Flexible Power

HOW IS INDIA FARING ON THE WORLD STAGE? The world is not what it was even a few years ago. That process of rebalancing was perhaps inevitable, even though its pace and qual­ity were outcomes of political choices. The contribution that India has made to this rebalancing has not been small. At a sym­bolic level, it is recognized in the establishment of the G20 as a premier global grouping. This superseded a purely Western combination of G7 that lost its primacy after the 2008 global financial crisis. But the change of power distribution has many facets and expressions. It may be visible in economic activities, trade and investment figures, technological capabilities and market shares. But it is also evident in the debates of the day, such as on climate change, terrorism, black money and taxation as well as the pandemic.

India has emerged as a more influential voice in these con­versations, as it has done on the consequences of the Ukraine conflict. And then there is the question of shouldering re­sponsibilities, including beyond its shores. The record of ad­dressing humanitarian and disaster situations since 2014 has clearly established India’s reputation as a first responder in the Indian Ocean and its littorals, and with Türkiye, even beyond. The ambit of India’s activities has also increased, towards the Indo-Pacific in the East and to the Gulf and Africa in the West. What India is saying, doing and shaping is a powerful reason why it matters.

This image has been sharpened by the independence of thought and action that India has displayed during the course of its ongoing rise. Maximizing freedom of choice has histori­cally been an Indian approach. At times, it is done by keeping a distance; sometimes, perhaps better by voicing opinions. But, on occasion, it is also served by working with others on specific issues and designated theatres. After all, why should we not take advantage of convergences with other powers to advance our objectives?

Given that India has such a broad range of interests, it can only bridge contradictions through a multi-vector approach. In other words, the nature of the partners will depend on the nature of the problem. Others will try and restrict that freedom, seeking to impose a veto on our choices. We saw that in respect of Quad. India should never succumb to such pressures or hedge for the sake of hedging. The compass of national interest will guide us unerringly if we do not get distracted by ideological res­ervations or hidden agendas. The cultivation of such flexibility is all the more important because India will come to acquire a more leading position in the coming decades. And bear in mind that this is not happening in isolation. Other powers, especially those of a middle-plus capability and a regional dominance, also have similar aspirations. The multiplicity of power centres is an increasingly visible characteristic of our times. India matters because it is central to the emergence of multipolarity, whether in Asia or in the world.

We are also once again in times when the importance of norms and behaviour has as­sumed greater significance. There are few nations who would not assert their commitment to inter­national law or respect for agree­ments and regimes to which they are party. But actual observance can be quite another matter. The example that has captured atten­tion in recent times pertains to the UNCLOS 1982 and its applica­tion in the South China Sea. India took a principled approach to this matter by underlining that it sup­ported freedom of navigation and overflight as well as unimpeded commerce, based on principles of international law as reflected in the UNCLOS. It also urged all parties to show utmost respect for the UNCLOS, which establishes the international legal order of the seas and oceans. More im­portantly, India led by the power of example when it accepted an arbitration verdict on its own maritime boundary dispute with Bangladesh.

Another debate that has also featured in contemporary con­sciousness relates to the relevance of connectivity to world politics. Here, too, India has been among the earliest to enunciate an objective and fair position. In es­sence, it declared that connectivity initiatives must be based on recognized international norms, good governance, rule of law, openness, transparency and equality. They must be financially responsible, avoid creating an unsustainable debt burden, bal­ance ecological and environmental protection, transparently assess costs and have a local ownership. Connectivity projects must be pursued in a manner that respects sovereignty and ter­ritorial integrity.

While respect for international law is essential to any global order, it is also evident that following its letter but not spirit has had damaging consequences. When systems are gamed and the underlying principles skirted through semantics, clearly the world emerges the worse for it. It is no accident that in the light of recent experiences, there is a global interest in a rules-based order.

This is not to be treated as a derogation of law but as going be­yond it to promote norms. India matters as an advocate of a rules-based order. Once we agree that India does matter, the issue that naturally follows is what it takes to ensure it matters more. That naturally is the focus of its national security strategy and foreign policy. The answer in such cases often begins at home. A nation that sets its house in order clearly counts for more in the global dis­course. Some of that pertains to the quality of governance, some to the development of capabili­ties. Any progress in addressing long-standing vulnerabilities, such as in Jammu & Kashmir, is naturally welcome.

Where its periphery is con­cerned, stronger structural link­ages expand the space for India’s activities. A more integrated re­gion offers the benefit to all but not least to the largest player. This can be best realised through highlighting the attraction of co­operation as well as the costs of alienation. The extended neigh­bourhoods that represent the next circle also need sustained attention. It is only if they are treated with the priority of im­mediate neighbours that India can widen its reach. That they are not so proximate also means a more bespoke policy. With the rest of the world, working with all the major powers gives India the most advantage.

