Analyzing India’s Foreign Policy since Independence

By: Arpit Ludhiyani & Satyadhar Joshi

A country’s Foreign Policy is the instrument to fulfill its national interests (economic, political, military etc.) by dealing with foreign nations in best possible manner.

Dealing with foreign nations/governments is termed as Diplomacy.

It’s the approach each nation will take/pursue towards every other nation in the world.

Which nation occupies how much importance in framing Foreign policy depends on the national interest it serves.

What Is Foreign Policy?

Diplomacy can be called as ways to deal with foreign governments.

Kautilya’s Arthashastra aptly describes diplomacy.

Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states. 

Diplomacy is the employment of tact to gain strategic advantage or to find mutually acceptable solutions to a common challenge, one set of tools being the phrasing of statements in a non-confrontational, or polite manner.

Diplomacy???

Argentina’s attack on Falkland Islands. Pakistan’s attack on Kashmir. Gulf War Indo-Pak war of 1971. US attack on Afghanistan, Iraq. & many more………………

Extreme form of Foreign Policy: WAR (examples)

Second most populous country on earth. World’s largest Democracy. Second fastest growing economy. World’s tenth largest military expenditure. Emerging Superpower. Large middle class. Largest arms importer. 6th nuclear power(de-facto). & many more………..

Why India Matters?

The guiding principles of India's Foreign Policy have been founded on Panchsheel, pragmatism and pursuit of national interest.

Panchsheel : Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence (Mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty, Mutual non-aggression against anyone, Mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit for Peaceful co-existence)

Spreading Indian Interests through large Indian Diaspora of 2 crore people.

Guiding Principles of Indian Foreign Policy

Indian Government Agency responsible for framing foreign policy of India.

Present Foreign Minister of India: SM Krishna. 

Present Indian Foreign Secretary: Nirupama Rao.

Ministry of External Affairs

Founding member of UN (1945). Founding member of NAM. Founding member of G20. Founding member of ADB. IBSA BRIC G8+5 East Asia Summit SAARC& many more…………..

Membership of International organizations

Idealistic views towards world affairs. Strong supporter of Independence

movement of various colonies. Neutral views towards Cold War with bias

towards Soviet Union. Jawaharlal Nehru framed the Foreign

Policy of India.

Nascent Stage

During the cold war, seeing that there are two hostile camps forming up India pursued a path of Non Alignment.

Three nations started this movement together with India taking the lead.

There is lots of allegations that this movement has lost its relevance after the end of Cold war.

Non-Aligned Movement

Weapons imported from Soviet Union in the cold war.

After the collapse of Soviet Union Russia still the largest arms supplier but its Numero Uno position constantly under threat.

Strong military relations with Israel, France, UK.

USA trying hard to alter the equation.

Military Relations as an Instrument of Foreign Policy

With the end of Cold War India drastically changed its approach towards world affairs.

India found a new approach called Look East (engaging east Asia).

India is ASEAN’s summit level partner. India-ASEAN FTA. East Asia Summit.

ASEAN: Look East

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