Principles of Indian Foreign Policy

We will discuss in this blog the Principles of Indian Foreign Policy which is part of International Relations syllabus in UPSC Mains. Through this blog, all the International Relations UPSC notes covering Foreign Policy and International Relations of India will be discussed.

Table of Contents

What is Foreign Policy?

It is a set of principles that lays out the plan of action for diplomatic dealings with other nations, international bodies and regional groupings.

The foreign policy of a country is dependent upon a lot of different factors. These factors are called the determinants of foreign policy. They are discussed below:

Determinants of Foreign Policy

National Interest
The national interests of a country can be broadly categorised into two groups, Core Interests and Temporary Interests.
- Core Interests are the issues related to sovereignty, territorial integrity, protection of diaspora, economic development, energy security, role in world affairs, etc.
- Temporary Interests for example voting on issues in international fora like UN.
History
When you study international relations and foreign policy, you will realise that much of the dynamics in international geopolitics is a result of history. The effect of World War II and Cold War is clearly seen in the regional groupings that have formed. Colonial history of many nations also make them suspicious about neocolonial policies of some countries. The tensions in the Korean Peninsula is the result of the Cold War. The Indo Pak relations are also a direct result of the recent history. So history defines foreign policy to a great extent.
Geography
Geography of a country is critical in determining its foreign policy. For example the dispute between Ukraine and Russia over Crimea is because Russia wants access to warm sea waters so that they can continue trade all year round. Some of the important trade routes in the seas are points of contention between many countries. Many countries are involved in boundary disputes for decades.
Culture
The cultural influence of a country increases its soft power. For example, Buddhism is always a talking point between India and countries in East/South-East Asia where Buddhism is followed widely. Similarly the influence of Indian civilisation in the neighbouring countries and the Bollywood increase India’s soft power. Often the relations between India and its neighbours are strained because the countries share Indian cultural identity and it creates identity crisis for neighbours.
Polity
It is much easier to deal with a country which is a democracy rather than the one which is a theocracy or a dictatorship. Thus the kind of political set up modifies the kind of foreign policy towards the country. For example with Pakistan due to the control of military over the elected government, engaging with the PM is not always effective.
Diaspora
Diaspora means the people who have spread in different countries other than their country of origin. The Indian diaspora is widely distributed across the world. They form some of the most influential classes in the developed countries. Thus they have strong influence on the policies of their host country towards India.
Public opinion
General public opinion of the country also influences its foreign policy. For example, anti-Vietnam war protests in USA had ultimately forced President Nixon to virtually end the war in 1973. Public perception of friendliness or enmity towards a country has political importance for the government and hence its influence over the foreign policy towards that country.
Leadership or Ideology of the Government
For most of the last century, there was a divide in the world along ideologies of Communism and Capitalism. These days we see a lot of right-leaning governments are adopting protectionism and nation-first policies. USA under Trump has been making changes to its Visa policy and Trade Agreements.

Objectives of India’s Foreign Policy

The objectives of India’s Foreign Policy have been clearly defined in the Constitution of India vide Article 51:

The State shall endeavour to —
(a) promote international peace and security;
(b) maintain just and honourable relations between nations;
(c) foster respect for international law and
(d) encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration.