Operationalisation of Ethical Principles in Reinforcing Multilateral Cooperation, Amid Democratic Backsliding.

In an ever-evolving, unpredictable world order, a moderate, realistic and flexible country has several opportunities to shape and influence it. It has been observed that opportunities in the international system do not wait for long. There is no true democracy in the global arena.

Illustration by The Geostrata

A middle-income country like India, which does not hold commanding formal positions at the high tables of bodies like the UN, must try to take the initiative in fields like AI, space, Environment and Disaster management, in which it can be consequential in shaping outcomes. Pragmatic considerations should be valued more than symbolic and emotional friendships.

Sun Tzu – “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.”

In the past, American pop music, Hollywood, denim jeans, entrepreneurship, a democratic political system and most importantly, hamburgers have proved to be more powerful than the communist growth. Likewise, to champion its concerns and for limited meddling, India can leverage its influence by amalgamating its hard power, exemplified by Made in India drones, planes, and aircraft carriers, with the soft power of Ayurveda, yoga, its domestic universities, patents, and think tanks, which produce globally relevant books.

India could significantly contribute towards proposing to the world an approach for amalgamating sustainability and development. It has the required clout to take the leadership of Global South climate demands. Not just because of its frequent engagement in climate-conscious initiatives and discourses at the global stage, but more so because of its national character, which is in many ways transcendental. India should participate as an equal partner in setting terms for the renewable energy transition and responsible use of AI.

There is a need for data sovereignty, democratic control of AI technologies, a protocol on autonomous weapons, and this should not be relegated to merely not corporate monopolies. 

At COP 27, the Just Energy Transition Partnership was discussed. India is at the forefront of the International Solar Alliance. Domestically, it is promoting the hydrogen-based economy, and it has supported the concept of the blue economy.

It can harness its immense potential to produce renewable energy and can even export some of its produced energy to other countries. This possibility would require it to invest in the manufacturing of equipment.

The G20 under India’s presidency endorsed a working group on Disaster risk reduction, which also aligns with the commitments under the Sendai Framework 2030. Losses caused by disasters account for a significant portion of the GDP in many low-income countries annually. These disasters disrupt development projects, exacerbate poverty, and could lead to the spread of epidemics and on a larger scale, these result in increasing social polarisation between nations and communities.

Climate change brings with it such disruptive realities, hence disaster resilience and risk financing need to be given priority. Governments worldwide need to be given help in enhancing their technical and institutional capacity for risk assessment and financial assistance.

Being a middle power, India can neither operate with humility as Europe does vis-à-vis America nor does it possess the leverage of China. India’s predicament is that the bigger you are, the bigger the consequences. Undertaking market exploration, particularly for critical minerals and providing others with thoughtful market access, forging new and renewing old FTAs, and investing in robust supply chains, is needed for its economic stability and better integration.

India has invested in and sustained a foreign policy of multi-alignment, but the returns from having many friends have been few in times of conflict. India should go for principled distance from conventional big players of the international system in the long run. Geopolitically, maintaining its strategic autonomy helps it keep within its agency the capacity to alternate between options, and no one can bully it. 

In a crisis, having a few strong and reliable partners counts more than having many weak ones. Hence, India should prioritise its relations with partners that extend crucial security assistance.

A more self-reliant Europe means that India has more options for collaboration in defence and diplomatic ventures.

In this attempt, smaller and newer players like Central Asian and African countries, which have strong but untapped potential, should not be ignored for the larger and more commanding ones. It should stand firm on defence diversifications with Russia, manage US concerns tactically, and align Russia engagement with Central Asia outreach.

Having lived through the process of developing its own economy, India can assist lower-income countries in various aspects in which it has successfully progressed. Regional cooperation with incentivised and constructive engagement, and global blocs with diverse memberships, like the Quad, need to be given precedence. Strategic opportunities in the Gulf and Africa need to be seized.

The world currently lacks morally sound leadership. By leveraging its soft power penetration, aid, evacuation, and similar initiatives, it could aim to orchestrate trusted small-group coalitions. With India as an experienced and leading player, these could carry out collective action and strategic outreach on a larger scale. India should work towards strengthening humanitarian and development participation to maintain goodwill.

India’s outreach in the Indian Ocean region has been associated with its competition with China, and comes before us in the form of alignment with the US or being part of US-led groupings. India could benefit from great power rivalries. India should invest in developing diversified and resilient supply chains.

It should continue to negotiate FTAs with different countries while ensuring domestic competitiveness. India should try to diversify its energy imports for future resilience.

In the neighbourhood, India should abandon the idealistic approach. Challenges with Pakistan and China have not only a material but an ideological dimension. These countries push a civilizational narrative which complicates India’s attempts. India should continue with its backchannel diplomacy and confidence-building measures. People-to-people contacts also need to be considered.

Attempts should be made to avoid all-out conflict, but it should not budge from its stance and utilise pressure tactics. China has started to move towards Australia, and India should leverage its Quad and BIMSTEC membership and association with ASEAN member countries to work out a balance. Quad countries could also contribute to rare earth supply chains and semiconductor manufacturing. In the maritime space, India must strengthen its naval capacity, Island diplomacy, and pull up logistics pacts and naval exercises with stakeholder countries.

In 1945, post-World War II, India missed the opportunity to participate in designing the world order. A reformist India should now proactively engage, articulate its ideas and contribute to devising a scheme for the world system now. Rhetoric, symbolism and idealism should not deter pragmatic considerations. It should negotiate more consequential geo-economic changes based on institutionalisation and humanitarian logic.

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BY SARAH CHISHTY

Sarah Chishty is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Sophia College (Autonomous), Ajmer. She holds an M.A. in Political Science and is a UGC-NET qualified scholar. Her academic interests include governance, public policy, and contemporary Indian politics.

Note: The piece is a part of the essay competition, inspired by the Carnegie Council's Global Ethics Day.