India's 'Great Power' Ambition: A Civilizational Response to Western Skepticism
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: International Relations (India's foreign policy doctrines - Non-Alignment, Strategic Autonomy; Groupings - Quad, SCO); Modern Indian History (Post-Independence).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2 (International Relations): India and its neighborhood- relations; Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India; Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests. This article provides a framework for a Mains answer on India's place in the world.
Essay: Topics on India's rising global stature, Civilizational values in foreign policy, etc.
Key Highlights from the News
This article strongly refutes Western criticisms that view India's aspirations for "Great Power" status with skepticism.
The author argues that India's growth has strong historical and cultural foundations, and it is not merely a "delusion."
Key Pillars of India's Strength:
Economic transformation (from a 'famine-prone country' to a food grain exporting nation).
Moral authority and diplomatic leadership achieved through initiatives like the Non-Aligned Movement.
Ability to manage contradictions. For example, being an active member of both the US-led Quad and the China-led SCO simultaneously.
Technological superiority and growth in the digital sector.
Western countries, especially the US, fail to understand India's civilizational strengths and its balanced foreign policy.
The article states that Eastern civilizations like India and China now prioritize economic growth and peaceful coexistence over war and conflict.
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