Participation in BRICS: Indian Approach / Anita Dkhar

Anita Dkhar, PhD student, International Relations Department, RUDN University - presented at the BRICS International School 2019

The modern multipolar world can be characterized by variety of international relations, where there is no definite leader as well as by the growing role of the developing world. In this regard, the Republic of India being a representative of non-Western civilization can be singled out as one of the ascendant powers of the present.

The state is demonstrating high rates of economic growth. Today, the Indian economy is the fastest growing in the world; GDP in 2018 amounted to 7.9%.%. The country ranks second after China in terms of population, which in 2019 amounted to 1.368 billion people.

Traditionally, India adhered to the principle of “cooperation with everyone”, without adjoining one or another military bloc, for example, during the confrontation between the USSR and the USA, which was the most far-sighted for the ruling elite of the state and from the point of view of the national interests of the state.

Modern India is actively participating in various events in the international arena. An example of this is the participation of India in the international association BRICS. Despite close relations with western countries, India poses itself as an important actor of international relations by joining a raising voice for the better environment in the international development for the developing countries.

It is important to mention that the actions of the Indian government in the international arena are dictated by domestic needs and changes within the state. India’s activities in BRICS cannot be called as monotonous either. The reasons can be identified as: change of the ruling elite, progress / regression in national development, international developments.

Basically it would be logical to separate the participation of India in BRICS in two periods – rule of Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi.

In the 90-es of the last century, India faced structural economic and financial crisis that had a cruel influence on the development of India. So with the reforms of Manmohan Singh – the minister of finance at that time, the representative of the Indian National Congress, the Indian government had put the economy of India “on its feet”. The demand for agricultural products in that period fell sharply, and industry and services replaced them due to the global technological breakthrough in those years. Thus, India no longer met the requirements of that time.

As a result of the 1991 liberal reforms, India was gradually building up economic power and influence at the regional and international levels. The reforms included: reduction of tariffs, the unification of exchange rates, the adoption of a number of liberal measures regarding foreign direct investment, the introduction of convertibility of the national currency. Reforms were also carried out in the industrial and commercial sectors of the economy, which were aimed at intensifying the competitive environment within the state and abroad. The substantial expansion of the Indian private sector has also contributed to enhancing the competitive environment, mainly due to the increasing role of services.

In 2006 India actively supported the Russian initiative to create BRIC summit format. As Russia was considered to be a close friend of India. Also at that time, the Indian economy needed investment and expansion of foreign economic cooperation from regional to international level.

Despite close relations with Western partners, the BRIC (S) cooperation format provides India with the opportunity to act as one of the leading actors in the modern multipolar world, which has replaced the unipolar system of international relations and its Bretton-Wood system, which is no longer able to match the dynamics of changes. The crisis of 2008 is most indicative.

According to the speeches of Manmohan Singh at the BRICS summits we can say that economic and technological agenda had stayed as the topical one during the whole period of Singh`s term.

So, in 2010, at the second BRICS summit in Brasilia, Manmohan Singh noted the importance of such areas as the development of agriculture, energy, technology, economic and financial development, and the fight against terrorism.

In 2012 at the fourth BRICS summit India proposed initiative to create a Development Bank, which was adopted at the fifth BRICS summit in Durban.

In 2013, at the BRICS summit in South Africa, Manmohan Singh noted in an interview that the partners will discuss methods for reviving and ensuring macroeconomic stability, as well as mechanisms for promoting investment in infrastructure and developing the concept of sustainable development. According to the Prime Minister, India also committed to help reform the institutions of political and economic governance.

In 2014 in a welcoming speech during the Durban Summit, Mr. Singh addressed topics such as the need for economic research on processes in developing countries, economic growth, sustainable economic recovery and balanced trade profits, and environmental and safety issues.

Thus, continuing the economic policy of the 1990s, Singh came up with initiatives mainly in the areas of economy, trade, business, inclusive economic development.

In 2014, Narendra Modi, the representative of the Hindu nationalist party of Bharatiya Janata Party, won the election. The current Prime Minister is more radical in his views and actions than his predecessor. Modi fully demonstrates the ambitions of great India, simultaneously trying to strengthen the country's image in the international arena by increasing its soft power. Modi’s policy is also aimed at improving the welfare of the population. For example, some of his initiatives included the creation of affordable technologies, improved sanitation, and easier access to water and electricity.

So, the head of India supports the principles of sustainable development, and it is also often seen in the positions of India regarding participation in BRICS.

Among other things, the Prime Minister is gradually internationalizing Indian production through the programs “Make in India”, “Skill India”, “100 Smart Cities”, “Digital India”, etc., attracting the attention of investors from all over the world and promoting growth manufacturing sector, the development of Indian business and the improvement of urbanization processes.

Due to changes in the international arena, the concept of BRICS has expanded to the concept of both economic and political unification. This is clearly seen during the BRICS summit in Ufa in 2015, when for the first time political issues were put on the agenda.

The BRICS countries have also established an additional mechanism for independent financial stability, without relying on the IMF for help – i.e. creation of the New Development Bank. We can also mention trade processes in national currencies. Which also has political focus.

The most striking point of the Ufa final declaration sounded like: “We insist that international law is called upon to play the role of an instrument for achieving international justice, based on the principles of good faith and sovereign equality.” According to media reports, this time forum laid the foundations for a new world governance system.

In 2016, India hosted the BRICS summit in Goa, continuing the political component. Due to the growth of Islamic radicalism, the danger of population`s involvement in terrorist activities around the world raised. And South and Central Asia had turned into one of the most dangerous centers of clashes. In this regard, the Goa Summit was remembered by the anti-terrorism initiatives of Narendra Modi.

Here we can also mention political disagreements between India and Pakistan regarding terrorist attacks and China's active support for Pakistan. The Indian-Chinese contradictions were also indirectly reflected in another initiative put forward by Modi – the joint BRICS-BIMSTEC summit, which was unofficially aimed to strengthen the influence of India in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region. After such an incident, Indian media and experts began to call Narendra Modi a national hero in the foreign policy arena, instead of talking, he began actions that had to be taken a long time ago.

At one of the lectures with students, the representative of the Strategic Council for Political Communications of India, Nisheth Sharan, comparing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressed his opinion about them as patriots of their states, fighters for national interests.

In general, there has been an increase in India’s political interest in the BRICS during Modi`s term. After the victory in the further elections Modi continued acting in the same ambitious way in the name of achieving the national interests of India, sometimes provoking and shocking the international community with unexpected actions and statements. However, Modi’s patriotic goal of making India one of the first states in the world justifies the means.

Origin: http://infobrics.org/post/29407