION WITH UNO ===> Since this is a VITAL organization for

maintaining global peace + good relations
4. DISARMAMENT ===> Waste of resources + Therefore, we've always
ADVOCATED NON-PROLIFERATION
5. OPPOSITION TO COLONIALISM, RACIALISM, IMPERIALISM ===> The Brits
exploited us. That's why, biatch.
6. To promote COOPERATION AMONG DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ===> To
present a strong and united front AGAINST WESTERN POWERS who
DOMINATE almost every GLOBAL AGENCY and would like to subdue new
nations ===> NAM helped us here also.
What do we mean by "NON-ALIGNMENT"?:
1. India has NO military alliances with any dominant power
2. India sets its foreign policy INDEPENDENTLY.
3. We promote PEACE among all. We MAINTAIN FRIENDLY RELATIONS with ALL
yet don't get involved in power struggles.
4. NON ALIGNMENT is NOT EQUAL TO NEUTRALITY:
a. Neutrality = NOT TAKING SIDES IN A CONFLICT
b. Non alignment = NON-INVOLVEMENT in tensions and potential
conflicts + Not being subordination by any power + Proactive
commitment to peace
5. The newly independent nations of Asia and Africa, led by INDIA (NEHRU),
EGYPT (NASSER), INDONESIA (SUKARNO), YUGOSLAVIA (TITO), and GHANA
refused to get drawn into any one particular power BLOC and in fact, stood
united at the UNO. NAM was founded in 1961.
6. Currently, there are 120 members in NAM.

A BEAUTIFUL TIMELINE:
1. See, this INITIAL overriding IDEALISM + excessive focus on NAM + staying
away from getting drawn into disputes = NOT MUCH ATTENTION given to
MILITARY capabilities ===> 1962 WAR with China
2. 1966 ===> China tested its nuclear device == so much for DISARMAMENT and
PEACE
3. Due to Chinese aggression, India cozied up to the west, purchased arms from
US and UK.

2. 1966 ===> China tested its nuclear device == so much for DISARMAMENT and
PEACE
3. Due to Chinese aggression, India cozied up to the west, purchased arms from
US and UK.
4. WAR with Pakistan in 1965
5. During 60s and 70s, AMERICA-CHINA-PAKISTAN alliance + Trouble in East
Pakistan + ARMS RACE = TILT OF INDIA towards USSR ===> India signed a
TREATY OF FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION with the Soviet Union = our
NON ALIGNED credentials questioned due to this == OUR NON ALIGNMENT
WAS NOW BEING TEMPERED WITH PRAGMATISM
6. From the 80s = ESTABLISHMENT OF AFRO-INDIAN SOLIDARITY +
ESTABLISHMENT OF SAARC + EMERGENCE OF EU
7. Berlin Wall collapsed in 1989; The Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991
8. World became somewhat UNIPOLAR with US as the sole superpower.

See, Non alignment WAS NOT AN END IN ITSELF, it was a MEANS TO AN

END. The END being the SAFEGUARDING OF OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS.
Therefore, our definition of non alignment = we allied with nations BUT
NEVER became sub ordinate to them OR a pawn in their power games.
POST COLD WAR, we have fostered close relations with BOTH --- the
former Western Bloc as well as the former Eastern Bloc.
"WHATEVER FOREIGN POLICY WE MAY LAY DOWN, THE ART OF
CONDUCTING THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF A COUNTRY LIES IN FINDING
WHAT IS MOST ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE COUNTRY" - Jawaharlal Nehru