Indian Foreign Policy - 2 | PSIR Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Determinants of India’s Foreign Policy

Factors Shaping India's Foreign Policy

• India's foreign policy is influenced by various factors that work together to shape its interactions with other countries.
• These factors are the realities of India's physical and human resources, which set the boundaries and possibilities for its foreign policy.
• The determinants of foreign policy also influence how much independence or dependence India has in its relations with the rest of the world.
• There's limited room for flexibility in how foreign policy makers can manage India's external relations.
• These factors can make some countries more prominent in international relations than others.
• In contrast, many countries are more like passive recipients of the actions and reactions of the more active players in global affairs.
• By looking at the determinants of foreign policies, we can better understand why countries behave the way they do on the international stage.

Nature and Type of Determinants

Determinants of Foreign Policy

Determinants of foreign policy refer to various factors that shape a country's external relations. These can include geophysical location, leadership personality, economic development, and more. Some determinants are permanent, like geography and history, while others, such as economic development and leadership, can change over time.

Classification of Determinants

• Internal Factors: These are rooted within a country and include geography, history, culture, economic development, and leadership.
• External Factors: These involve the international environment, actions of neighboring countries, and global politics.

Major Determinants of Indian Foreign Policy

• Geography: India's location influences its foreign relations.
• Economic Development: Economic growth impacts India's global standing.
• Political Traditions: Historical political values shape foreign policy.
• Domestic Milieu: Internal factors like public opinion and political stability play a role.
• International Milieu: Global dynamics affect India's foreign relations.
• Military Strength: India's defense capabilities influence its position.
• National Character: Core national values and identity shape foreign policy.

Minor Factors

• Role of Political Institutions: The influence of various political institutions on foreign policy.
• Public Opinion: The impact of public sentiment on foreign policy decisions.
• Party System: The effects of the political party system on foreign relations.
• Pressure Groups: The role of interest groups in shaping foreign policy.
• Institutions of External Affairs: The impact of institutions responsible for foreign relations.
• Personality of Individuals: The influence of key individuals involved in foreign policy decisions.

Major Determinants of India’s Foreign Policy

The important determinants that have played a critical role in shaping the Indian foreign policy over the years include geography, economy, history, culture, domestic milieu, personality of a leader, ideology and external environment.

Geographical Factors

Geographical Factors and India's Role in International Relations

• Geographical factors encompass a country's shape, size, unique physical features, resource availability, and geopolitical context.
• India, being the seventh largest country in the world, has diverse geographical formations, climates, and ecosystems, which give it a natural advantage in global affairs.
• Natural boundaries provide India with defense against hostile forces.
• India's strategic location, with a long coastline, enhances its role in global politics and trade, especially in the Indian Ocean region.
• However, this same oceanic access also contributed to India's colonization by European powers.
• India's geographical position determines its neighbors, which significantly impact its role in international relations.
• Despite its natural advantages, India's role in South, West, and Southeast Asia is limited by the complex relationships with its neighbors.
• India has had conflicts with major neighbors like China and Pakistan and has a mixed relationship with many others.
• As a result, a key focus of Indian foreign policy has been to maintain friendly relations with its neighbors to secure a more influential position in international relations.

Economic Factors

Economic Factors in Foreign Policy

• Economic factors involve a country's natural resources like metals, minerals, fossil fuels, fertile land, water, and human resources. These resources are crucial for achieving and sustaining high economic growth.
• Historically, economic factors have been central to a country's foreign policy. However, with the rise of privatization, liberalization, and globalization, their importance has grown significantly.
• Resource exploitation has surged due to economic globalization. India, with its favorable demographic profile, is fortunate to have a rich variety of natural and human resources.
• India is largely self-sufficient in major natural resources, needing only significant imports like fossil fuels, uranium, and precious metals such as gold.
• After gaining independence, India adopted a mixed economy model, where the state regulated private business through licenses and permits. This regulation initially stifled private sector growth, leading to low economic growth rates, often below population growth rates.
• During this period, Indian policymakers were relatively content with low growth, which economist Raj Krishna later termed the "Hindu rate of growth."
• India's foreign policy was initially influenced by its food production inadequacies, leading to reliance on Western countries for wheat.
• For a long time, India was primarily an exporter of raw materials rather than finished goods, which limited its ability to forge strong ties with developing countries.
• However, over the past three decades, India has experienced vibrant economic growth, enhancing its bargaining power in international negotiations with the Western world.
• India has also used aid diplomacy to gain support from many African and Asian countries in international forums.
• Indian technocrats and the diaspora, products of India's economic growth, play a crucial role in securing India's position in global politics.

