Analysis of the Basic Factors of Indian

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International Research Journal of Commerce Arts and Science

http://www.casirj.com Page 143

Analysis of the Basic Factors of Indian Foreign Policy

Ravinder

S/o Sh. Satpal H.No. 1143/18, Street No.8, Dharam Singh Colony, Narwana

Distt.– Jind (Haryana)

Abstract

Foreign policy of a country generally means its relations with other countries regarding all issues of international relevance like peace, disarmament, climate change, human rights, development, justice, deconolisation etc. A state tries to control the behaviour of other states through its foreign policy. According to George Modelski, “Foreign policy is the system of activities evolved by communities for changing the behaviour of the states and for adjusting their own activities to the international environment.” For the study of foreign policy of India, at first we need to know the background conditions or the fundamental determinants which provide the foundations for objectives and principles of foreign policy of India. This paper is examines and analyse the major basic factors which affect the Indian Foreign Policy. Foreign policy making is a dynamic process. Normally, change of government does not change the fundaments of the foreign policy of a state. Why does it normally remain unchanged? It is because foreign policy of a state is determined by a number of factors, many of them are static. All of them interact and determine the foreign policy. Same holds true for Indian foreign policy. India is the second most populous country and the world’s most popular democracy. It is one of the fast growing economies in the world. It is no more a regional power only, but showing every potential of a global power. These are contributing to its growing influence in the international affairs. The basic important determinants shaping Indian foreign policy will be discussed in detail in this paper.

Major Factors of Indian Foreign Policy

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determinants of foreign policy than others. But the more variable institutional factors, and even the personal role of the decision makers, are no less important in the process of decision making than the basic determinants.

The basic determinants of Indian foreign policy are:-

Geographical Factor

Geography is the foremost and primary determinant of Indian foreign policy. The location, size and shape of the country are the main geographical factors influencing the foreign policy of India. The prediction that Lord Curzon made in 1903 has proved to be true. He observed, “The geographical position of India would more push it into the forefront of International affairs. Our first Prime Minister J.L. Nehru too was fully conscious of the geographical importance of India. On 17th March 1950, in a speech in the Indian Parliament, he observed, ”We are in strategic part of Asia, set in the centre of Indian Ocean, with intimate past and present connection with West Asia, South-East Asia and Far Eastern Asia. Even if we could we would not want to ignore this fact.” India is situated at the centre of the Great Asian Arc stretching from Aden to Tokyo and at the head of the Indian Ocean. India’s central and dominant location in the Indian Ocean helps it to play a role of global importance. India is a sub continent where the Peninsula is separated from mainland Asia by the Himalayas in the North, Bay of Bengal in the East, the Arabian Sea in the West and the Indian Ocean in the south. Her location influences global powers to programme India into their respective global strategies. India’s strategic location in South Asia, almost at the beginning of the Asian continent (Ocean side) gives her a central position in Asian politics. Beyond the immediate regions, India is also on the trade route of Japan and the nations of Western world. The Suez Canal makes it nearer to Mediterranean and European nations. Such a strategic location makes it imperative for Indian foreign policy to work for closer and greater economic, social, cultural and political co-operation with other nations.

Similarly, size of India is another geographical factor affecting our foreign policy. India is the world’s seventh largest state in area. The vast size of the country makes it a potential regional leader as it has major portion of mineral resources, arable land and the vast coastline rich in marine resources, in the South Asian region. On land borders, it has China, Nepal, and Bhutan in the north, Myanmar, Bangladesh in the east, and Pakistan in the west while on maritime borders it has Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Maldives. This vast size, thus, presents us both opportunity to develop relations with neighbours and challenges to manage all these bilateral relations simultaneously.

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existence of Himalayan Frontiers in the North has been a source of great geo-political implications on India’s policy of external affairs and her relations with many other nations. The defense of the Himalayan Frontier is a big factor in Indian security planning. The importance of relations with Nepal and Bhutan has been largely due to their strategic location in the Himalayas. Thus, the Himalayan Frontier is a source of big influence on Indian Foreign Policy. India occupies a central and strategic location in the Indian Ocean area. All the major air and sea routes of the world pass through India. A major part, almost entire load, of her foreign and coastal trade is dependent upon the freedom of Indian Ocean. The security of India stands linked with the security of Indian Ocean. Besides the Himalayan and Indian Ocean frontiers, India has a very large part of land-Pillar Frontiers, Particularly with Pakistan and Bangladesh. The problems of defense of this frontier as well the problem of boundary demarcation have been a source of tension for India’s relations with Pakistan and Bangladesh. To sum up, we can say that geography is an important, rather vital element of Indian Foreign Policy. Two of the major principles (Non-alignment and Panchsheel) of our foreign policy clearly reflect the influence of geography.

