India and the Global South in the Emerging Multipolar World Order: From Non-Alignment to Strategic Autonomy
Keywords:
Indian Foreign Policy, Strategic Autonomy, Non-Alignment, Global South, Multipolar World Order, Multi-AlignmentAbstract
A major shift in India's foreign policy has taken place from doctrine of non-alignment during the Cold War era to the present concept of strategic autonomy. The shift is an indication of India's adaptation to the changing international system of a multipolar order, growing competition in geo-political matters, and the rising ascendance of emerging economies. Non-alignment has given India flexibility to protect its sovereignty and stay away from the entanglements of the superpower rivalry while strategic autonomy has given India flexibility to engage multiple power centres at the same time. In recent times India has emerged as one of the prominent representatives of the Global South to voice the demand for a world that is inclusive and equitable. India has tried to link up the interests of developing countries with the developed ones in forums like the BRICS, G20, Voice of Global South Summit and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. This paper looks into the development of India's foreign policy from the non-alignment era to strategic autonomy, and discusses its impact on India's position as a leader in the Global South. The study concludes that strategic autonomy is a continuation instead of denial of India's long-standing commitment to independent decision making. In an era of multipolar world order, India gradually becomes a link between the Global North and the Global South and is striving to become a world power in its own right. The authors argue that India's dynamics in meeting its national interests and the broader developmental needs will play a key role in shaping the global governance architecture.
The titles suggest that this is the first time the case of ‘India and Strategic Autonomy’ has been explored, and that the issue of non-alignment is being revisited. This is the first time the analysis of ‘India and Strategic Autonomy' has been addressed and the Non-Alignment issue has been looked at again.
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