Dr.Rao VBJ Chelikani
The Global Risks Report presented before the World Economic Forum at Davos-25 identifies the state-based armed conflict as one of the five risks that require immediate attention. The realpolitik approach of conducting diplomatic or political negotiations with other states is based traditionally on the assumption that each state should pursue "strategic autonomy" to satisfy its own national interests exclusively. That was how marriages were arranged among the royal families in the past. No wonder, the current POTUS, following the same political line of thinking bluntly declares it as "America first". But, in the globalised world that we are living in the 21st century, the modern democratic states, including even the USA, are not able to not only assess and satisfy all the diverse interests and aspirations of their own people but also harmonise them with those of other people in other states.
On the contrary, modern states have become a main obstacle to open global cooperation and better understanding among the people living under separate state boundaries. Hence, civil society organizations must persuade their democratic governments and their operators to work in the interest of the societies – to benefit not only their people but also all the people in the world. The people are not born to make the states powerful and glorious. By adopting a new strategy, the Indian state should try to devote and deploy all its human and material resources primarily for its own citizens' human and social development. Secondly, as an extension, it should also promote people-to-people international cooperation for peace-making and development and unconditionally accept the supremacy of International Law.
I. The most radical and difficult reform measure is to close all 193 embassies and Consulates abroad and to repatriate the staff back to India. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, nowadays, technology is influencing external relations. Elaborate embassies were needed in the past at a time when personal observations, impressions and suggestions of the diplomats on the spot were communicated to the home country and through the diplomatic bags. Now, instant and direct electronic communications (written, audio and visual pieces of information) of the host country are available to react instantly and take decisions by the Home Ministry and various departments. The absence of intermediation by a third party would foster innovation in diplomatic engagements. Frequent commutation for meetings and reciprocal visits are possible with diplomatic visas.
Secondly, maintaining more than fifty thousand high-ranking ambassadors, ministers, secretaries and their Indian staff abroad is an expensive exercise, without counting the local staff. These precious resources spent in foreign currencies can partially be reduced and used on priority for the health and education of its own tax-paying people. At present, a very large of its income is spent as "defence expenditure" by engaging in an un-ending race for shopping more and more sophisticated arms.
1. Now, to countries with disputes, we have to send a "Special Mission" with qualified emissaries to negotiate in a time-bound manner; let us say for two years. Beyond that period, one should consider that direct bilateral negotiations have failed. We should avoid a situation like the permanent Indo-Chinese talks that crossed 30 rounds since 1962. The purpose of these talks, as MEA has been repeatedly stating is only "to review the current situation along the LAC to find an early resolution of the outstanding issues, restoration of peace and tranquillity, and respect for the LAC, which are an essential basis for restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations." Among these negotiations, one should necessarily involve Parliament to engage in Parliament-to-Parliament dialogue. As far as the Consular functions are concerned, the services could be carried out in association with local firms run by the NRIs or PIOs, while holding them accountable to maintain the standards and integrity expected of official diplomatic services. There is also a system of appointing honorary Consuls from the host country.
2. Trade Facilitation Center(s) to exchange goods and services is to be set up by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), I.T. professional associations, Indian banks, and other private sector collective bodies to bolster informal and formal trade relations more effectively, than with the traditional "Attaché Commercial" and the current Trade Promotion Councils. The Public Sector Undertakings can participate in it and their staff may eventually continue to do the Intelligence activities discreetly. Local firms run by NRIs and PIOs which are more agile and attuned to the local business environment can be the partners.
3. Cultural Centre (s) can be set up to serve as hubs for promoting Indian heritage, culture and values abroad by organising events related to International Yoga Day, International Meditation Day, Indian film releases, martial arts, traditional textiles and attires like Sarees and handicrafts, Gastronomy and spices, Ayurveda, Naturopathy and Education. These Centres will leverage our assets to enhance our global image and foster goodwill among the nations; fostering deeper cultural affiliations and appreciation leading to better ties between people. Sometimes, it might involve collaborating with new-age Indian secular "gurus" who have a number of admirers abroad.
4. The Centre for Tourism, including medical tourism can attract more visitors to India. Also, it can facilitate social tourism in which foreigners stay with Indian families and mix with the society. Such Centres can be financed by hotels, hospitals, travel agencies, Indian and foreign air companies and the Film industry. This can boost the economy, create jobs, and enhance India's image as a destination for health and wellness.
