International Relations (Determinants of Indian Foreign Policy) by Viraj C. Rane

Model Answer

Question #1. Is India’s simultaneous membership of both QUAD and SCO (Shanghai cooperation organization)a quest for multipolarity or a sign of ambiguity? Critically analyze.

Approach:

• In introduction give a background of QUAD and SCO.
• Analyze the prospect and consequences of India’s simultaneous membership of QUAD and SCO
• Conclude with balanced view

Hints:

SCO (Shanghai cooperation organization) is an Intergovernmental Eurasian political, economic and military alliance in which India is admitted as full member state since 2017. On the other hand, QUAD (quadrilateral security dialogue) is a strategic dialogue between India, US, Japan and Australia. Idea of QUAD was first mooted by than Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007, however it didn’t gain much traction than. QUAD is revived and revitalize in recent years with first summit level meeting of QUAD held in 2021. Contradictions between QUAD and SCO:

• SCO mainly occupy India’s continental neighborhood with China as its center while QUAD mainly deals with India’s maritime neighborhood with Indo-Pacific as its center.
• Both the organizations also differ on issue of Taliban with SCO member are more receptive to acceptance of Taliban in international community while QUAD members are in favor of isolating Taliban.
• As member of SCO India took part in military exercise with countries like Pakistan and China while QUAD members take naval exercise like Malabar.

Analysis of India’s simultaneous membership:

• Critics point out that with the hardening of anti-China stance of USA and deepening of Sino- Russian alliance, both the organizations will become increasingly antagonistic and India’s simultaneous membership of both QUAD and SCO become untenable.
• However, another school of thought argues that India is not the only country which hasjoined contradictory alliances. Turkey is a member of both NATO and many grouping which include Russia and China.
• They further argue that India’s simultaneous membership of QUAD and SCO should not be viewed as paradox rather as a strategy of hedging the bet in an increasingly multipolar world.

Conclusion:

Till date India has successfully balanced the contradiction of QUAD and SCO. However, with growing polarization on key questions like Taliban or freedom of navigation in South China sea it will be test of Indian diplomacy to maintain this balancing act. At the core of our foreign policy is the quest for strategic autonomy in decision making and we should use the membership of both the organizations to maximize our options and increase the maneuvering space for India in the region.

Question #2. “India’s cultural richness and the wide expanse of its spiritual knowledge and icons are important pillars of soft power diplomacy”. Comment.

Approach:

• Define Soft power. Briefly introduce India’s rich cultural diversity and spiritual traditions.
• Discuss the various components of our culture and heritage that gain significant attraction in various countries.
• Describe how India can leverage this soft power further.
• Suggest way forward

Hints:

The term ‘soft power’ was coined by neo-liberal academician Joseph Nye of Harvard University “to describe the ability to attract and co-opt rather than coerce, use force or give money as a means of persuasion.” This depends on the attractiveness of one’s culture, political values, and foreign policy. Soft power is part of “cultural diplomacy”, i.e., using culture to create a favorable foreign policy image for a country to expand its associations and its interests. India’s diverse culture, its pulsating democracy, and a non-aligned foreign policy have been traditional pillars of its soft power. It is home to all major religions of the world. Role of Cultural and Spiritual features in enhancing India’s soft power

• Buddhism: India is the birthplace of Buddhism and cultures of East Asian and South-east Asian countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan, and Sri Lanka are heavily influenced by religion.
• Buddhism is part of this historic contact, and there is a constant flow of pilgrims from the Southeast Asian countries to India even today
• The introduction of Buddhist Pilgrimage circuit, a seven-day tour that covers at least six to seven Buddhist destinations will further cement this relationship
• Yoga: The UN Declaration of International Yoga Day on June 21, is a success of India’s diplomatic efforts to spread yoga across the world.
• Popularizing yoga in Europe and America is accredited to a few names like Paramhansa Yogananda, B. K. S. Iyengar, K. Pattabhi, and T. K. V. Desikachar.
• The overwhelming number of yoga schools in America and Europe and many parts of Asia are a testimony to the popularity of India’s rich cultural traditions.
• Yoga is also a part of the curriculum of some educational institutions in Europe and America.
  
• Islam and Sufism: As a country with the second-largest population of Muslims, India could be an example of how Islam coexists with multiple religions, particularly for a battered West Asia.
• Indian Muslims are heavily influenced by the syncretic Sufi culture. The dargahs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer and Nizamduddin Auliya in Delhi attracts lakhs of visitors from worldwide.
• Sufism reveals the tenets of Islam that need to be embraced to counter, delegitimize,and defeat terrorism.
• Bollywood: Recently the success of Bollywood movies like Dangal and ‘Hindi Medium’ in China has enhanced India’s perception among the Chinese audience.
• In addition to their popularity among the Indian diaspora from Nigeria and Senegal to Egypt and Russia, generations of non-Indians have grown up with Bollywood.
• Indian cinema's early contacts with other regions made inroads into the Soviet Union, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and China
• Others: Dance forms such as Bharatnatyam, Kathak, and Odissi attracts dancers from all over the world Enhancing our cultural diplomacy

The following steps could be taken to further enhance our cultural diplomacy.

• Indian Cultural Services: A cultural cadre which has high-profile career strategists recruited, trained and developed to nurture creativity with a global perspective could boost our cultural relations with other countries
• Documentation and promotion of historical ties in the lines of:
• Project Mausam, which is to document the diversity of cultural, commercial and religious interactions in the Indian Ocean
  
• Boost tourism sector through circuits like the Buddhist circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Pilgrimage circuit, etc.
  
• Transnational Cooperation: The transnational nature of the Buddhist Circuit necessitates a greater level of coordination between India and Nepal.
• Embracing the opportunities presented by the North-South Economic Corridor of the countries of the Mekong region is crucial.
• This will encourage travel to the north of Myanmar and to Southern China, which may, in turn, lead to more interest in neighbouring areas including India’s northeast.
• Promote cultural movies emerging out of Bollywood

Way forward:

• India’s older civilisational contacts with the countries of Southeast Asia form a shared cultural heritage that can aid in promising relations and sustain a common regional identity.

At a global level, India’s ancient culture of tolerance, diversity, and peace can be a model for creating harmony between competing nations and the different clashing cultures, ancient and modern, of the entire world.

• It is imperative that India expands its soft power and civilisational strength, both for national unity and to gain the proper place in the world for its magnificent heritage that can benefit all humanity. India has the cultural and civilizational depth to lead the world to a new era of peace and higher consciousness but needs further impetus in order to do so.
• Lastly, it must be realized that soft power comes up with its limitations. When it comes to major decisions at a global platform, hard power is the real deal-breaker. Countries like China and the US which wield significant hard power don’t face the ire of global institutions even when they are violating global norms. Therefore, India should continue pushing its path to development and emerge as a greater military and economic power. At the same time, it should maintain its preference to wield soft power.