India
Democracy: India’s New Tool of Diplomacy
Often folks over social media take a dig on US policies of preaching democracy. Nevertheless, can democracy become a central point of Indian diplomacy? India’s new Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said it repeatedly, we will neither bully nor be submissive, we will progress taking everyone together. Given that India will not forcibly preach democracy, it can use democracy as its peaceful tool of diplomacy.
Narendra Modi’s invitation to SAARC countries and Mauritius was a clear signal that India wants to progress and move ahead taking all of its neighbours along. India shares deep cultural and historical ties with almost all the SAARC countries and some of the countries were in fact born from India. As a bigger and stable country, India had a responsibility to carry all the neighbours together in the path of development, which it has not played yet.
India’s role should have been kind of, what Russia played with CIS countries after the collapse of Soviet Union, without interfering in their internal matters though. Previous governments in India chose to ignore the neighbours and maintain ties with ‘other world’. In the meanwhile, China, which is an outsider in the region, has scored more points in SAARC and IOR (Indian Ocean Region). India considers itself as a potential super power, but it cannot achieve that status until it becomes a regional power and emerges as the leader of South Asia and the Indian Ocean.
Lack of leadership could be one of the reason why do we refer to Russia or China as the next superpower after the U.S, but not any European country. European Union as an entire bloc is quite powerful, but none could emerge as a leader.
Lack of leadership means, either an outside player like China will come and destabilize the region, or a superpower like the US will bring the entire region under its influence.
However, the question is, will India be able to achieve the status of regional power of a peaceful South Asia? India and Pakistan have fought four wars and Bangladesh fought a war of independence against Pakistan’s rule. One of the possible answers for this question could be democracy!
Democracy is quite an internal or domestic politics, how does it affect international relations? Despite the alleged involvement of Nawaz Sharif’s government in Kargil War with India, why does Indian media and politicians keep some hope from him?
If India can sign one or two economic and development agreement with Pakistan that produces a positive visible change in Pakistan, it will make the position of elected leader stronger, and to remain in power they will seek better relations with India. The theory is not new, each Pakistani leader dreams of resolving Kashmir issue and win people’s heart to remain in power. For time being Kashmir issue can be kept aside and the two countries can stress on economy and development. India should have spoken strongly against the previous military coups in Pakistan, thus improving its relations with democratic leaders and also empowering them.
There is a need of a strong democratic leader in Pakistan, but there is a need of friendly Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh for India to drive it on growth track along with itself. Despite, having a friendly government in Bangladesh, India has not utilized the opportunity to improve relations and promote trade and transport. Reforming trade and transport with Bangladesh can help thrive the economy of Bangladesh, East India and North East India.
India not only needs to become more active in dealing with its neighbours, but it should give special importance to new democratic Myanmar and IOR including Maldives and Mauritius. Myanmar is a gateway to ASEAN, which can be a good market for Indian industrialists. It is also the key for India’s look east policy that can prove to be essential in further development of India’s much-neglected North East Region.
In July 2012, there were rumours that Mauritius is offering its two sun drenched islands to India to be used by India as per its benefit. Though soon the Mauritius High Commission denied it, it was not the first time Mauritius proposed this offer (India Expanding Its Strategic Presence in Other Countries). Disagreement in Mauritian political system and largely the policy paralysis in previous Indian government never allowed it happen. India’s presence in Indian Ocean is not only required for the security of Indian waters and coast, but also to project its regional power status. India and South Africa who are part of BRICS and South-South cooperation may take up the challenge of security and development in the Indian Ocean Region and enhanced cooperation and relations with east African countries.

Agalega islands, 1000KM north of Mauritius island, which Mauritius allegedly offered to India.
Islands of Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar can be developed to become new dedicated bases for enhanced cooperation with IOR such as Maldives, Mauritius and Indonesia, thus making islands safer, empowered and developed. Ultimately, islands will understand islands better and it will be too convenient for nations in IOR to communicate with India.
With the new nationalist government assuming power in India, it is believed that India will assume some role, which will project it as a bigger power. India does not have a solid foreign policy till now. The new government, which came to power with overwhelming majority will not surprise if it makes democracy one of the important points in its foreign policy.
Your turn
Do you have something to add in the article? Alternatively, do you oppose anything said on this article? Please add your views and opinion in the comments section below and facilitate a healthy intellectual debate. The article may be amended based on selected comments to maintain neutrality
-
Business7 months ago
Current Trends in Business That Every Entrepreneur Should Work Towards Achieving
-
Business9 months ago
Temperature Controlled Transport: What is it?
-
Business8 months ago
Why Buy A Business, Rather Than Start One
-
Business8 months ago
Top 10 Simple Health Changes To Boost Your Well-Being
-
Health7 months ago
The Way We Have Exercised Has Changed
-
Business7 months ago
Employee Training and Development Becomes One of the Most Disruptive Megatrends That Is Shaping the Future of Work
-
Travel12 months ago
Yacht charter in Barcelona, the comfort and privacy you can’t get on land
-
Health9 months ago
Digitisation of medicine: better digital medical devices