Historical and Cultural Factors

Historical and Cultural Influences on Indian Foreign Policy

• India's foreign policy is deeply influenced by its ancient civilization and rich historical and cultural legacy.
• Colonial rule and the national movement also play a crucial role in shaping India's foreign policy.
• In 1700, India contributed 24.4% to global GDP, but colonial exploitation reduced this to 4.2% by 1950.
• After gaining independence, India maintained strong ties with Britain, while the values from the national movement, such as anti-colonialism and solidarity with Afro-Asian nations, continue to guide its foreign policy.
• India's cultural diplomacy, rooted in the past, is exemplified by the idea of vasudhaiv kutumbkam—treating the world as one family.
• Principles from Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda, such as satyagraha and ahimsa, remain central to India's international relations.
• Overall, India's history, culture, and traditions profoundly shape its foreign policy approach.

Domestic Milieu

Domestic Milieu and Its Impact on India's Foreign Policy

• Definition: Domestic milieu refers to the general circumstances and unique settings within a country that influence the shaping of its foreign policy.
• Diversity as Strength: India's vast social and cultural diversity is a significant asset in international politics.
• Muslim Population: India has the second-largest Muslim population in the world, which necessitates maintaining good relations with countries that have substantial Muslim populations, such as Arab nations, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Maldives. This demographic factor also allows India to have a deeper understanding of the 'Muslim world.'
• Regional Influences: Specific regions within India have a strong impact on foreign relations:
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  • Tamil Nadu: The politics of Tamil Nadu significantly influence India's relations with Sri Lanka.
  • West Bengal: The Bengali bhadralok (upper-middle class) of West Bengal forms the foundation of India’s relations with Bangladesh.
  • Kashmir: The situation in Kashmir is a critical factor determining relations between India and Pakistan.
  • Nepal and Bhutan: These countries hold a unique place in the cultural landscape of the Indian populace, influencing India’s foreign relations with them.
• Contextual Dimensions: Apart from specific social, cultural, ethnic, religious, and linguistic factors, episodic or contextual dimensions of the domestic milieu also impact foreign policy.
• Consensus vs. Discord: When there is a consensus within the country on certain issues, the government can pursue a foreign policy line with conviction. However, when there are opposing views, it becomes challenging to maintain a strong stance. For example, India's troubled involvement in Sri Lanka in 1987 was largely due to opposition from the people of Tamil Nadu.
• Passive Determinant: Overall, the domestic milieu has been a significant, though often passive, determinant of India's foreign policy since its inception.

Persona of the Leadership

1. Leadership Persona Impact on Foreign Policy: The persona of leadership significantly influences a country's foreign policy formulation. Strong leaders often provide decisive pushes to foreign policies, while weak personalities can lead to disastrous outcomes.
2. Historical Examples: Strong leadership, like that of Prime Minister Winston Churchill during World War II, is credited with decisive victories. Conversely, weak leadership, such as during V. P. Singh's tenure in India, can weaken a country's stance, as seen in the handling of terrorism.
3. India's Foreign Policy: The impact of leadership on India's foreign policy is evident throughout history. Jawaharlal Nehru's idealistic vision led to challenges like the India-China war and ongoing issues such as Kashmir. In contrast, Indira Gandhi's strong leadership strengthened India's position, winning wars, forging alliances like with the Soviet Union, and establishing India as a nuclear power.
4. Decisive Leadership vs. Weak Leadership: Decisive and assertive leaders have helped India make a mark in foreign policy, both in its immediate neighborhood and on the global stage. In contrast, indecisive leadership has compromised the integrity and unity of the nation.

