Subject: GS 2
Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora. Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.
Questions
- Highlight the strategy and potential contradictions in India's participation in the Quad, a coalition with the US and its Asian allies, and BRICS, where India engages with China, Russia, Brazil, and South Africa. (250 Words, 15 Marks)
- Analyse the reasons behind the growing preference for mini-laterals in global politics and discuss the advantages of mini-laterals compared to global bodies. (150 Words, 10 Marks)
Model Structure
1. Highlight the strategy and potential contradictions in India's participation in the Quad, a coalition with the US and its Asian allies, and BRICS, where India engages with China, Russia, Brazil, and South Africa. (250 Words, 15 Marks)
Model Structure
Introduction:
- The quadrilateral security dialogue (Quad) consists of Japan, India, the United States, and Australia, united by their democratic values and shared interests in maritime trade and security.
- On the other hand, BRICS is a grouping of emerging economies, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, aimed at enhancing cooperation for sustainable and mutually beneficial development.
Main Body
However, in moving closer to the US and the US-led Quad in recent years”, experts argue, Delhi has worsened “India-China and India-Russia relations” and halted progress “in the development of BRICS”. So it presents a contradiction before India whether to choose QUAD or BRICS.
Contradictions:
- India's engagement in both BRICS and the Quad reflects its strategic confusion between the East and the West and between Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific.
- From Beijing’s perspective, India has leveraged the BRICS for regional cooperation and used the Quad as a potential counterbalance to China's influence, according to Beijing's perspective.
- To become a member of an anti-China military alliance while remaining part of an important bloc involving China, India finds itself in a difficult situation where it may be forced to choose its side.
- China accuses India of adopting a non-cooperative attitude within BRICS, limiting the development of the group in recent years.
- While India seeks financial support through platforms like the New Development Bank, China believes India's approach has been restrictive in other aspects.
India’s Strategy:
- The BRICS was part of India’s strategy in the unipolar moment that dawned at the end of the Cold War.
- India’s current enthusiasm for the Quad is about limiting the dangers of a unipolar Asia dominated by China.
- The BRICS forum provides a useful communication channel between Delhi and Beijing at a very difficult moment in the evolution of their bilateral relations.
- The BRICS is also about India’s enduring partnerships with Russia, Brazil, and South Africa.
- India, through various multilateral ties, now appears ready to expand cooperation with the West or East based on enlightened self-interest.
- India is open to benefiting from the Quad's support and enhancing regional connectivity, as well as expanding its naval capabilities.
- Additionally, India is willing to engage with China if there is cooperation in addressing terrorism and facilitating India's growth.
- India held that the Quad was more about sharing democratic experiences than a security arrangement directed at China.
- India’s membership in QUAD should be seen in this light as a counterbalancing initiative to secure its neighbourhood.
- The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said India seeks to have a prominent role in the Quad and BRICS, aiming for active participation on international platforms and maintaining a balanced engagement between the two groups.
Conclusion:
- India's government has maintained a clear stance regarding India's role in global affairs. However, how it navigates its position in both the BRICS and the Quad will ultimately determine its statesmanship.
- Given India's proximity to China and the extensive border shared between the two countries, India must exercise caution and strategically engage with both BRICS and the Quad, aiming to have a role in both groups.
2. Analyse the reasons behind the growing preference for mini-laterals in global politics and discuss the advantages of mini-laterals compared to global bodies. (150 Words, 10 Marks)
Model Structure
Introduction:
- Minilaterals are informal initiatives involving a small number of states that aim to address specific threats or security issues within a defined timeframe. They are ad hoc in nature and rely on voluntary commitments from participating countries.
- Minilaterals have existed alongside bilateral and multilateral approaches in global governance since the post-war era. The creation of multilateral institutions involved disguised minilateral negotiations among Atlantic powers led by the United States.
Main Body:
In recent years there has been a steady proliferation of minilateral initiatives in the areas of trade, security, finance, and climate change. Certain reasons for this are:
- Inertia and stagnation in Multilaterals: Multilateral organisations face hurdles in decision-making due to their formal structures and diverse membership.
- The changing global order raises questions about their continued relevance.
- The growing importance of Strategic Alliances over global cooperation.
- These initiatives can facilitate issue-specific partnerships between like-minded countries.
- Example: Quad has been created to advance the interests of like-minded countries.
- Rising Geopolitical Rivalry: Geopolitical rivalry and a multipolar world have strained multilateral organisations, leading to stalled decision-making and institutional reforms.
- Growth of ICT: Technological advancements have facilitated global and regional cooperation by expanding networks and enabling less formal means of communication, such as telephony and the Internet.
- Capacity constraints of countries: China's territorial disputes with neighbours challenge minilateralism due to its aggressive behaviour and the power disparity with smaller countries.
- Cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), Freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and the rules-based order are key drivers of minilateralism in the Indo-Pacific region.
The advantages of mini laterals are:
- Bring in Balance of Power: Disputes with China have compelled India and other Indo-Pacific countries to adopt a power-centric approach in shaping the regional order, contrary to their historical stance.
- Coming together of Like-minded Partners: India's multilateral engagement strengthens military preparedness and interoperability through agreements with key Indo-Pacific powers.
- The slower pace of Multilateral bodies: Plurilateral initiatives have shown greater success in international trade regulation than multilateral agreements.
- For ex-, Because of the slow pace of the Doha trade negotiations, countries have increasingly explored minilateral and plurilateral mechanisms to renegotiate tariffs and remove trade barriers.
- Absence of Formal Institutions: Minilaterals operate without formal institutions or physical offices, allowing member states to determine objectives and priorities based on pressing issues.
However, the rise of these mini laterals is also associated with certain disadvantages and limitations. Some of them are:
- Impact on Multilaterals: Minilaterals can undermine the role of regional multilateral institutions like ASEAN, ARF, and East Asia Summit, weakening their neutrality and centrality.
- Impact on Global Organisations: Minilaterals undermine international organisations, impacting their relevance and work programs.
- Impact on Global governance: Minilaterals can fragment global governance mechanisms and escalate great power competition, hindering cooperation.
- Example: SCO and AIIB, led by China, compete with G20 and G7, led by the West, forming parallel power structures.
Conclusion:
- Minilaterals foster political dialogue and confidence-building among key partners, paving the way for streamlined negotiations in multilateral platforms and advancing international cooperation.
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