Economic Development

Economic Development is the second major factor of Indian foreign policy. Independent India found herself economically dependent upon other. Centuries of imperial domination and economic exploitation at the hands of the imperial Britain, and the lowly placed nature of its scientific and technological level made her a economically backward nation. Among the major factors which determine the rate of economic development are population, natural resources and technology. Foreign policy is conditioned by these economic factors in national development in different ways. India has the second largest population in the world, which is also increasing at a rapid rate. But India’s land area much smaller than that of several other states with much smaller populations. The density of population in India’s, therefore, relatively high. India’s overwhelming population and its heavy dependence on agriculture has been a economic variable of Indian foreign policy. Another aspect of the population problem which affects India’s foreign policy is the emigration of large numbers of Indians in the past to South and East Africa, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, generally as indentured labour under British rule. Since India’s independence, ethnic conflicts involving overseas Indians in Myanmar, East Africa, South Africa and Sudan have posed problems for India’s foreign policy.

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The fact that India has a relatively abundant supply of natural resources is, therefore, important for her national power and foreign policy from the long-run point of view. Moreover, India has a shortage of some essential minerals like copper, tin, lead, zinc, nickel, cobalt, sulphur and oil. The shortage of oil and oil products, in particular, has been almost a debilitating factor in India’s domestic oil production has grown to some extent in recent decades. India is still heavily dependent on the import of oil from the Gulf States.

In this age of technology, the level of technological development is an important factor that influences in a big way the foreign policy of a nation. At the time of Independence India was a backward country with underdeveloped technology and low level of industrialization. It was dependent upon other developed nations for the import of technical know-how as well as the import of heavy machinery of setting up basic industries like steel plants. Consequently this dependence proved to be a source of weakness. Gradually, however, India has been a position to register good progress in the sphere of technological and industrial development. Indian scientists have been successful in securing good technological advances for India. Industrial and technological advancement has now made India capable of exporting the know-how and help to the lowly developed nations of the Third World. With a large percentage of skilled manpower India has emerged as a potential power it today stands at the take off state. With Rocket technology, Satellite technology and Atomic technology and increased percentage of industrial output, India’s chances of playing a more active role in international affairs have brightened. However, still there is long way to go before India can hope to be a recognized developed country.

The progressive globalization of the world economy, and India’s new economic policy (1991) of privatization and liberalization, has opened up new dimensions of multilateral economic diplomacy of India. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) was established in 1995 with India as a founding member. These new developments in India’s multilateral diplomacy were in addition to the economic diplomacy which was already in existence within the framework of the BIMSTEC, SAARC, ASEAN, IBSA and BRICS. These new, elaborate and complex functions of multilateral diplomacy have made it necessary for India to develop new structures and specialized personnel within the Ministry of External Affairs. Today, India is attempting to boost its economy through multilateral trade and economic negotiations and regional and bilateral trade agreements. India like other countries of the world is signing Free Trade Agreements and Preferential Trade agreements with other countries and trade groups for market access and greater economic clout. Thus, Economic Development is one of the basic factor of the Indian foreign policy. Progress in this direction alone can make Indian foreign policy capable of securing the goals of national interests.

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Political organisation, political tradition, structure of government and enlightened leadership also contribute to the shaping of an effective foreign policy. The experience of Indians during the British rule has been its significant element. The quasi independent international entity status of India tacitly recognized by the British Government particularly after 1919, helped the process of origin of Indian foreign policy within, of course, the broad ambit of Britain’s imperial policy. The experience thus, gained by India in the sphere foreign affairs has been a helping factor in the making of foreign policy of independent India. Synthesis of the values of Democracy and Socialism during the course of her renaissance in late 19th and early 20th centuries has been a determinant of India’s rejection of both Western model of Democracy (Liberal-Capitalist-Democratic system) and Communism. However, positively it has helped the Indian foreign policy to have faith in and to work for securing compatible friendship and co-operation both with the western democratic and the communist countries. India is a democratic country and established institutions of democratic political structure such as an elected Parliament, political parties and a free press make their due impact on foreign policy. Negotiated treaties and international agreements become legally binding on the state, but are not part of the domestic law unless passed by an Act of Parliament. Interest groups concerned with foreign relations exist inside and outside of Parliament. The tradition of peace, truth and non-violence enabled India to insist on peaceful settlement of International disputes and encourage disarmament. India’s assertive and continued stand against signing the discriminatory nuclear non-proliferation treaty, NPT, as well as the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (signed by several countries in 1996) is guided by our commitment to nuclear-weapons-free world without any discrimination.