Ideological Predilections

Ideological Predilection and its Impact on Indian Foreign Policy

• Ideological predilection refers to a leader's commitment to a particular ideology, either implicitly or explicitly. Throughout the Cold War, capitalism and socialism were the dominant forces shaping international relations.
• Leaders of developing countries were often pressured to align with these ideologies, whether out of fear or genuine belief. Such ideological commitments significantly influence a country's foreign policy formulation.
• Since its independence, India's foreign policy has been heavily influenced by ideology. Jawaharlal Nehru's inclination towards socialism shaped India's foreign relations, even though the Cold War dynamics prevented India from fully aligning with the Soviet bloc.
• Under Nehru, India's interactions with various nations reflected a socialist influence. This became even more pronounced during Indira Gandhi's leadership when India signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship with the Soviet Union, marking a shift from its earlier commitment to Non-alignment.
• In recent years, a shift towards free market capitalism under different leadership has led to a stronger alignment of Indian foreign policy with the United States and other capitalist countries.
• Overall, the ideological predilections of political leaders have been a crucial factor in shaping Indian foreign policy throughout its history.

International Scenario

Role of International Scenario in Shaping Indian Foreign Policy

• International factors play a crucial role in shaping a country's foreign policy, often as much as domestic factors.
• Countries with significant global influence, like the United States, Russia, China, and France, have more flexibility in shaping international relations through their foreign policies.
• India's foreign policy has historically been influenced by international scenarios, such as:
• Cold War Dynamics: Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's inclination towards closer ties with the Soviet Union was tempered by the Cold War, leading to India's policy of Non-alignment.
• Conflicts with Neighbors: India's preference for peace and non-violence was challenged by military conflicts with Pakistan and China, forcing a more aggressive stance.
• Nuclear Policy Shift: China's nuclear tests in 1964 prompted India to shift its peaceful nuclear program towards developing nuclear weapons.
• Contemporary Indian foreign policy continues to respond to strategic challenges, particularly from China and Pakistan, while also serving national interests.

Minor Determinants

Minor Factors Influencing Foreign Policy

• Political and statutory institutions play a crucial role in shaping foreign policy decisions. For example, the U.S. Senate's rejection of American entry into the League of Nations illustrates this point.
• The Pakistani army significantly influences the country’s policy towards India.
• In India,political institutions like Parliament strengthen foreign policy measures, as seen in the India-U.S. Civil Nuclear Deal.
• Public opinion also plays a vital role in shaping foreign policy, especially in democratic countries. Governments must be responsive to public sentiments to avoid backlash and policy failures.
• The party system in India affects foreign policy. For instance, during the dominance of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), foreign policy was cautious towards China.
• Pressure groups and political parties, such as those from Tamil Nadu, influence government policy on international issues, like India’s stance on Sri Lanka.
• The farm lobby in India significantly shaped the country’s response to WTO proposals on agriculture.
• Think tanks like the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) play an acknowledged role in foreign policy-making, exemplified by their involvement in the Raisina Hills Dialogue.

These minor factors, while not always in the forefront, have a significant impact on the nature and direction of India's foreign policy.

Complexity in the Working of Determinants

Determinants of India’s foreign policy work in different ways at different times. At times, they all work together to influence a decision. At other times, some determinants may resist a decision. For example, during the Cold War, India’s policy of Non-Alignment was influenced by the international situation more than other factors.

Determinants can:

• Encourage a particular action, like taking the Kashmir issue to the United Nations Security Council.
• Resist a decision, as seen when post-Cold War, US relations didn’t become friendlier with India.
• Seek to change a decision over time, such as shifting foreign policy to focus more on economic development after the 1990s.