But India’s own growing foot­print is also being driven by de­mands of engagement from the world. Given its institutional limitations, an efficient method of engagement is to develop more group interfaces. We see that happening as India interacts collectively with ASEAN, the EU, Eurasia, Africa, the Gulf, Pacific Islands, the Caribbean and the Nordic states. These are being increasingly supplemented by plurilateral groupings like the Quad, the I2U2 and BRICS. The bottom line is that India has, at last, broken out of the box that its competitors helped devise. A 360-degree engagement is one more reason why India matters.

FOR A COUNTRY THAT HAS the history, scale and am­bition of India, the games that nations play have to be developed to a higher level. Understanding and exploiting global dynamics is a critical aspect of that exercise. And this is exceptionally challenging because the world is in the midst of a fundamental transition. The reality of an unfold­ing multipolarity is tempered by the frictions of a more bipolar overlay. On many questions, the narrative can also be shaped by a larger set of players of varying sizes. As a consequence, India has to simultaneously pursue a range of approaches, some of which may appear contradictory on surface.

As a foundational goal, it must strive to promote greater mul­tipolarity and stronger rebalancing. That will happen faster if it has many well-wishers who perceive India’s rise as being in their strategic interest. Harnessing the calculations of others is clearly a useful tactic but one to be practised with both prudence and self-confidence. The obverse is no less important, and standing up to intimidation and pressures is part of our maturing. Not least, there has to be a reasonable expectation that a rising power will be tested. The quality of leadership and the ability to per­form better on the ground is certainly helping to set India apart.

That India matters and will matter more with the passage of time can be convincingly asserted. Like so many other de­velopments in politics and history, it must never be taken as preordained. There will always be doubters among us who can­not believe that our nation can even dare to think big. There are vested interests, too, that will masquerade as political correct­ness and global consensus. We have seen for too long attempts to distance us from our history, traditions and culture. At the end of the day, much will ride on our national unity and collective purpose. Being a serious global player requires ambition and strategy to be backed by initiative, perseverance and energy. Our own people and leadership must embrace their destiny to realise their aspirations. Keeping the faith and getting down to work are good ways to demonstrate it.

Why India matters should also be approached from the per­spective of to whom it matters. As a larger factor in international affairs, it clearly features more prominently in the calculations of the rest of the world. At a time of global transition, this is par­ticularly relevant to the larger states that are seeking to shape that process. Obviously, a rising India would also matter more to its competitors. Those who took India’s limitations and short­comings as a given will surely now reassess its progress and pros­pects. For India’s neighbours, the benefits and comfort of being proximate to a generous and non-reciprocal polity are becoming increasingly apparent. For the rest of the Global South, a more powerful India is, if anything, even better.

Overall, the international community today engages India with greater enthusiasm and expectations. That is something that Indians should assess by themselves and from which they must draw conclusions. There will always be the polemicists and critics, but even for them, an India that will not bend to ideo­logical bullying and be deflected from its course is one that they will have to take more seriously.

How does India look to the world today? It is among the few large economies with a robust recovery underway. We are fifth in the world, likely to be third by the end of the decade. It is a polity that, over the last decade, has shown the will to take tough decisions and embark on serious reforms. We are making big strides on human-centric development, digital public goods and green growth. India has stayed strong during the Covid storm and even gone out to help others. When its national security has been challenged, it has stood its ground firmly. Breaking from the past, it is showing zero-tolerance for terrorism. It is an India that knows how to take care of its people abroad as well. This New India shapes the global agenda and influences its out­comes. Now, it is perceived as the consensus-builder and voice of reason in a polarized world. At the same time, as the Voice of the Global South Summit demonstrated, others trust us to put forward their case. This is an India of ideas and initiatives, one that articulates the creativity and innovation of our youth.

A civilizational state is once again regaining its place in the comity of nations. It is doing so in a unique way, encouraging partnerships through its responsibilities, contributions and accomplishments. The world knows that this rise will unfold in consonance with its traditions and ethos. Obviously, its democratic values, pluralistic society and economic outlook will resonate more strongly. But they would be underpinned by deep-rooted beliefs and vast experience from a complex past and present. It is no coincidence that as policymaking is driven by those more grounded, long-standing challenges are addressed effectively. They may range from leaving no one behind to de­mocratizing technology and promoting sustainability. Achieve­ments, be they in space, health, start-ups or sports have instilled a new sense of pride, especially among the younger generation. And that is buttressed by a sharper awareness of heritage and the value we add to global progress.

It may be a society on the move but clearly one with a long view of its own prospects and that of the world. And it stands ready to set contemporary terms of engagement with others. Its outlook is deeply international and built around an age-old conviction of the world as one family. With each passing day, it is becoming clearer that India matters because it is Bharat.