5. The Centre for Gandhian Studies and Experiments could be promoted in collaboration with local universities or other academic institutions and civil society organizations. Gandhian approach can inspire global audiences interested in peace and non-violent governance. The Center can inspire individuals and organisations worldwide to adopt similar practices to transform violent political discourse in various regions. The Centre can also be an observer and can advise on conducting elections democratically, given India's long experience in conducting elections democratically. The distinct features and constitutional practices that protect Fundamental Human Rights can be highlighted.
6. Indian persons in these Centres who are naturally imbued with the above virtues and cross-cultural values would be welcome to stay and settle anywhere in the world. Indians active in these Centres can gain employment in foreign establishments and get access to inter-governmental organizations on their own initiative.
7. The activities of these Centres are not one way traffic; they are not like the former US or Soviet or German or French Information centres. On the contrary, they would stimulate more visits, and exchanges and promote sharing and collaboration in new endeavours. They will attract the right kind of people to gain access to India, share their knowledge and cultural riches and eventually immigrate. In all the above activities the Indian Government need not spend any tax money and appoint government officers, as it is done at present. Each Department or Ministry can directly deal with these Centres without having to go through a central Ministry of External Affairs. If the Government wants to maintain a centralized mechanism, the External Publicity Division in MEA would be sufficient to coordinate with the above Centres.
II. By engaging more with all the UN institutions, Agencies and regional bodies, India can leverage global recognition, cooperation and support for its international initiatives. This multilateral approach can enhance India's global standing and influence, instead of prioritizing bilateral relations and joining competitive blocs and Groups. India has been making considerable annual financial contributions to the UN Agencies. Further, it is also making voluntary contributions and providing personnel to participate in UNV and Blue Helmets for development, peace-keeping and peacemaking.
Instead of waiting to be invited into the perilous mission of being a member of the UN Security Council with much-abused and much condemned Veto power, India should and can play such an influential role in the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the UNCTAD. Also, there are many international and regional financial institutions like the World Bank, the IMF, WTO, WHO, FAO, UNESCO, UNDP, UNV, etc. and various regional development banks. Instead of competing with China in providing bilateral financial support as aid, opening credit lines and loans to other countries, where many of these investments are not likely to yield good results, India should redirect its financial resources by way of "matching" grants or loans to the support obtained from regional and international financial bodies.
These global and regional institutions have established mechanisms for better project financing, execution and more efficient recovery. Since they impose reasonable "conditionalities" with "no strings attached", by joining them, India cannot be accused like China of bribing the country for a favourable foreign policy or inducing a country into dependence and over indebting. We should learn lessons from the case of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). In fact, India itself is a good example of a state that has greatly benefited from these multilateral institutions, without resorting to bilateral loans.
III. Most of the emerging states, after decolonisation have inherited disputes with the neighbouring countries regarding the delineation of borders, sharing of river waters, measures to prevent the infiltration of immigrants, terrorists and drug smugglers, etc. Most of the states, especially the emerging states and their diplomats, politicians and the bureaucrats do not seem to be eager to solve, once and for all, the issues of conflict with their neighbouring states, for their own reasons. A prolonged situation of disputes with neighbours leads to erosion in our internal democratic values, affecting very often, the fundamental human rights. The ruling political party alleges the threat, complicity or intervention of "foreign powers" in all its failures and leverages the situation to become authoritarian and intolerant towards all internal dissent and protests.
The governance becomes more bureaucratic with Police powers and an army of intelligence services. Ever-increasing amounts of tax money get drained towards Defence matters and military shopping. No country, other than the U.S. could build its economy based on its military industrial complex. Hence, all states which are not able to settle their disputes to mutual satisfaction by direct talks within two years, should adopt the following alternative ways:
1. The dispute should, with mutual agreement be proposed for settlement by an international mediation or dispute resolution mechanism or arbitration council or an international or regional tribunal. The W.T.O. has an in-built appellate mechanism to solve trade disputes. The World Bank, for example, has helped India and Pakistan to share the Himalayan waters.
2. If the issue affects the human rights of either side, it should be brought before a regional Human Rights Commission or to the Human Rights Commissioner in Geneva. Having signed all International Conventions on Human Rights of the UNO, a state should not say that Human Rights is purely an internal issue and that no outsider should intervene in its "internal affairs."
3. There is also the possibility to bring such unresolved cases before the International Court of Justice in the Hague, Netherlands.
4. The Indian Permanent Representative to the UN can always appeal to any member of the UN Security Council (elected or Permanent) to take up the matter for discussion before the Security Council or the General Assembly. No state would like to appear unwilling to make efforts for peacemaking. Every state on this planet is afraid of "economic sanctions" by a group of countries and a condemnation or non-cooperation from international financial and banking institutions.
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