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Topics to be learn :
- Foreign Policy
- National interest
- Factors influencing Foreign Policy
- India s Foreign Policy
- India's Nuclear Policy
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Foreign Policy : Meaning and Importance :
- All countries are members of the international system. No country is completely self-sufficient. There is mutual dependence in the international system.
- In this context, every country has to decide the nations with which it should be friendly, in which bloc it should participate or what position it should take in international relations.
- The theoretical framework in which such decisions are taken is called foreign policy.
- Every sovereign and independent nation decides its foreign policy.
- Foreign policy plays an important role in international relations.
National interest :
- National interest implies the means by which the independence and sovereignty of the country are safeguarded.
- National interest also includes efforts to achieve economic development and steps to increase power and influence in world politics.
The components of national interest are :
- Defence : The protection of our country's independence, sovereignty and integrity is the highest national interest. lt means defence.
- Economic development : Economic development is regarded as vital to protect national interest. An economically weak nation will not be able to maintain its independence.
National Interest and Foreign Policy :
- National interest and foreign policy are closely connected.
- National interest is fostered through foreign policy.
- National interest is considered to be the goal and foreign policy is considered to be the means to achieve it.
- Goals of nations change with changing times.
Accordingly, the foreign policy changes to suit the national interest.
Determinants/Factors influencing Foreign Policy :
Determinants/Factors influencing Foreign Policy :
(1) Geographical Factors : The geographical location, size, population, topography, coastline, availability of natural resources determine the foreign policy of a country.
(2) Political System :
- In a state like India with democratic political system, the Union Parliament plays a major role in evolving foreign policy.
- The opposition parties try to control the foreign policy by raising questions in the Parliament.
- India has a federal system and has to take into account the concerns of the constituent states as the affairs in neighbouring nations affect them.
- Even incidents in Sri Lanka have bearing on Tamil Nadu and those in Bangladesh may affect West Bengal and the North-eastern States.
(3) Economy :
- In modern times, the economic condition has acquired great importance in deciding foreign policy.
- It is influenced by the need to establish economic relations with other countries, import-export, participation in world trade to strengthen the economy of the country.
- A country having a strong economy is less dependent on others and thus can have its own independent foreign policy.
(4) National leadership :
- Much depends on the national leader who formulates the foreign policy of the country.
- Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru contributed the policy of . non-alignment to India's foreign policy. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee contributed a great deal to improving Sino-Indian relations.
(5) Administrative Factors :
- Ministry of External Affairs, Foreign Secretary, Ambassadors in other countries and Diplomatic officers are the administrative factors involved in formulating foreign policy.
- Even though the decisions are taken by the Prime Minister and the Minister for External Affairs, the administrative machinery helps them to arrive at that decision. They collect and analyse information and give advice.
- The role of the National Security Adviser is also important in this task.
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India s Foreign Policy :
After independence, 1947 and from then onwards India started shaping his foreign policy independently. The Directive Principles of State Policy have laid down guidelines about how to shape foreign policy. Art. 51 among the Directive Principles of State Policy lay down the broad framework for foreign policy.
The broad framework is laid down in Article 51 (Directive Principles of the state policy of India) as under :
- To promote international peace and security.
- To maintain just and honourable relations between nations.
- To foster respect for international law and treaty obligations in the dealings of organized people with one another.
- To encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration.
Objective : Early Phase :
Objectives of India’s Foreign Policy :
- To ensure that the defence and security of India is not affected.
- Not to compromise about the geographical boundaries of the nation.
- To protect the unity and integrity of the country.
- To protect the interests of India's citizens living in other countries with the help of Indian Embassies.
- To establish economic and commercial relations with other countries for achieving economic development of India.
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Indias Foreign Policy : Early Phase :
India's Foreign Policy : Early Phase
- Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru shaped India's foreign policy of non-alignment. He opposed colonialism through India's foreign policy.
- He took an internationalist position and gave priority to global peace and security.
- India's foreign policy aimed at self-reliance.
- India decided to improve relations with countries in Asia. Efforts were made to increase cooperation to achieve development.
- This concept of regional development later expanded to include the countries of Africa. This Afro-Asian unity found expression in the concept of non-alignment.
- Peace and freedom became the fundamental principles of Non-aligned policy.
- The policy of non-alignment enabled India to get help from both the super powers, America as well as the Soviet Union.
- The technology required for strengthening India's defence was imported from the Soviet Union, France and West Germany.
- In this period, wars between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue took place in 1947-48 and I965. In 1971 war, Pakistan broke apart and independent Bangladesh was created.
- In the decade of 1970s, India had risen as powerful regional power in South Asia.
- By conducting nuclear tests in 1974 and 1998, India had also proved her nuclear capability.
- South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established to increase cooperation among South Asian countries.
- India initiated a dialogue to improve relations with China.
- India also started interaction with America for cooperation in the field of security.
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Contribution of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to Indias foreign policy :
Contribution of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to India's foreign policy :
- Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru shaped India's post-independence foreign policy.
- He advocated non—alignment and was opposed to colonialism, racism and imperialism through India's foreign policy.
- He took an internationalist position and gave priority to global peace and security.
- He advocated the concept of regional development, i.e. development of the countries in Asia and Africa.
- He tried to improve relations with the neighbouring countries especially China.
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<strong>India foreign policy Second Stage : From 1991 till date</strong> :
India's foreign policy Second Stage : From 1991 till date :
- India adopted free market economy and reduced control over economy. In the foreign policy, priority was accorded to economy, trade, education and technology.
- There was an increase in trade with neighbouring countries and India's share in the world trade increased.
- There was increase in India's economic growth rate.
- After 1990, the relations with the South-East Asian countries and their organisation ASEAN have improved.
- Trade with Israel, Japan, China and the European Union also increased.
- India participated in the deliberation of G-20 and BRICS.
- Relations with America have improved.
- There was increase in mutual trust. In the international community, the status of India was elevated.
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India's Nuclear Policy :
- Nuclear policy is an important part of india’s foreign policy.
- India undertook nuclear energy programme immediately after independence.
- For this, Department of Atomic Energy and Indian Atomic Energy Commission were established.
- Along with generating electricity, the programme aimed at creating military capability.
- India conducted first nuclear tests in 1974 and second nuclear tests in 1998.
- India has built nuclear weapons and missiles. The Air Force and the Navy have been enabled to carry them.
- India is now a nuclear country and has accepted the role of a responsible nuclear power.
- India has been supporting disarmament efforts as it holds the position that there should be peace and security in the world.
World Peace :
World peace :
- Peace is tranquility and world peace is preservation of tranquility in the world. Peace is the absence of hostility and conflicts.
- World peace implies a world free of conflict. Wars are fought with weapons and world peace requires disarmament.
- The League of Nations was established in 1920 and the United Nations in 1945 to Preserve World Peace.
- India has always espoused the cause of World peace and the world community regarded Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as ‘apostle of peace’.
- Apparently world peace is threatened due to the nuclear preparedness.
- Nuclear weapons in the hands of irresponsible leaders like those of North Korea may threaten world peace.
- There is always danger that the nuclear weapons may fall in the hands of terrorists.
- However, during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, ‘the balance of terror’ had forced the Soviet Union to withdraw missiles from Cuba.
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| India regards herself as a responsible nuclear power and supports efforts for disarmament as it wants peace and security in the world.
However, India had refused to sign Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NNPT) and Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
The conditions of both these treaties are beneficial to big nuclear powers and put unfair restrictions on developing nations.
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