“The balance of power is the scale of peace. The same balance would be preserved were all the world not destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside … Horrid mischief would ensue were one-half the world deprived of the use of them … the weak will become prey to the strong.” ~ Thomas Paine
India was among the first nations to be free of colonial authority, and now it is a major democratic country with 1.3 billion co-existing with diversity. Over the past six decades shifting power has not been like a pendulum but a roller coaster. India has made considerable progress from Nehru’s Non-Alignment Movement to Modi’s motive of India as a super-power through Sabka Sath Sabka Vishwas, several succeeding prime ministers with their ideologies have altered India grew up in reaction to shifting global geopolitical forces, which has overall transformed bilateral and multilateral ties. In my opinion , looking from the perspective of power we can assume the middle powers states like India that they just have enough strength and authority to have their say, especially in security and global affairs. However, the influence does not spread to all realms , power does.
Looking Back To Foreign Policy And Geo-politics Of India
We have heard about soft, and hard power in geopolitics but realistically we should also notice what becomes a situational power form. We can easily call it a smart power that involves diplomatic approach and mixture of both hard and soft power. India from the time of post the independence followed the the objectives of Optimistic Non-Alignment (1947–1962), which was marked by the emergence of a bipolar world, where to oppose the diminution of its sovereignty, restore its economy, and consolidate its position in the world.
As a result, it was logical for India to lead Asia and Africa in the pursuit of a more fair global order which relayed the image of India as a soft power nation. In pursuit of this, India was instrumental in the formation of the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) (1961), which represented the pinnacle of Third World cooperation. Yet, the 1962 clash with China not only ended this period, but also greatly harmed India’s standing on NAM which led India to look towards hard power as an option. For the purpose of national security, the second phase (1962–1971): Decade of Realism and Recovery went by and the third phase (1971–1991: Greater Indian Regional Assertion) witnessed India adopt unprecedented liberation of Bangladesh during the India–Pakistan conflict which clearly projected that India applied it’s lesson of hard power. However, it was a particularly challenging time because the then-emerging US-China-Pakistan axis seriously threatened India’s chances of dominating the area.
India was subject to sanctions after conducting a non-lethal nuclear test in 1974 because of the United States and its allies (Pokhran I) which proved that India was getting ready for any emergency which might require. The fourth phase (1991–1988): Safeguarding Strategic Autonomy , this desire for strategic independence was particularly concerned with maintaining its nuclear weapon capacity (Pokhran II 1998) which also brought the hard power in context.
India Towards A Groundbreaking Decade Of Situation-ship
The current phase from 2013 to the present followed energetic engagement, during which India’s non-alignment policy has changed into multi-alignment majorly through soft power. India is also growing more aware of both its own potential and the expectations placed on it by the outside world.
One factor is that India has a diverse cultural force that is displayed from New York to Indonesia, maintaining ties with Saudi Arabia , tea time with American President , India-Africa partnership , India’s concentration on its immediate neighborhood and built stronger relations in every possible way like the last few years – renewed ties with ASEAN and RCEP and concentrated on connectivity projects (digital, physical, and cultural growth) leading to be a determined soft power , hence , being the 27th rank in culturally rich countries in terms of global soft power rank 2022 .
However, India also dreams to be a superpower which makes it important to influence crucial international discussions and to hold a nuclear power. Its strategy projects like the SAGAR project, active replies like the Uri surgical strike , Balakot reply-attack and its recent ranking as the fourth largest military power in Asia proves that India is standing in the of the see-saw of powers and acts opportunistically or situationally as per the need.
In the last decade, the globe evidenced the rise of China as a leading superpower from the pacific to the global level. This has brought a balance of power threat to India .
In my opinion, the growing population of India is very approaching and a nation with active international involvement from the United Nations, BRICS, QUAD, BIMSTEC, etc , which definitely brings a green light for India to grow as a smart power but lean towards power with situation, this way to develop fresh diplomatic paradigm might help India grow in future.
To summarize, with periods of dynamic geopolitical transitions , India’s location and approach to power must run as it is , in leading platforms and help the country to pursue a strategy of collaboration with numerous partners on a variety of goals in multi-vectoral manner following the situation.