Gandhi’s Cosmopolitan Ethic: From Swaraj To World Family

“Nonviolence is the greatest and the most active force in the world.” 

Nonviolence, for Gandhi, is a principle which guided India’s struggle for freedom and framed a universal ethos for ahimsa. Mahatma Gandhi’s vision extended far beyond national freedom, his ideas included nonviolence and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, standing for the interconnectedness of all individuals and underscoring the value of One Earth One Family, placing him well within contemporary cosmopolitan thoughts.

Illustration by The Geostrata

In an era of rising nationalism and tensions all around the world, understanding Gandhi and his thoughts on nationalism and international cosmopolitanism becomes pivotal.

Gandhi’s thoughts convey how nations can pursue sovereignty and national interest without resorting to alienation or hard power.

Moreover, accentuating how global ethics can prosper without ignoring cultural identities, proving how love and gratitude for one’s nation can also serve humanity at large. Leo Tolstoy, a Russian author, regarded as one of the most influential authors of the time, had a connection with Gandhi, both of them exchanged letters and writings  on nonviolence, Swaraj, and love, as also articulated in Tolstoy’s The Kingdom of God is Within You. Their exchange of letters further strengthened Gandhi’s philosophies of ahimsa and nonviolence. 

GANDHI & NATIONALISM

Gandhi put forward the idea of Swaraj, which refers to self-rule. Gandhi was committed to justice which was rooted in moral authority instead of one rooted in violence or coercion, which set him apart from conventional norms set at that time.

For Gandhi, ethics and sovereignty played a co-dependent role, which led to him advocating for a state grounded in ethics and morals and introduced the concept of Ram Rajya which is still prevalent in politics though just limited to campaigning agendas.

GANDHIAN COSMOPOLITANISM 

Ahimsa stood as one of the most crucial pillars in Gandhi’s cosmopolitan vision. Ahimsa, meaning nonviolence, is rooted in the Advaita philosophy, expressing the significance of peaceful coexistence and the power of tolerance. Further, it was explained how an individual and the collective well being of a society are dependent on each other with morality and ethics playing as connectors between all these dimensions.

“My patriotism is not an exclusive thing. It is all-embracing and I should reject that patriotism which sought to mount upon the distress or exploitation of other nations.” (Hind Swaraj, 1909)

Gandhi’s ashrams served as spaces where equality and cooperation were practised, where individuals were considered as flagbearers of his cosmopolitan ethos, where Satyagraha allowed them to practice ahimsa.

Furthermore, Gandhi’s cosmopolitanism also has its roots in the ancient Indian dictum Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, meaning “the world is one family” as practiced by India’s presidency at the G20 in 2023. His thoughts also find parallelism in the Stoic and Kantian cosmopolitan traditions. Immanuel Kant advocated for perpetual peace, whereas, on the other hand, Gandhi points to universal justice and the ethical responsibilities of all members of a society.

More importantly, Gandhi’s cosmopolitanism emerged from the Global South, demonstrating how internationalist ethics were not a Western point of view. His approach challenged colonial hierarchies, offering a model where compassion and justice serve as the basis of international relations rather than hard powers.

NONVIOLENCE AS A GLOBAL POLITICAL PRACTICE

Gandhi’s ideas were not only confined to India, for instance, in South Africa, he developed the system of nonviolence in order to combat systemic racism and inequality, demonstrating how crucial it is to transform society. Nonviolent movements inspired by Gandhi have influenced politics around Nepal, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Europe, demonstrating the pertinence of Satyagraha and Ahimsa as tools for social transformation.

Nonviolent cosmopolitics, as Gandhi envisioned, promotes harmony across all cultures and religions, bridging cultural divides and putting emphasis on equality and global connectivity.

For example, Nelson Mandela, in many ways was a practitioner of Gandhi’s Satyagraha and how he emphasised how Gandhi’s values of nonviolence and ahimsa were going to be the key for human cooperation in the coming centuries. Gandhi’s principles became a diplomatic principle, illustrating how nonviolence is not culture or religion specific but a universally accessible tool which is capable of bringing actual change in societies starting from the grassroots. 

NATIONALISM AND COSMOPOLITANISM

Gandhi advocated for Indian self-rule and aatmanirbharta (independence) while maintaining universal ethics. This convergence provided a model for modern states pursuing national interests explaining how they can pursue national interests while also keeping in mind their shared global responsibility, treating the earth as one family.

In addition, according to Gandhi, moral and humanitarian principles are important to be incorporated into foreign policy, which in turn highlighted the importance of dialogue and negotiation.

Gandhi also put forward the idea of trusteeship and shared sovereignty, which can further guide equitable international relations. 

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR INDIA’S DIPLOMACY TODAY? 

In practice, this approach can be found in India’s foreign policy, emphasising soft power and multilateralism and proposing a world order in which human dignity and shared responsibility are prioritised alongside strategic interests.

Taking reference from contemporary IR debates, Gandhi’s vision offers pathways to realise a just world order, acting as an antidote to rising insularity and coercive models of cosmopolitanism, calling for renewed research into cosmopolitan traditions from India and beyond, and at the same time, expanding the global discourse beyond Western paradigms. To put it simply, sovereignty need not always mean isolationism and vice-versa.

CONCLUSION

Gandhi was not only the architect of the Indian freedom struggle but also a visionary of global peace and cosmopolitanism. His amalgamation of nationalism and cosmopolitanism offers lessons for today’s geopolitics.

Gandhi’s thoughts remind us that moral authority and shared humanity are requisites for a just and peaceful global order.

On his 156th birth anniversary in 2025, his principles can be recognised in a world where sovereignty and universal ethics co-exist and where the pursuit of national interests aligns with the pursuit of global justice.

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BY NANDITA LATA

CENTRE FOR HISTORY AND CULTURE

TEAM GEOSTRATA

info@thegeostrata.com