India’s multilateral foreign policy strategy: phases of its evolution

ABSTRACT

Multilateralism in India’s foreign policy underwent three distinct phases. A high decibel universalism rooted in morality and idealism marked the first phase (1947-1961). In the second phase (1961-1991), a gradual shift in strategy occurred. In terms of international relations, a phase of ‘regime shifting’ or ‘parallel institutionalisation’ began. The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM, 1961) and G-77 (1964) were constituted. The third phase of India’s multilateralism began with the end of the Cold War in 1991. India embraced all sorts of organisations ranging from the G20 and QUAD to BRICS and the SCO. A period of ‘multi-alignment’ started.

KEYWORDS:

• India
• multilateralism
• Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
• Brazil
• India
• Russia
• China and South Africa (BRICS)
• Shanghai Co-operation organisation (SCO)
• regime shifting
• Nehru
• Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)
• Group of 77 (G77)
• multi-alignment

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. The phrase ‘regime-shifting’ refers to attempts by dissatisfied states to create new regimes or institutions. This concept has been discussed by Morse and Keohane (2014) in their article ‘Contested multilateralism’ in Review of International Organizations, 9, 385–412.

2. This speech is available on YouTube. Prasar Bharti Archives, All India Radio. 20 January 1947. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-Wbnhbkqag

3. This debate of the US offer is based on letters sent by Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, India’s ambassador to the US, to Jawaharlal Nehru. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit to Jawaharlal Nehru, 24 August 1950, in Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit Papers 1st Instalment (Pandit I), Subject File No. 59, Subject: 1949-51, Letters to Jawaharlal Nehru from VL Pandit sent during her tenure as Indian Ambassador to the United States of America, 132, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi. ‘A Problem for the United Nations, Message broadcast by the United Nations Radio network from Lake Success, New York,’ 5 May 1950, in Jawaharlal Nehru’s Speeches, vol.2 (Delhi: The Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India), 130.

4. The non-alignment movement originated at the Bandung Asian-African Conference on April 18-24, 1955. Leaders from 29 countries of Asia and Africa participated in the Conference. This was the first-ever organisation of the post-colonial state.

5. Non-Alignment 2: A Foreign and Strategic Policy for India in the 21st Century is a report published in 2014 by a few influential intellectuals of India. They underline the relevance of strategic autonomy and a balanced foreign policy for India. For details, see: Khilnani, Sunil; Rajiv Kumar; Pratap Bhanu Mehta; Lt Gen. (Retd) Prakash Menon; Nandan Nilekani; Srinath Raghavan; Shyam Saran; Siddharth Varadarajan. (2014). non-alignment 2.0: A Foreign and Strategic Policy for India in the 21st Century. Penguin Publications, Delhi.

6. China had a GDP of $92,603m, compared to $62,423m of India (Countryeconomy.com, https://countryeconomy.com/gdp?year=1970).