The world after the West: Pramit Pal Chaudhuri on India
Jul 19, 2024
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In this podcast, Mark Leonard discusses India's role in the global order with Pramit Pal Chaudhuri. They explore India's participation in international institutions like BRICS and the SCO, its rivalry with China, Modi's foreign policy shift, and its digital infrastructure initiatives. The conversation provides insights into India's strategic positioning and values in shaping global dynamics.
India participates in international organizations like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to assert its global influence.
India strategically balances relationships with countries like the US to enhance its technological capabilities and regional influence.
Deep dives
India's Engagement with New International Institutions
India has historically advocated for the restructuring of post-World War Two international structures, emphasizing a need for fair representation. In the current context, India is actively participating in various new international organizations like the G20, BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, seeking a stronger voice and role in global decision-making processes. While India supports existing international bodies like the UN, WTO, and IMF, it is wary of initiatives that could transform groups like BRICS into anti-Western platforms, particularly opposing China's influence in such agendas.
The Purpose and Motivations Behind India's Engagement
India's involvement in creating new institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) reflects its strategy to integrate Chinese capital into global development while ensuring adherence to established norms. Despite initial alignment with the AIIB, India has observed China's divergent actions, leading to initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), prompting India to focus on preserving its sovereignty and economic interests. India's nuanced approach to international organizations underscores its emphasis on strategic autonomy and navigating partnerships in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape.
India's Strategic Rivalry with China
India perceives China as its primary strategic rival and shapes its foreign and security policies around countering Chinese influence. The historical dynamics between India and China have evolved from periods of cooperation to heightened tension, driven by concerns of Chinese dominance in Asia and undermining Indian interests. The border clashes and diplomatic maneuvers reflect India's strategic recalibration towards addressing perceived Chinese threats, leading to closer alignments with countries sharing similar concerns, such as the United States, Japan, and Australia.
India's Foreign Policy Focus and Global Engagement
India's evolving foreign policy underlines a pragmatic shift towards strategic partnerships with a select group of countries to safeguard its interests amid global power shifts. While India aims to maintain autonomy and balance in its alliances, it strategically collaborates with nations like the United States to advance its technological capabilities and regional influence. Embracing a multi-align approach and emphasizing core national interests, India navigates complex geopolitical dynamics while expanding its global footprint to secure stability and prosperity amidst global uncertainties.
As a founding member of BRICS and a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, India is a leading middle power. With its strategic geographic and economic position, and historical associations with the nonaligned movement, India cannot be ignored when discussing the world’s rapidly shifting global order.
In this episode of ‘The world after the West’ Re:Order series, Mark Leonard welcomes Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, the practice head for south Asia at the Eurasia Group to discuss the role of India in today’s understanding of a new global order. What institutions does India participate in and why? Which of these are most central to its identity? And to what extent are these institutions a counter-reaction to Western hegemony?