In The Evolving New World, India Needs a New Vision
Introduction:
- According to legend, the COVID-19 pandemic was eradicated at the beginning of 2022 as a result of exceptional efforts by business, government, and science to immunise the entire world. The human spirit would be rekindled and daily life would resume after this significant accomplishment.
- However, that was not the desired outcome. Just two months into the new year, the Russia-Ukraine conflict erupted while the world was in disarray following a pandemic. Retaliatory economic sanctions and the weaponization of trade dependencies have made millions of people’s lives miserable by causing inflation, a recession, and a winter gas shortage.
Trade war and a warlike China:
- Modern consumer technology that were mass produced in Taiwan, Korea, and Japan, used in China, Brazil, and India, and imported from the US and Europe seem to be coming to an end. Today, America encourages commercial blocs among its allies, supports trade barriers against its enemies, and generously invests in domestic industry. Trusted free trade between nations has deteriorated into dishonest “foe trade,” which has led to the establishment of “friend trade” organisations and the glorification of “economic nationalism.”
- India’s exports have increased exponentially over the past forty years, creating millions of jobs, sizable foreign exchange reserves, and boosting domestic output and consumption. India, which benefits from the current economic structure, cannot afford to be squeezed out of the trade blocs that are being led by the west and Russia-China in a more bipolar world.
Chinese threat:
- The sudden and puzzling military assault by China against India takes place in the midst of such important global changes. Through the deft use of debt diplomacy, economic force, and an ideology of the “shared opponent,” China has successfully controlled the global system. The Chinese threat is not represented by a lone bilateral dispute or a border dispute with India. It indicates a substantial reorganisation of global dynamics.
- China has the assurance and power to take such moves thanks to its economic power as the world’s manufacturer. Knee-jerk reactions by western nations, such as trade restrictions and economic sanctions against China, are examples of measures that will backfire. An international order controlled by China is opposed by a financially robust India.
Social harmony is a requirement:
- A thriving India with industries that employ millions of people and produce goods and services for the rest of the world valued at billions of dollars is the strongest response to China. However, social cohesion is a requirement for India to develop into a significant economic force.
- Factories cannot afford to encourage distrust and hostility based on the caste, religion, or identity of the workers when they cohabit in a workplace with people of different identities. Ability is all that matters.
- If India’s economic strength is the secret to its internal stability, it stands to reason that social peace is the foundation of the country’s government. The nation of India is in jeopardy, and we are to blame. The possibility exists that a single, isolated communal incident could escalate into a major outbreak of violence and unrest. India’s instability and communal division is a present for our enemies.
Moving ahead:
- The robust global equilibrium that has yielded immense benefits might be upset in 2022. All countries and their leaders are not motivated primarily or even exclusively by the seeming rational desire for wealth and peace. We must disprove the claim that in the approaching new world order there will be “no more common reasonable objectives.”
- It is vital to reevaluate India’s overarching strategy and its normative policy framework in the light of this irrational universe. We need a thorough military, diplomatic, social, and economic strategy, and we must not be reluctant to challenge conventional thought.
- It is critically necessary to update and improve our defence capabilities with cutting-edge weapons in order to avoid being restricted by antiquated standards and procedures for military procurement.
- A combative and hostile China will confirm who India’s active allies are and who is happy to remain neutral. The present foreign policy orthodoxy of non-alignment may now conflict with India’s growing demand for trade and market access, demanding a review of it. India needs a more daring geoeconomic strategy to gain preferential access to special technology and funding from other nations in exchange for access to the home market.
- India’s politicians will need to forge a new social contract with the people as the traditional tools of welfare and governance are fraying and the gap between the haves and have-nots widens.
- In addition, India’s economic development strategy must address environmental concerns, do away with the private sector’s monopoly model, forge a new inclusive path that emphasises the labour market, and steer clear of financialization-driven GDP growth, which is no longer relevant for the average person.
Think about decentralisation:
- India’s political governance model calls for modifications to federalism and decentralisation to meet the growing imbalance among States. Centralization was essential to sustaining and building the republic in the first fifty years after Independence.
- The concept of “one nation, one policy” needs to be let go of at this point. Stronger institutions must have greater decentralisation. Public institutions must be reformed in order to provide them more power, autonomy, resources, and responsibility.
Conclusion:
- In a nutshell, the nation needs a new perspective for the twenty-first century. But the foundation of this new vision is a peaceful, inclusive society that respects India’s particular pluralism. Incrementalism using the current frameworks, systems, and practises might not be enough. It will take the united efforts of all political leaders to join together and develop a new vision.
