Statecraft and Diplomacy: Is It India's Time?
MUMBAI, 4 February 2015 – In an evening of lively discussion Asia Society welcomed to its platform Dr. David M. Malone, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Richard Bale, Consul General of Canada in Mumbai and Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, Foreign Editor of the Hindustan Times. The wide-ranging conversation centred around the ‘Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy’.
Vastly informative, the speakers delved into the changing avatar of India’s foreign relations bringing to the fore global perspectives on India and domestic constraints impacting diplomacy. Dr. Malone began the evening by speaking about the all-encompassing Oxford Handbook and detailed on its many unique contributors and viewpoints. He began the discussion by highlighting that India’s foreign policy – as seen today- has been a culmination of 30 years of progress in the field, not a sudden take off under the current leadership. While Consul General Bale argued that Prime Minister Modi has surprised everyone by doing everything right in the realm of foreign policy since his first day in office.
Delving into the institutional constraints of the Indian Foreign Service, the lacuna of Diplomats and Officials in India was highlighted in comparison with its large military presence. Richard Bale advocated that one of India’s strengths was strategy in the private sector; however, strategy is broadly considered to be missing in foreign relations. Dr. Malone in return emphasised the evolutionary nature of institutional growth and stated privatisation was not necessarily a solution to resolve diplomatic difficulties.
The conversationalists then commented on changing global dynamics that put economics and trade front and centre in all foreign relations. Chaudhuri also elaborated on how Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had similar economics driven foreign policy agendas.
From dal to diaspora, the conversation kept the audience enthralled; however, the consensus of the discussion, in the words of Dr. Malone remained: “it is India’s moment, but India is going to have lots of moments going forward.”
Reported by Antaraa Vasudev, Programme Assistant, Asia Society India Centre
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