Critically analyze the different phases of India's foreign policy since independence. How justified, do you think, is S. Jaishankar's classification of the current phase as the phase of 'energetic diplomacy'?

Evolution of India's Foreign Policy Since Independence

India's foreign policy journey can be broadly categorized into several distinct phases, each influenced by prevailing geopolitical realities and domestic priorities. While different scholars propose slightly varied classifications, a commonly accepted framework outlines the following stages:

1. The Era of Optimistic Non-Alignment (1947-1962)

This phase was largely shaped by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's vision. Emerging from colonial rule into a bipolar world dominated by the US and USSR, India championed non-alignment to safeguard its sovereignty and pursue independent foreign policy. Key characteristics included:

• Non-Alignment Movement (NAM): India played a pivotal role in the establishment of NAM in 1961, advocating for a third path distinct from the two Cold War blocs.
• Anti-colonialism and Anti-imperialism: Strong support for decolonization movements across Asia and Africa.
• Panchsheel Principles: Emphasizing peaceful coexistence, mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, non-aggression, non-interference, and equality and mutual benefit.
• Moralistic Approach: Often prioritising global peace and solidarity over immediate national interests.

Critique: While non-alignment provided India with moral stature and a leadership role among newly independent nations, its idealism was tested by the 1962 Sino-Indian War, which exposed vulnerabilities and highlighted the limitations of relying solely on moral principles without adequate hard power.

2. Realism and Recovery (1962-1971)

The aftermath of the 1962 war brought a pragmatic shift. India began to prioritize national security and made more realistic choices in its foreign policy, moving towards a more defensive approach.

• Focus on Security: Increased defense spending and efforts to strengthen military capabilities.
• Strategic Engagements: While still adhering to non-alignment in principle, India engaged with both the US and USSR for defense assistance and diplomatic support, as seen in the Tashkent Agreement of 1965.
• Nuclear Ambitions: The need for strategic deterrence began to emerge, culminating later in peaceful nuclear explosion in 1974.

Critique: This phase marked a necessary recalibration, acknowledging the importance of hard power and strategic partnerships. However, economic vulnerabilities continued to constrain India's global ambitions.

3. Regional Assertion and Cold War Alignment (1971-1991)

This period witnessed India's enhanced regional role, notably in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, alongside closer ties with the Soviet Union, effectively a deviation from strict non-alignment.

• Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation (1971): This treaty provided a strategic shield during the 1971 war and solidified India's tilt towards the Soviet bloc.
• Nuclear Test (Pokhran-I, 1974): India's first peaceful nuclear explosion asserted its technological capability and strategic autonomy.
• Regional Power Projection: India's intervention in Bangladesh and its growing influence in South Asia.

Critique: This phase demonstrated India's capacity for decisive action and its growing regional influence. However, the close alignment with the USSR raised questions about its non-aligned credentials and led to tensions with the US and its allies.

4. Post-Cold War Transition and Economic Liberalization (1991-2000)

The collapse of the Soviet Union and India's economic crisis of 1991 necessitated a fundamental shift in foreign policy, driven by economic imperatives and the emergence of a unipolar world.

• "Look East" Policy (1992): Aimed at strengthening economic and strategic ties with Southeast Asian and East Asian nations.
• Engagement with the West: Improved relations with the United States and European countries, driven by the need for foreign investment and technology.
• Nuclear Tests (Pokhran-II, 1998): India conducted further nuclear tests, asserting its nuclear deterrent capability, leading to international sanctions but ultimately paving the way for engagement as a responsible nuclear power.

Critique: This phase marked a pragmatic adaptation to the new global order, prioritizing economic growth and diversified partnerships. However, the initial years were characterized by a certain hesitancy in fully embracing its global potential.

5. India as a Balancing Power (2000-2014)

In this phase, India actively sought to balance relations with various global powers while pursuing its strategic interests, often described as 'multi-alignment'.

• Strategic Partnerships: Deepening engagement with the US (e.g., Civil Nuclear Deal 2008), Russia (defence cooperation), and emerging powers like China (BRICS formation).
• Multilateral Engagement: Active participation in forums like G20, BRICS, IBSA, and advocating for reforms in global governance institutions.
• Energy Security: Diversification of energy sources and securing energy supplies for its growing economy.

Critique: This period saw India's rise as a significant global player, capable of engaging with multiple powers simultaneously. However, criticisms sometimes pointed to a lack of a clear strategic doctrine, appearing to react to events rather than proactively shaping them.

