Round The World

New Delhi, 12 July 2019

Random Thoughts

Developing a Sense of Internationalism:

By Dr. D.K. Giri

Commentator, International Politics

Parliament’s Budget session is on and things appear to be smooth, except the Congress facing a leadership void and its State units falling apart in frustration and confusion over their future. Amidst this there is total absence of discussion on international issues. Unusually, there is a lull after a storm created by politicians mainly by of the BJP over lack of nationalism in the Opposition and the menacing security threats from Pakistan sponsored terrorists. Two planks: nationalism and security which contributed to Modi’s victory.

Today, there is no talk of looming security threat, depleting nationalism amongst the Opposition. It could be that the country is now imbued with nationalism and the threat from Pakistani terrorists has been neutralised. But, this sounds incredible, given India’s diversity and Pakistan’s unabated obduracy on Kashmir.

A diverse country like India could not come so soon under a ‘nationalism’ unless it is communicated well to the people as ‘nationalism’ as a concept is interchangeable with patriotism which is inclusive, persuasive and non-aggressive. Also, Pakistan will not cease its aggression and incursions until it is totally subdued by a treaty or a military showdown.

Why is there no noise on internationalism when there are other issues like trade, arms deals, India-Pacific peace and security, border disputes with China, environmental issues, dealings with our neighbours and above all, New India’s aspiration to be a $5 trillion economy and a world power? Both economy and international political status cannot be accomplished without internationalism.

Actually, politicians in any democracy play on and respond to people’s concerns in order to win elections. In India, the level of people’s internal concerns is quite low even though international politics affects them down to the grass-roots level.

Indians like others in many developing countries do not have much interest in internationalism. Besides, many common people do not comprehend that the international community comprising both State and non-State actors influence each country including India in multiple ways. The external influence has intensified under the ongoing process of globalisation.

The global outlook has so far been the prerogative of Westerners --- Europeans, Americans and Russians. Chinese and Indians are new entrants. Ironically, China has resources but not enough ideas that will enable it to play a credible international role. India has ideas drawn from its rich civilisation and long democracy, but lacks resources, although it seems to be slowly catching up. As a consequence, the international order is impoverished of robust ideas, as Western countries dominated it for so long, and have now run out of fresh thinking.

The benefits of international consciousness and activism for countries has been under-appreciated in India. Parties, which are supposed to articulate people’s perspective and aspirations, do not have a foreign policy cell in their organisations. The Congress has one for namesake, but is not functional, others have none. Thus, foreign policy is left to diplomats serving the Government hence, one can understand the dearth of freshness and innovation in our foreign policy approach, as bureaucrats are no risk-takers and are largely conservative.

Benefits of internationalisation are many, for individuals, institutions, and the country. Going by logic of growth, the levels below the top have to be strong to hold it, so nationalism becomes stronger when we become international. Our economy at home has to be viable if we go global, as it demands quality and rigour.

Second, the current nature of economy and even politics is interdependent, so any country cannot operate in isolation. Even national security from external threat or hegemony cannot be ensured by a country on its own, it will have to seek allies and partners. Third, the domination, suppression and discrimination within the country cannot be fought without international solidarity hence one has to go global.

On methodology of developing perspectives in foreign policy, one could praise and pillory the Government on merit. One could endorse the Government as it makes India secure and prosperous with strategic alliances, and beneficial and purposeful partnerships, and could be critical when government’s policies fail to secure India and cause damages.

Government’s policy on Pakistan and China and on our other neighbours has been patchy and inconsistent. One could make suggestions as well as pleas to rectify the situation. India’s new approach to Israel is a big radical departure. In strategic terms, one could support this without compromising Palestine’s interest, and in fact, one could urged the Government to broker a durable peace between the two countries, as Bruno Kriesky, the famous former Austrian Chancellor a Jew himself had tried in his times.

India, at present, pulls a paradoxical perception about its international position. One, it is a fast growing economy, about to outpace China, has world’s largest workforce, rich in scientific and technical knowhow, a sustained democracy, all of which enable and entitle India to play a significant role on the world stage. Some optimists would even suggest that it is a ‘super power’ in the making.

Candidly speaking, it is a far-fetched wishful thinking. Yet, India certainly has the potential to be a world power. On the contrary, India is still a developing country in multiple aspects, low in human development index, with vast swathes of poverty and backwardness. If a country’s external influence is a function of its domestic determinants, the prognosis of India emerging as a world power does not hold. Although, arguably, a country can punch above its weight in international politics by playing to its strength and making others believe in it.

India could perhaps do that. But, New Delhi suffers from several strategic dilemmas. One, it seeks to remain non-aligned, second, it wants to make strategic alliances, and the third, it attempts to create a multipolar world, which is like a strategic snowstorm, one does not know when it comes, and how long it would stay, and, above all, how deep it can go. Second constraint is attitudinal.

Like the European Union which gets embroiled in the internal matters, with little enthusiasm and energy left for internationalism; New Delhi seems to be caught in the problems of Union of India. Third, New Delhi like Brussels fails to realise that playing an international role will enhance the internal strengths. As the improved international engagement requires the backing up of domestic strengths – economic and political, and of various other sectors; a diminished role will level down the internal initiatives, reforms and rejuvenation etc.

At any rate, New Delhi needs to internationally position India that is commensurate with its national strengths and strategies. It can no longer underplay internationalism in the current state of global affairs. If people are convinced of these political accruals of internationalism, they ought to develop a sense of and cultivate internationalism in their personal and professional lives. It is a necessary and an unavoidable concern people have to assiduously develop, as it is ultimately in their interest of that of the country. Long live international solidarity!

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)