MPSE – 001 India and the World Notes In English Medium

Q1-Explain the perspective of interdependence for understanding world politics.

OR

How has interdependence in India's foreign policy affected world politics?

Answer-

Introduction

The study of World Politics is based on understanding the relations among nations, international organizations, the global balance of power, and policy-making processes. Until the 20th century, this study was mainly based on the Realist Perspective, in which the sovereignty, security, and power of the nation-state were considered supreme. However, in the era of globalization, when the boundaries of nations have become interconnected economically, environmentally, technologically, and socially, the theory of interdependence has become an important perspective to understand world politics.

Meaning of Interdependence:

A situation in which two or more countries or institutions become so dependent on each other that they are unable to function independently. This dependency exists in areas such as trade, environment, security, technology, energy, and health. Therefore, in today's era, no country can remain completely self-reliant, the needs of all countries are, in some form, connected to other countries.

Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye, in their book Power and Interdependence: World Politics in Transition (1977), presented the theory of interdependence as "Complex Interdependence," in which they explained that the modern world order is not driven solely by military power, but economic, social, and institutional networks are equally influential.

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Perspective of interdependence in world politics and India's foreign policy:

Interdependence or mutual dependency has become an important perspective in today's global politics. Its impact has been seen on the foreign policy of all countries, including India. After the Cold War, many changestook place in the world, such as the rise of globalization, economic integration among countries, and the emergence of new powers ts contemporary effects were as follows:

1. Deep connection between domestic factors and foreign policy - India's foreign policy does not depend only on its relations with the outside world, but is also connected to the internal conditions of the country. As political, economic, and social circumstances change within India, changes also occur in foreign policy. In the 1990s, when India moved towards economic reforms, internal instability and ideological confusion influenced foreign policy. At that time, it was not clear in which direction and how India should move forward on the global stage.

2. Changes in the international system The world is no longer limited to just inter-state relations. In today's world, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), multinational corporations, financial institutions (such as IMF, WTO, World Bank), and many transnational factors also play an important role. Therefore, now not only governments, but many non-governmental and private institutions also influence foreign policy.

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3. Traditional concept of security is now outdated - Earlier, security meant only military power and the protection of borders. But now, issues like economic crisis, environmental pollution, terrorism, cross-border crimes, poverty, and population explosion have also become major security concerns. Therefore, India too must now adopt a broader perspective in defining security.

4. New global challenges and India's role - The world has now become multi-polar, which means that one or two countries no longer decide everything. Even a superpower like the United States cannot control every issue. In such a situation, India must also come forward to play an active role on the global stage and protect its own interests.

5. Impact of economic globalization - Today, the world's economy has become interconnected. India has to operate according to the rules of international trade organizations, such as the WTO. These institutions put pressure on India to open its markets for foreign companies. This has affected the country's economic sovereignty, but it was also necessary so that India could become a dynamic partner in the global economic framework.

Contemporary India must now adopt a foreign policy that not only focuses on military security but also includes issues like economic prosperity, environment, technology, and social development. India must move forward by protecting its national interests and security, without getting entangled in the wave of globalization.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we can say that in this changing era of the 21st century, no country can remain completely self-reliant. Understanding this reality, India has also made changes in its foreign policy. It is no longer focused only on military and political matters, but economic, social, and environmental issues have also been included. This gives a new direction to India's foreign policy.

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