S. Jaishankar's Classification: The Phase of 'Energetic Diplomacy' (2014-Present)

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, in his 2019 Ramnath Goenka Memorial Lecture, classified the current phase of India's foreign policy (since 2014) as one of 'energetic diplomacy'. This classification emphasizes a more proactive, assertive, and outcome-oriented approach to international relations. The justification for this classification is evident in several key aspects:

Justification of 'Energetic Diplomacy':

• Proactive Engagement: India has demonstrated a significantly increased tempo and breadth of diplomatic engagements, with high-level visits, intense participation in multilateral forums, and a willingness to shape global narratives. For instance, Prime Minister Modi's frequent bilateral visits and participation in summits like G7, G20, BRICS, and SCO highlight this activism.
• Multi-alignment to Omni-alignment/Plurilateralism: While building upon the concept of multi-alignment, the current phase takes it further towards 'omni-alignment' or 'plurilateralism'—engaging with all relevant powers and groupings based on specific issue-based convergences, without being constrained by past inhibitions. Examples include robust engagement with the Quad (US, Japan, Australia, India) for Indo-Pacific security, while simultaneously maintaining ties with Russia and participating in SCO.
• Assertive Projection of National Interest: There is a more candid and firm articulation of India's national interests, including on contentious issues like border disputes with China (e.g., Galwan Valley conflict 2020), terrorism (surgical strikes, Balakot airstrike), and maintaining strategic autonomy in energy purchases amidst geopolitical tensions (Russia-Ukraine war).
• Economic Diplomacy for Development: Foreign policy is increasingly geared towards enabling domestic economic transformation. Initiatives like "Make in India," "Digital India," and "Skill India" are actively promoted through economic diplomacy, seeking foreign direct investment (FDI), technology transfer, and market access. For instance, Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Australia and the UK.
• Global Leadership and Public Goods: India has actively promoted initiatives for global public goods, such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for renewable energy and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). India's vaccine diplomacy during the COVID-19 pandemic (Vaccine Maitri) exemplified this.
• Neighbourhood First and Act East Policy: Enhanced focus on strengthening relations with immediate neighbours and expanding strategic and economic ties with ASEAN nations and the broader Indo-Pacific. Projects like the Chabahar Port and connectivity initiatives underscore this.
• Soft Power Projection: Leveraging India's cultural heritage, yoga, and diaspora for diplomatic gains.

However, a critical perspective reveals certain nuances:

• Continuity vs. Change: While "energetic diplomacy" highlights dynamism, elements of continuity, such as strategic autonomy and the pursuit of national interests, remain foundational to India's foreign policy, evolving rather than being entirely new.
• Resource Constraints and Capacity: The ambition of 'energetic diplomacy' demands significant diplomatic resources and sustained economic growth to back its commitments, which can be challenging for a developing nation.
• Geopolitical Headwinds: The increasingly complex global landscape, marked by US-China rivalry, Russia-Ukraine conflict, and regional instability, poses significant challenges that even energetic diplomacy must navigate carefully.
• Balancing Act: The strategy of omni-alignment, while flexible, requires adept diplomacy to prevent perceived contradictions or transactionalism, particularly in an era of heightened great power competition.

Overall, S. Jaishankar's classification is largely justified, reflecting a palpable shift towards a more confident, proactive, and outcome-oriented foreign policy that is deeply integrated with India's domestic development agenda and its aspirations to be a leading global power. The current phase, indeed, demonstrates a higher degree of dynamism and a willingness to take calculated risks to advance India's strategic autonomy and national interests.

Phase of Indian Foreign Policy	Key Characteristics	Major Events/Policies	Challenges/Outcomes
1. Optimistic Non-Alignment (1947-1962)	Idealism, Anti-colonialism, Moral leadership, Panchsheel	Bandung Conference (1955), NAM formation (1961)	Sino-Indian War (1962) exposed vulnerabilities
2. Realism & Recovery (1962-1971)	Pragmatism, Security focus, Defensive posture	Tashkent Agreement (1965), closer engagement with superpowers for aid	Economic constraints, reliance on external assistance
3. Regional Assertion & Cold War Alignment (1971-1991)	Increased regional role, Strategic alliance with USSR	Indo-Soviet Treaty (1971), Pokhran-I (1974), Bangladesh Liberation War	Questioning of Non-Alignment, US sanctions
4. Post-Cold War Transition & Liberalization (1991-2000)	Economic diplomacy, Shift to unipolar world	Look East Policy (1992), Economic Reforms (1991), Pokhran-II (1998)	Initial Western sanctions, search for new partners
5. India as a Balancing Power (2000-2014)	Multi-alignment, Strategic partnerships, Multilateralism	India-US Civil Nuclear Deal (2008), BRICS formation	Lack of cohesive strategic doctrine, reactive diplomacy
6. Energetic Diplomacy (2014-Present)	Proactive engagement, Omni-alignment, Assertive national interest, Global leadership	Act East Policy, Quad, ISA, Vaccine Maitri, G20 Presidency	Resource intensity, navigating complex geopolitics, balancing diverse interests