GS Paper 2
Syllabus: International Relations
Source: TH
Context: The article will focus on India’s Defensive diplomacy.
Recent developments worrying India:
- BBC documentary raising questions about the current PM’s role in the Gujarat riots of 2002, and accusing the central government of instigating and condoning majoritarian violence.
- The Hindenberg Research accused Adani Enterprises Limited of several share market manipulations and false filings.
- India came under criticism for increasing its imports of Russian oil.
- The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reacted to the above developments by calling them western hypocrisy, a colonial mindset, and a conspiracy to break Indian democracy.
What are the major worries for the MEA/Government?
- The larger trend of criticism in the year of G20
- Will dent India’s image, and make diplomacy much more difficult
- Will hurt India’s economic growth, which is just recovering from Covid, the Ukraine War, and the global recession
- Come from a colonial mindset and could lead to racist attacks on India and the diaspora
- Worry about other international mechanisms being used like the FATF, etc.
Some bright spots for India:
- NSA’s visit to Washington-UK-Moscow: Many agreements on technology cooperation, strategic issues, Afghanistan
- MEA’s visit to Australia, Fiji
- The upcoming visit of German Chancellor Scholz
- SCO Summit in June, G20 Summit in September
- Therefore, little to indicate that Western countries are trying to target India in any way or isolate it.
How does Defensive diplomacy work?
- Public statements, engaging media in foreign countries, embassies lobbying with Parliamentarians.
- Visa Bans/ Deportations/ Restricting western NGOs from working or funding projects in India in a specific field.
- Punitive actions: Actions like raiding the BBC offices in India.
Conclusion: According to Kenneth Waltz (Book – Theory of International Politics), defensive diplomacy encourages states to undertake defensive and moderate policies as their first concern is not to maximize power but to maintain their position in the system.
Note: The following books can help an aspirant (especially with PSIR optional) to understand not only defensive diplomacy but also India and the World –
- A Life in Diplomacy by Maharajakrishna Rasgotra
- Pax Indica: India and the World of the Twenty-first Century Kindle Edition by Shashi Tharoor
- The India Way: Strategies for an Uncertain World by S. Jaishankar
- Walking With Lions: Tales From A Diplomatic Past by K. Natwar Singh
- Diplomacy by Henry Kissinger
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