IDEAL POLICY:
1. The preservation of India’s territorial integrity and independence of foreign policy: The territorial integrity and protection of national boundaries from foreign aggression is the core interest of a nation. India had gained a hard earned independence from foreign rule after long time. Thus, it was natural for her to give due emphasis on the independence of foreign policy. India’s effort to strengthen Afro-Asian solidarity endorsement of principles of non-interference, in the internal affairs of other nations and finally the adoption of the policy of nonalignment should be seen in this light.
2. Promoting international peace and security: India as a ‘newly independent and developing country rightly realized that international peace and development are correlated. Her emphasis on disarmament and the policy of keeping away from the military alliances is intended to promote global peace.
3. Economic development of India: Fast development of the country was the fundamental requirement of India at the time of independence. The foreign policy practice of India also reveals its two other objectives;
1. Elimination of colonialism and racial discrimination.
2. Protection of the interests of people of Indian origin abroad.
An official statement of Ministry of External Affairs (2010) notes that India’s foreign policy seeks to safeguard her enlightened self-interest. Its primary objective is to promote and maintain a peaceful and stable external environment in which the domestic tasks of inclusive economic development and poverty alleviation can progress rapidly.
BASIC PRINCIPLES:
Some of these principles are given in Article 51 under the Directive Principles of Policy in the Constitution of India. Some of these principles are discussed below.
A. Panchsheel
Indian Policy makers understood without global peace, social and economic development is likely to be pushed to the background. While signing a peace agreement with China; Nehru advocated adherence to five guiding principles known as Panchsheel (1954). Panchsheel includes the following five principles of foreign policy: (i) Mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. (ii) Non-aggression against each other. (iii) Non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. (iv) Equality and mutual benefit. (v) Peaceful co-existence. They are the core principles of Non-alignment and still guide the conduct of India’s foreign policy.
B. Policy of Non-alignment
Non-alignment is the most important feature of India’s foreign policy. Its core element is to maintain independence in foreign affairs by not joining any super power countries. It was a positive and dynamic concept. India’s policy of nonalignment got many supporters in the developing countries. Asian Relations Conference was convened by India in 1949. The conference laid down ten fundamental principles of international relations, which included five principles of Panchsheel.
Continued Relevance of Non-alignment: After Cold War, many scholars have questioned the relevance of NAM. However, the basic features of NAM appear to be equally significant in the changing context due to the following factors: (i) The NAM can act as a check against undue dominance and hegemony of any country or block. (ii)The NAM may provide a forum for third world countries to engage the developed nations in a productive dialogue. (iii) The NAM can prove to be a powerful mechanism to forge South-South cooperation. (iv) NAM can provide an important forum for developing countries, including the reform of UN and other international financial institutions in order to make them more democratic and effective.
C. Policy of Resisting Colonialism, Imperialism, Racism
India considers colonialism and imperialism as the threat to international peace and security India was the first to bring the issue of Apartheid in the UN in 1946. Due to India’s consistent efforts through NAM and other international forums, 14 African countries were liberated from the yoke of colonialism in 1964. At India’s initiative, NAM set up the Africa Fund (Action for Resisting Imperialism, Colonialism and Apartheid) in 1986. The end of racialism in South Africa in 1990 was a great success for Indian policy.
D. Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes
One of the core elements of India’s foreign policy is its unflinching faith in the political solution and peaceful settlement of international disputes. India has played leading role in the resolution of Korean conflict and supported negotiated settlement of Palestine issue, Kashmir problem, border problems with neighbouring countries and other such disputes and problems. At present, India is in favour of resolution of peaceful settlement of Iranian nuclear issue, problem of democratic upsurge in Middle East and so on.
E. Support to UN, International Law and a Just and Equal World Order
India has deep respect for the international law and/or the principles of sovereign equality of nations and non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations as espoused by the UN. India has supported the cause of disarmament pursued by the UN. India has played a key role in preserving world peace by helping in the decolonization process, and through active participation in UN peacekeeping activities.. India is one of the claimants of permanent membership of the Security Council.
PHASES OF INDIAN FOREIFN POLICY:
The first phase (1947-62): Optimistic Non-Alignment
This period is marked with a setting of a bipolar world, with camps led by the United States and the USSR. India’s objectives in this phase were to resist dilution of its sovereignty, rebuild its economy and consolidate its integrity. India was one of the first countries to be decolonized. Thus, it was natural for India to lead Asia and Africa in a quest for a more equitable world order. In pursuit of this, India played a critical role in the establishment of the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) (1961), which marked the peak of Third World solidarity. However, the 1962 conflict with China not only brought this period to an end but in a manner that significantly damaged India’s standing on NAM.
The second phase (1962-71): Decade of Realism and Recovery
After the 1962 war, India made pragmatic choices on security and political challenges. It looked beyond non-alignment in the interest of national security, concluding largely forgotten defense agreement with the US in 1964. However, India faced external pressures on Kashmir (Tashkent agreement 1965) from the US and UK .Through Tashkent agreement both India and Pakistan agreed to withdrawal armed forces to pre-war positions, to restore diplomatic relations; and to discuss economic, refugee, and other questions. However, the agreement did not contain a no-war pact or any renunciation of Pakistan's aggression in Kashmir (as Pakistan was an ally of the US). Therefore, India now started tilting towards USSR.
The third phase (1971-91): Greater Indian Regional Assertion
India showed remarkable use of hard power when it liberated Bangladesh in the India-Pakistan war in 1971. However, it was a particularly complex phase as the US-China-Pakistan axis that came into being at this time seriously threatened India’s prospects, as a regional power. India also faced sanctions from US and its allies after conducting a Peaceful nuclear explosion test in 1974 (Pokhran I).Further, the collapse of the USSR, India’s close ally, and the economic crisis in 1991 compelled India to look again at the first principles of both domestic and foreign policy. The combination of events as diverse as the Gulf War (1991-1992), the break-up of USSR (1991), long standing economic stagnation and domestic turbulence came together in 1991, creating a balance of payment crisis in India.
The fourth phase (1991-98): Safeguarding Strategic Autonomy
The emergence of a unipolar world (led by the USA), encouraged India to change its approach to world affairs. This quest for strategic autonomy was particularly focused on securing its nuclear weapon option (Pokhran II 1998). This is a period where India reached out to engage the US, Israel and ASEAN countries more intensively.
This fifth phase (1998-2013): India, a Balancing Power
In this period, India gradually acquired the attributes of a balancing power (against the rise of China). It is reflected in the India-US nuclear deal (123 Agreement). At the same time, India could also make common cause with China on climate change and trade, and consolidate further ties with Russia while helping to fashion BRICS into a major global forum.
The sixth phase (2013-until now): Energetic Engagement
In this phase of transitional geopolitics, India's policy of Non-Alignment has turned into Multi Alignment. Moreover, India is now more aware of its own capabilities and the expectations that the world has of India. That India is among the major economies of the world is one factor. The relevance of India’s talent in creating and sustaining global technology is also likely to grow in time. India's willingness to shape key global negotiations (such as conference in Paris on climate change) is equally significant. India has been able to assert itself beyond South Asia, through its approach towards the Indian Ocean Region (SAGAR initiative) and the extended neighborhood (Act East policy and Think West policy).
Sources:
https://www.cbpbu.ac.in/userfiles/file/2020/STUDY_MAT/POL_SC/PRINCIPLES%20%20AND%20OBJECTIVES%20OF%20INDIAN%20FOREIGN%20POLICY-converted.pdf
https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/Paper2/phases-of-indian-foreign-policy
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