Democracy, Politics and India's Foreign Policy

Abstract

This article seeks to address the relationships between India's democracy (the form), politics (the practice) and its foreign policy. After tracing the historical antecedents of India's constitutional order that defines India's democracy and serves as a framework for its politics, the article examines the myriad ways in which India's domestic politics influences its foreign policy – influencing its foreign policy priorities, affecting its bilateral relationships with neighbours (including Afghanistan)and rendering foreign policy decision-making difficult at times on sensitive issues (for example, in its relations with China, the USA and Pakistan). It then explores the place of democracy in its foreign policy – for example, as a pull factor in its relationship with the United States, as a soft-power tool in foreign relations, and as an element in the geo-strategic equations of its region.

Cet article a pour objectif d'explorer les liens entre la démocratie (la forme), la politique intérieure (la pratique) et la politique étrangère indiennes. D'abord l'article dresse l'historique de la construction de l'ordre constitutionnel de l'Inde qui définit la démocratie du pays et sert de charpente à sa politique. Ensuite, il examine les multiples manières selon lesquelles la politique intérieure de l'Inde influence sa politique étrangère – définition de ses priorités, qui ont un impact sur les relations bilatérales du pays avec ses voisins (y compris l'Afghanistan) et complexifient, à certains moments, les prises de décision concernant certains sujets sensibles (par exemple, par rapport aux relations avec la Chine, les É tats-Unis et le Pakistan). Enfin l'article explore la place de la démocratie dans la politique étrangère de l'Inde – par exemple en tant que facteur d'attraction dans sa relation avec les É tats-Unis, en tant qu'instrument de pouvoir discret dans les affaires étrangères, et en tant qu’élément des équations géostratégiques de la région.

Keywords:

• India
• India's Foreign Policy
• Democracy
• Politics
• Bilateral Relations
• Multilateral Diplomacy
• Soft Power

Notes

For example, Sumit Ganguly argues that the British did little or nothing to promote the growth of democratic institutions in India (Ganguly et al. 2007, p. ix).

A thoughtful review by Joseph Lelyveld of Dr. Mukherjee's book can also be recommended (Lelyveld 2010).

Sen (1983) discusses the causes of, and contributing factors to, this and other famines.

The Constitution of India was subsequently amended, limiting the power to impose an emergency and also making certain fundamental rights immune from suspension in times of emergency.

For a long time, Pakistan's flawed democracy did not undermine its economic performance, which was stronger than India's. But since 1990, a combination of economic reforms and the stability of Indian public institutions has led to a de-coupling of the two economic tracks. Several insightful analyses, such as Akbar (2011), Oldenburg (2010) and Jaffrelot (2002) explore the divergent paths of the two countries, despite much common history.

The growth rate of its Gross Domestic Product, has risen at unprecedented rates from 6.5% in 1995–2000, to 8.7% in 2005–2009, and peaked at the 9% range in 2007 (Reserve Bank of India Handbook of Statistics, 2008–09).

The Indian media energetically probed these various scandals and others throughout 2010. See, for example, cover stories of prominent English-language periodicals: Frontline (2010), Outlook (2010), Tehelka (2010).

Indeed, as early as the mid-1920s, Nehru (cited Prasad 1960) viewed Britain as essentially exhausted and foresaw the risk of US hegemony as the principal one India would face as an independent state.

Mirroring India's scepticism of the US's commitment to democratic values in light of its stance, for example, on Iraq, some within the United States are also sceptical of India's commitment to such values (Crossette 2007).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Poorvi Chitalkar

Poorvi Chitalkar is a Professional Development Award Holder/Titulaire d'une bourse de perfectionnement professionnel at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

David M. Malone

David M. Malone, a former Canadian High Commissioner to India and Ambassador to the UN, is President of Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC). He is the author of Does the Elephant Dance? Contemporary Indian Foreign Policy (OUP, 2011).