Philosophical Factor

The philosophical basis of Indian foreign policy includes an account of such moral ideals and values of India. Mutual love and faith in national and international peace and friendship with other countries are regarded as possible and practical values by India. India’s commitment to world peace, anti-colonialism opposition to racism, commitment to democracy, secularism and peaceful co-existence etc are certain philosophical values that emerged during the freedom movement. During the British rule India considerably developed relations with other countries to improve world peace and freedom and condemned colonialism and racial discrimination. India’s foreign policy belonged to none of the schools of thought.

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vice-president of India, Dr. Radhakrishnan said: “India is profoundly convinced that power politics at any time meant misery to mankind in a shrinking world, with disaster to humanity.”

Historical Factor

History of India is also an abiding and significant influence on the foreign policy making. British imperialism in India, and our struggle for freedom against colonialism and Imperialism has had direct impact on India’s foreign policy. India’s full support to freedom struggle in Afro -Asian countries and fight against racial discrimination was the outcome of our history. Further, the long and rich but complicated historical experience of the people of India has been a conditioning factor of Indian foreign policy. Having experienced the exploitation and sufferings under the yoke of British imperialism, Indian foreign policy stands totally committed to fight against Imperialism, Colonialism and Racialism. The historical links between Britain and other countries of the commonwealth have been positive factors in the maintenance and development of relations with the commonwealth countries. The history of national movement, the ideals and principles that governed the Indian national movement toward freedom, the history of India’s pre-independence foreign relations and the unfortunate effect of the Partition of India have been highly influential factors in the making of Indian foreign policy. Relations with Pakistan and the consequent pressure on Indian foreign policy have been largely due to the impact of history of partition of India. Kashmir dispute with Pakistan has been a factor in India’s relations with the super-powers. India’s support for National Liberation Movement in Asian and African countries has been governed by the ideals of her own struggle for independence.

Cultural Factor

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should not do a good thing by following a bad path.” Nehruvian policy of peaceful rise of India was a derivative of this deep cultural legacy. 1954 proposal by Nehru at the UN general assembly for universal disarmament was for furthering the goal of a peaceful world order. Indian desire to have friendship and co-operation with all the nations derives strength from the secular character of Indian culture.

National Interest

A nation state’s interests or national interest, are the predominant factors which lead to the solidifying of the Foreign relations and strategies affairs policies and mechanism for the whole national sate. National Interest was indeed the most important governing principle of our foreign policy. It refers to interests specific to a nation sate, including especially survival and maintenance of power. The two components of national interest were fully comprehended by India’s Foreign Office and sought to be protected and promoted by our foreign policy. It was guided by the country’s internal as well as external security. Indian took effective measure for short term as well as long term security, though it is doubtful if long-term measures were really effective because in 1962 China inflicted a humiliating defeat-like situation in the north-east. Secondly, national security depends on international peace, which in turn will be possible if a new world order based on cooperation is established. Right from the day India signed the UN Charter, India has been striving hard for a conflict-free world order based on peace, cooperation and understanding among sovereign members of international community. The indigenous corporate capitalist interests (immaterial of the adjectives we might choose to characterize them) today frame the agenda for the Indian state in the international scenario, whether pro-US or otherwise. We cannot simply isolate one aspect of the Indian capitalist interests and generalize it to grasp their hydra-like nature. Competition and collaboration are inherent in the capitalist political economy. Thus, the idiom of National Interest is paramount for any nation state which is defined as the attainment of power and the maintenance and expansion of power.

