A report by former Indian officials and academics stated that “the growing potential for collusion with China and Pakistan calls for a politically directed strategic approach that identifies, prioritizes and develops relevant forms of power, which are in those structures”. which promote centralized planning and decentralized execution”.
The report, released on Saturday, titled “India’s Path to Power: Strategy in a World Adrift”, said, “Accepting China’s challenge, India is the only country with comparable area, population, history, manpower and scientific and technological The country has the ability not only to match, but to overtake China as a state of parallel civilization.”
The report has been prepared by a group of experts including former NSA Shivshankar Menon, former PM’s special envoy Shyam. sarni (both foreign secretaries in the UPA government), Lt Gen Prakash Menon, former military advisor in the National Security Council Secretariat, Yamini Iyer, chair of the Center for Policy Research, Sunil Khilnani, professor of politics and history at Ashoka University, professor of history and international affairs at Ashoka Vishwavidyalaya Srinath Raghavan, Taxila Institute director Nitin Pai and Aditya Birla Group chief economist Ajit Ranade.
The report said the center of gravity of the global economy is shifting from the Atlantic coasts to Asia, and the ongoing pandemic is accelerating this change. “There is an unmistakable trend towards multipolarity in Asia and the world, and it is in India’s interest to reinforce this trend. For this reason, the expansion of India’s strategic autonomy is directed towards mobilizing a large constituency of developing countries and emerging economies. calls for a re-orientation of its foreign policy with which it has convergent interests and to advance them by strengthening multilateral institutions and processes,” the report said. .
It said that globalisation, which is a result of rapid technological progress, is here to stay, even if it has stalled in some cases. Therefore, to enhance its economic prospects and improve the welfare of its people, India must maintain an outward orientation of its economy and avoid marginalization of the regional and global economy, the report said.
It said that India’s pursuit of an expanded regional and global role would yield optimal results only if it did a better job of managing its subcontinent’s neighbourhoods, becoming a net security provider and a source of public goods.
It said, ‘India’s domestic politics should not be a hindrance to its Neighborhood First policy.
The authors subscribe to the vision of India expressed by their constitution and believe that it is this which should guide the country’s trajectory towards the position of great power. This should be reflected in inclusive policies and reduction of inequalities and in distributing the core responsibilities of health, education and public safety to all its citizens.
The report said that India’s future as a great power hinges on its ability to protect the fundamental sources of global influence, in particular, political democracy enshrined in a liberal constitution, and economic progress with social inclusion. It said, “India’s innate cosmopolitanism is a unique asset in this historic endeavor derived from its extraordinary diversity.”
“The coming decade opens up opportunities for India to continue its international role and influence, if we do what we should be doing at home and in our neighbourhoods,” Shivshankar Menon said at the launch of the report.
The authors of “India’s Path to Power” recognize that the current period of rapid geopolitical change and economic change poses risks, but also creates room for emerging countries such as India to expand their strategic autonomy. However, to seize the opportunities and mitigate risks, critical decisions must be taken now to ensure that the coming decade sets the stage for India’s emergence as a leading power in Asia and beyond.
“Strategic autonomy, openness and inclusive economic growth are key guiding principles. This should go in parallel with further strengthening partnerships with the US, Japan and Europe, which share India’s security concerns and continue to be major sources of capital, trade and technology that will enhance India’s growth prospects. India-Russia relations will continue to be relevant in tackling issues in the region and responding to global challenges,” it said.
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