PSIR Optional (Using thinkers ideology in contemporary issues) by R P SINGH

Model Answer

Question #1. Examine the influence of Kautilya on India’s Foreign Policy. 
Approach: - 

•   In the introduction, we need to mention the basic facets of India’s foreign policy, highlighting the relevance of Kautilya’s principles on the same. 
•   Thereafter, we will analyze the influence of Kautilya’s Principles on India’s Foreign Policy, wherein, while describing Kautily’s principle, analyze India’s stand taken according to the same.
•   Moving ahead, we will mention some ways forward for strengthening the foreign policy regime, taking the assistance of Kautilya’s teaching. 
•   In the end, we will conclude the answer by mentioning the significance of a firm foreign policy for India. 

Introduction: - 

Over the last decade, India’s foreign policy has undergone a metamorphosis; it now projects a more mature, sound, and efficient force driving the country’s diplomatic initiative. 

Purposeful, proactive, pragmatic; sharper, not abstainer; stabilizer, rather than disruptor; a net security provider, and a dispenser of global good; these are the new vocabulary for India’s foreign policy regime. Having said so, the foundational values still remain the same, which are very much said to be influenced by Kautilya’s teaching pertaining to national and international relations. 

Influence of Kautilya’s Principles on India’s Foreign Policy: - 

Mandala Theory: - Kautilya’s most significant contribution to foreign policy making is his famous ‘mandala theory’, wherein he postulates that neighbours are most likely to be enemies, while states on the other side of one’s neighbours will be friends. In the case of India, Pakistan, and China, aiming to acquire the territory of India, majorly act as enemies. While distant neighbours, like the USA, Russia, Japan, etc. are having friendly relations. 

Now as per Kautilya neighbours are natural enemies hence they are to be subdued. To achieve that aim, Kautilya has given a strategy of Shadgunya Siddhant (six-fold policy), which is also being used by India as per the situation.

It includes strategies as follows:

Sandhi (Treaty): - The policy of Sandhi (making peace) is based on the rule that a state when faced with a more powerful adversary, must try to negotiate a peace pact in order to survive. 

In this realm, India has chosen the path of multi-alignment, like QUAD, ASEAN+, BRICS, G20, etc., which entails forging issue-based alignment with like-minded countries and major power centres. 

Vigraha (break a treaty and start a war): - Along with this regime, India also follows the policy of Vigraha i.e. breaking the treaty and starting a war, which was very well seen in India's war regime against Pakistan in 1971, and the recent Dokhlam issue with China also denotes the same.     

Asana (Stationing of Forces near enemy): - The policy of Asana is described as maintaining neutrality, even after stationing the forces near the enemy, and is considered a practical option only for a strong state generally.  This is akin to India’s policy of Non-Alignment and its stance during the Dokhlam border stand-off, wherein India had to follow its ancestor’s advice to observe Asana.

Yaan (Mobilizing of Troops): - The policy of Yaanam (preparing for war), takes into consideration that when the constituent elements of a state are on the rise and there is an increase in capabilities, the state should augment and mobilize its resources to prepare for war.  

For instance, the preparations that India did before fighting the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war against Pakistan in training the Mukti Bahini.  The practice of this policy is also evident in the military exercises that India has carried out near the Pakistan border.  

India’s efforts to improve its surveillance, fighting, and reconnaissance capabilities, commando, and Special Forces operations and air firepower denote the importance of this policy.

Samashraya (joining hand with those having similar aims): - Another facet of diplomacy, Samshraya (seeking support/shelter) is often put to use by the many states by allying with a stronger force in order to bolster their own strength and increase their maneuvering space.  India’s agreement with the Soviet Union before the 1971 Indo-Pak war is one example, and in recent parlance, relation with the USA and other like-minded nations in the Indo-pacific, against the Chinese aggression is another such appropriate instance. 

Dwaidbhava (Dual policy): - It is nothing but resorting to peace and war at the same time with two different states. India’s policy of seeking to improve its relations with China while simultaneously building its armed forces is a good example of Dvaidhibhaava.

During the period of 2015-20, we ensured peaceful relationships with other neighbours specifically, China. It can also be remembered that even during the Doklam valley stand-off, where Indian and Chinese soldiers came face to face, conflict was not allowed to exacerbate by both sides, particularly by the Indian side. Prime Minister Modi made an informal visit to China, which led to the emergence of the Wuhan Spirit, to ensure peace at the border. It was taken forward by the visit of China’s President Xi Jinping to India, which furthered the relations.

Analysis of the Regime and Way Forward: -

1. Here in the above scenario, we can see the application of Kautilya’s policies, more specifically of Dwaidbhava. In the recent Russia-Ukrain crisis, where all the developed nations, specifically the western ones, imposed sanctions against Russia, India stood firm to her policy pertaining to non-alignment and maintained a balanced relationship with both the USA and Russia. 
2. When Kautilya prescribed foreign policy, he also included the internal dimension with it. He envisioned uniting India (Akhand Bharat) to fight foreign aggression. In the 21st century, there is a need to interpret and follow Kautilya’s policy as per current needs. Until we build ourselves strong enough internally, we cannot put forth our interests and stand on the international platform.
3. The government and other key stakeholders are working continuously on this regime; the defence and strategic system have been strengthened,  and this is the reason, why, today, in every aspect, be it terrorism, climate change, or any other strategic part, India is able to put a strong stand in terms of diplomacy. 

