Topics Covered: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Who are the ‘difficult four’ countries, and why is India one of them?
Who are the difficult four?
Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and India.
- These are the Countries where citizens do not have the capacity to fight for their rights.
- The classification has been made by Chatham House, the century-old UK-based policy institute also known as the Royal Institute of International Affairs.
Context:
Chatham House has published a report proposing a blueprint for Britain’s future foreign policy after Brexit. Titled “Global Britain, Global Broker”, the report sketches a bold path ahead for the UK.
Why the report chose to characterise India as such?
Because of a critique of India’s domestic political developments.
- The report notes how “the overt Hindu nationalism of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is weakening the rights of Muslims and other minority religious groups, leading to a chorus of concern that intolerant majoritarianism is replacing the vision of a secular, democratic India bequeathed by Nehru”.
India is a reluctant supporter of liberal democracy.
- It is “ambivalent” about human rights abuses within other states, and possesses “a long and consistent record of resisting being corralled into a ‘Western camp’”.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- Who are the “difficult four”?
- Who classifies them so?
- Criteria?
Mains Link:
India is a reluctant supporter of liberal democracy. Discuss.
Sources: the Hindu.
