India's International Relations
Initiative in March-April 1947
- Asian Relations Conference - Newly independent countries - Afro/Asian solidarity - Forerunner or NAM
What is India like under Singh?
- Civil nuclear cooperation with US - Slower growth >> Economic power >> Great Power aspirations
What was the Suez Crisis?
- Diplomatic and military confrontation between Egypt on one side and Britain, France and Israel on the other - Egypt had founded ties with USSR - Egypt attempted to nationalise the Suez Canal - Israel invaded Egypt - West wanted to regain control, started bombing Cairo
Post Cold War Challenges?
- End of a friend (and military supply crisis) - US dominated world (futility of anti Western policy) - End of socialism temporarily (political and economic) - Foreign policy uncertainty - Emergence of China
Jawaharal Nehru:
- Foundations of India's foreign policy - Nov 1889 - May 1964 - Wealthy, educated Hindu family - Educated in Britain - Socialist leanings - Political successor to Mahatma Gandhi
How is India 'like' the EU?
- Germnay, France and Britain but also Greece, Spain and Italy - 100% literacy vs less than 50% literacy - Billionaires vs below poverty line - IT skills vs illiterates - Taj vs mumbai slums
Problem: Religion
- Hindu's 80% (largest Hindu pop in world) - Muslims 13% (second largest pop after Indonesia) - Christians, Buddhist, Jains,.......etc
What are India's great power aspirations?
A permenent seat in the UNSC
How did Cold War limit freedom of choice?
Alliance means: - not just friends but supports all its actions
Who is India's current PM?
Manmohan Singh - since 2004
Who was Indira Gandhi?
Nehru's daughter
Was NAM neutral?
No - Active in global issues Disarmement, Korea, UN
Was India purely non aligned?
No....pro soviet tilt
What was NAM?
Non Alignment Movement - Group of states that did not align with or against particular power bloc
What happened in 1962 in India?
Sino-Indian War - Border conflict over disputed Himalayan border
What was India's economic policy during the Cold War?
Socialist Economic Model - State supported large infrastructre projects >> Dams, power generation >> Five year plans modelled on the Soviet Union - Mixed economy
What did Nehru say about Panch Sheel?
"If these principles were recognized in the mutual relations of all countries, then indeed there would hardly be any conflict and certainly no war."
When did India get independence?
August 15th 1947
When was the first codefication of Panch Sheel?
1954 between India and China
Where does India's territory rank in the world?
7th largest
When was the Asian-African Conference in Bandung? (and Panch Sheel?)
1955 (Indonesia) - Incorporated principles into 10 Principles laid out in conference
When was the Suez Crisis?
1956
When did Indira rule?
1966-77
Where do India's relations stand?
- Improving ties with US - Improved ties with Russia - Uncertain ties with China (Sino-Pak ties, divided Chinese leadership) - Problematic ties with Pakistan (terrorism, nuclear issues) - Improving ties with US allies in Asia (Japan, ASEAN, Australia, NZ)
How did India's economics play out in the long run?
- Inefficency of the socialist model - Corruption of the capitalist model
What are some general problems within India?
- Languages - Religions - Caste System - Federal system of govt - Cultural diversity
What was Indira's main successes/failures?
- Led India to victory in 1971 Indo-Pakistan War - Nuclear Test 1974 - Emergency 1975-77
What were Nehru's key contributions?
- NAM but not neutral - Active part in global issues (Korea and Nuc Disarm, UN) - Panch Sheel - Third World block for peace - China and Pakistan policies - General oppositions to military resolution of conflicts - Focus >> Indian defense expenditure kept low >> Econ growth as priority
What was the post-colonial/afro-asian context?
- Newly independent countries - Anti colonialism and anti imperialism >> Anti western - Third world solidarity - Non Alignment (NAM)
What were some of the contradictions to above contributions?
- Pakistan policy - Annexation of Goa - India's moralism in international politics - NAM but pro soviet tilt - Israel Policy
What was the national struggle for freedom?
- Political and economic freedom - Freedom to choose - Freedom to make mistakes
What are some examples of India's pro Soviet tilt while part of NAM?
- Suez Crisis 1956 - June War 1967 - Friendship Treaty 1971 - Afghanistan invasion 1979
What were the implications of Panch Sheel?
- Support for national liberation or decolonisation - Co existence with differing political systems - Peaceful resolution of conflicts - Avoidance of block politics - Minimal defence expenditure (for economic growth and nation building)
What was India's political priority during the Cold War
- To maintain newly won freedom - To pursue policy that served; >> Maintenance of the freedom >> National interests - Reach out to countries that had similar policy - Shun military alliances/blocs >> CENTO, SEATO
What happened in 1971 to resotre India's confidence?
1971 Indo-Pakistan War
What was the Kuwait Crisis? And the effect on India?
1990 - Invasion by Iraw - 150, 000 Indians evacuated - Reduced remittances
Defense spending increase?
- undermined economic progress - disarmament goals setback
When was NAM founded? By who?
-1961 in Belgrade - India's PM Nehru
India's economic crisis?
1991 Economic Crisis - Gold mortgage - Indian govt close to defaulting - Could barely finance 3 weeks worth of imports - Had to airlift gold reserves as a pledge to the IMF for a loan
Where does India's population rank in the world?
2nd largest after China
What is the size of the middle class in India?
300 million (70 times the size of NZ)
Where does India's economy rank in the world?
3rd after US and China
What are the three phases India went through since Independence?
1. 1947-1962 Idealism 2. 1962-1991 Struggling for self reliance 3. 1991 onwards Pragmatism
Problem: Language
18 recognized languages Over 400 spoken languages Over 1,000 dialects
Initiative in April 1955
Bandung Afro/Asian Conference - Concrete step - China inclusion
What was Indira known for being?
Being Machiavellian and strong willed
Initiative in Spetember 1961
Belgrade Conference - NAM - Today, 120 countries, 17 observers
What was the US' narrow view on the world during Cold War?
Dulles; If you are not with me, you are against me
What was Panch Sheel?
Five principles of peaceful coexistence: - Mutual respect for territorial integrity - Non-agression - Non-interference in internal affairs - Equality among nations - Peaceful co-existence
How do the Panch Sheel principles relate to NAM?
Formed the basis of it in 1961, Belgrade
Why was the Sino-Indian war a defining moment? (re Idealism)
Indian unable to defend itself - Like Vietnam to the US - Afghanistan to USSR Setback for Afro-Asian leadership Nehru's political demise Post-Nehru not towering figures
1962 - 1991: Self Help
Struggling for self reliance - with a pro soviet tilt - NAM but Friendship Treaty with USSR (Partly to checkmate China)
Where did the West stand re Pakistan?
Support! - My enemies friend is not my friend?
What was the underlying assumption of the principles?
That newly decolonised states would be able to use them to create a new approach to foreign policy
What was the aim on Bandung Conference 1955?
The conference's stated aims were to promote Afro-Asian economic and cultural cooperation and to oppose colonialism or neocolonialism by any nations. The conference was an important step toward the crystallisation of the Non-Aligned Movement.
What was the purpose of NAM?
To ensure: "the national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of non-aligned countries" in their "struggle against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, and all forms of foreign aggression, occupation, domination, interference or hegemony as well as against great power and bloc politics"
What is the the size of India's foreign trade (2012)?
US $800 billion
What were India's options?
USSR vs China Model - Military Might Vs Economic Progress Pragmatism - US -Israel Foreign Policy Driven - Economic Interests - Energy - Nuclear Tests 1999