Conclusion: - 

Ultimately, it is we, Indians who have to protect and defend ourselves. We also need allies, not at the cost of our sovereignty. For that India’s fundamentals in all dimensions must be more robust. Hence, we should develop holistic policy i.e, domestic as well as foreign that includes the vision to make India one of the most powerful nations, which is more than capable of defending and promoting its interests

Question #2. India’s Constitution is a document closer to Locke’s Social Contract rather than Hobbes’. Do you agree?
Approach: -

• In the initial part, under the heading “Significance of the Social contract Theory in the Constitution of India”, we will analyze two aspects: -
  • Social Contract Theory in Jurisprudence: Hobbes vs. John Lockes, and 
  • Social Contract Principle in the Indian Constitutio
• Thereafter, we will analyze, comparatively, Locke’s Social Contract Theory with the basic tenets of the Constitution of India. 
• We can conclude our answer by stating that Locke's theory is the forerunner of democratic principles of Locke. 

Significance of the Social contract Theory in the Constitution of India: - 

Social Contract Theory in Jurisprudence: Hobbes vs. John Lockes: - 

1. Hobbes created a ruler with absolute authority, who was irrevocably handed the power to enforce unity and obedience. To preserve his own life each citizen must give absolute and unconditional obedience to the sovereign and his laws and so, in Hobbes’ theory, in the State, the social contract justifies authoritarian government. 
2. While, Lockes conceived of the state of nature not as a condition of complete license but rather as a state in which humans though free, equal, and independent, are obliged under the law of nature to respect each other’s rights to life, liberty, and property. Individuals nevertheless agree to form a government in order to institute an impartial power capable of arbitrating disputes and redressing injuries. 

Social Contract Principle in the Indian Constitution: - 

1. The Preamble to the Constitution of India begins with the phrase “We, the People of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a “Sovereign….” This shows the people of India coming together to form a sovereign authority i.e. the Sovereign of India, which will preserve the principles, like justice, equality, liberty, for the citizens of India, etc. 
2. This, accordingly, matches with Locke’s idea that the obligation to obey the government under the social contract is conditional upon the protection of the rights of each person, including the right to life and liberty, freedom, etc. Sovereigns (the government), who violate these terms could be justifiably overthrown through the election in Indian democracy.

Comparative Analysis of John Locke’s Social Contract Theory and the Constitution of India: -

1. Fundamental Rights: - According to Locke, under the Social Contract the people did not surrender all their rights to the sovereign authority i.e., the Government, but they surrendered only the right to preserve/maintain order and enforce the law of nature. 

The Fundamental Rights enshrined under Part III of the Constitution are regarded as essential for the attainment of the full intellectual, moral and spiritual status of the individual. They weave a ‘pattern of guarantee’ on the basic structure of human rights, liberty, freedom, etc. and impose negative obligations on the state not to encroach on individual liberty except on certain ‘reasonable restriction’ as mentioned under the Constitutional provisions 

2. Constitutional Rights: - With the 44th Amendment, the Right to Property was removed from Part III and inserted in Article 300A. This was done in order to ensure an economic welfare pattern. 

However, in case the statutory authority deprives an individual of his personal property for the sake of public interest, there has to be a fair compensation made to that individual for his loss of property thereby withholding Locke’s view of ‘fair compensation’.

3. Tolerance and Secularism: - In Locke's Letter Concerning Toleration, the government should not use force to try to bring people to the true religion and that religious societies are voluntary organizations that have no right to use coercive power over their own members or those outside their group, thereby barring governments from using force to encourage people to adopt religious beliefs. 

This is also reflected in the Constitution, wherein Articles 25 and 26 guarantee religious freedom to every citizen. However, such freedom is not absolute and can be obstructed on the grounds of public health and morality and to uphold the secular character of the Constitution of India.

4. Separation of Power: - Locke claims that legitimate government is based on the idea of separation of powers. In his theory, two powers, the legislative and the executive, work in coherence, wherein the legislative power, while bound by the law of nature, enacts laws, and the executive power is then charged with enforcing the law as it is applied in specific cases. Interestingly, Locke’s third power is called the “federative power” and it consists of the right to act internationally according to the law of nature. 

The Indian Constitution also embodies Locke’s theory of separation of powers to some extent, the only difference being that instead of the ‘federative power’ as propounded by Locke in his theory of separation of power, the Constitution of India has adopted the ‘judicial power’ as the third branch of the Government. 

Under Article 50 of the Constitution of India, judicial power is separated from executive power in order to ensure the independence of the judiciary. 

Conclusion: -

Conclusively, it can be said that the parliamentary democracy existing in modern-day India today is mainly influenced by John Locke’s idealism. His ideas gave theoretical form to the reaction against absolutism and the preparation of parliamentary democracy. Moreover, John Locke’s doctrines of liberty and equality have exercised a strong influence upon Fundamental Rights as guaranteed under the Constitution of India. Thus, this theory of Locke is a forerunner of the democratic principle of India i.e. the government of the people, by the people, and for the people, and Indian Constitution is more influenced by Locke’s theory rather than that of Hobbes.