Military Strength

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and followed the policy of non-alignment as we opportunity to conduct a nuclear test in 1974. After keeping its nuclear option open (1974-1998) for several years, India finally conducted five nuclear tests in 1998. Prime Minister Vajpayee declared India to be a nuclear weapon state, and also committed India not to conduct any more tests. Vajpayee Government’s bold decision surprised the international community, but India had exercised its sovereign right. Condemnation by many countries, including USA was short-lived and world powers came to terms with a nuclear India whether or not countries formally recongnised India as a nuclear weapon state. Even after agreeing in 2005 on civilian nuclear deal with India, the US continued to describe India as a “state with advanced nuclear technology.”

Ideological Basis

The ideology of Gandhism, with its emphasis upon peace, non-violence, brotherhood of man, internationalism and non-interference, in the affairs of others has been a source of big influence on Indian foreign policy. The Indian foreign policy objectives of peace through peaceful means and co-operation with all have clearly been influenced by Gandhism. Coming to the particular ideologies, Indian foreign policy has been influenced by the ideologies of: Anti-Imperialism, National self-determination, Non-interference in the affairs of other nations, Peaceful co-operation among nations and International peace. The framework within which India has sought to pursue these has been Non-alignment. Nehru, the founder of India’s foreign policy, was deeply incorporate a synthesis of the virtues of Western liberal democracy and the Soviet socialism. He wanted to keep away from the evils of both. He, therefore, decided not to blindly follow the principles of foreign policy of either of the two.

Nehru was deeply impressed by British Labour Party leader and a professor of Political Science H.J. Laski’s ideology was a synthesis of Liberalism and Marxism. Indirectly, the policy of non-alignment was also a result of the synthesis of Liberalism and Marxism. But, it may be an oversimplification to believe that India’s policy was only influenced by Nehru’s ideology. It was also influenced by Indian philosophy of humanism and universal brotherhood. It is this ideology which must get credit for India’s attempts at friendship with both the power blocs during the Cold War days. As mentioned earlier, Gandhiji’s ideals of truth and non-violence were also sought to be incorporated by Nehru while shaping Indian foreign policy.

Domestic Milieu

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independent nation with broadly three-tiered ruling elite: the political leadership of the Congress including the political executive, the civil services, and the officers of the armed forces. The foreign policy resolutions adopted by the Congress served as important inputs of Indian foreign policy. The broad-based structure of Congress Party provided the opportunity for various groups and people of different regions of India to fight collectively the struggle for Independence. This feature became responsible for the attempt of Congress to avoid extreme doctrinal ideologies or power groupings and adopt a composite outlook. The Indian Civil Service and Indian Military elite too influenced the making of Indian foreign policy, yet their role stood overshadowed by the Congress and the political elite. Religious Divisions and Ethnic Separatism (especially northeast states and Tamil separatism) are the affecting parts of the domestic milieu. Class-Caste Stratification is another element of the domestic milieu. Thus the Domestic factors are becoming increasingly important in India’s foreign policy. For example, the government was unable to sign the Teesta water-sharing agreement with Bangladesh because of domestic factors.

International Milieu

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international concerns like poverty, human rights, climate change and terrorism also have powerful impact on foreign policy of India.

Conclusion

It is clear from the above analysis that foreign policy of India is determined by a number of basic factors which is discussed in this paper. As most of these significant factors are of changing nature, so with their evolution or transformation, foreign policy of India also keeps on changing. The multifarious objectives of India’s foreign policy achieve a blend of national and international interests. India has sought to achieve its security and socio-economic advancement while at the same time working for peace, freedom, progress and justice to all nations and peoples. In short it can be said that apart from the national determinants of foreign policy, international environment also plays an important role in the formulation and orientation of the Foreign Policy of India. Non-alignment, adherence to peaceful procedures for settlement of differences, support to the initiatives for disarmament, and active participation in international bodies constituted notable principles that flow from the objectives of the country’s foreign policy. Thus, the success of Indian foreign policy is clearly linked with all the influencing factors.

All in all, India seems to have done pretty well in formulating and implementing a foreign policy behind which the nation stood united and which projected the country as a peace loving, mature, democratic, and law abiding country in the realm of world. Finally, the analysis proved that India’s foreign policy like that of any other country is the product of the complex interplay of a variety of factors.

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Publishers Private Limited, 3rd Edition Reprinted 2006.

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 Foreign Policy of India, N. Jayapalan, Atlantic Publishers and Distributers, 2001.

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 India and the Dynamics of World Politics, Reetika Sharma, Ramvir Goria and Vivek