ISSN (Print) : 2249-1880

SAMVAD: SIBM Pune Research Journal, Vol XVIII, (Special Issue), 132-136, September 2019 ISSN (Online) : 2348-5329

Indian Foreign Policy: An Empirical Study

Sanjeev Sharma1 and Poornima Tapas2*
Research Scholar, Symbiosis International University, Lavale Knowledge Village, Pune - 412115,
1

Maharashtra, India; sansharma37@gmail.com

2
Professor, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Symbiosis International University, Lavale
Knowledge Village, Pune - 412115, Maharashtra, India; poornimatapas@sibmpune.edu.in

Abstract
Foreign policy of a nation, also called foreign relations or foreign affairs policy, consists of self-interest strategies chosen
by the country to safeguard its national interests and to achieve its goals within international relations setting. India has
evolved from a protest voice on the world stage to an active shaper of the international order. India’s evolving strategic
outlook has made it possible. India slowly opened its economy through careful economic liberalization, and at the same
time began to engage with the rest of a world on a different set of norms. By the late 1990's India was willing to place its
own national interest - both economic and security - ahead of broader ideas of global justice and equity. This Paper gives a
brief overview of how India has evolved its Foreign Policy over the years. It also tries to identify what needs to be done in
the coming years to realize India as a Super Power. In order to get actionable pointers on this crucial aspect, an empirical
study was conducted. Major stake holders of the economy such as Armed Forces personnel, Bureaucrats, Academicians,
Researchers and Students from Pan India were contacted and were asked to answer the questions pertaining to various
aspects of foreign policy. The data thus obtained was further analysed and conclusions were drawn on the basis of that.
Foreign Policy should be Holistic, Realistic, Interest and Goal based and should be ambitious enough to achieve long-term
objectives.

Keywords: Armed Forces, Foreign Policy, National Interest, Super Power

1. Introduction the reality of international relations, this high moralism

was gradually replaced by realpolitik, and a belief in the
In India's perspective, a highly idealistic foreign policy perception of India as a regional presence. India’s armed
of non-alignment between the super-power blocs was forces were leveraged as instruments of foreign policy.
articulated immediately after Independence by Prime In the 21st century, India has fine-tuned its relations with
Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, based on a moralistic other countries of the world from a position of advantage.
Jeffersonian worldview of “friendship to all and enmity to India’s domestic and foreign policies became increasingly
none”. India became one of the founding members of the intertwined, on aspects of internal security as well as
Non - Aligned Movement and in setting up of the United defense of the country’s territorial and societal integrity
Nations. During the Cold War, India consciously chose against threats from externally sponsored proxy war.
the foreign policy of not aligning with any major power As India’s economy continued to grow and the country
bloc and instead devoted its energy and time in nation- engaged with the rest of the world on a more equal footing,
building and national reconstruction. The end of Cold India underwent a third evolution in the country’s
War instead of creating any turbulence in its foreign policy strategic outlook. This shift, which is ongoing today, seeks
orientation, made India’s leaders look toward realpolitik to position India among the great powers by showcasing a
so as to cultivate and strengthen her diplomatic and willingness to take on more international responsibilities.
economic ties with all the major countries of the world Narendra Modi’s rise to power accelerated this shift, as
and regional bodies. As India came face to face with he sought to push India to be a global leader. India will

*Author for correspondence

 Sanjeev Sharma and Poornima Tapas

be playing a greater role in solving global challenges and shift in India’s Foreign Policy ever since Independence
shaping the rules, norms, and processes that guide these has taken place. Same can be summarized as under:
efforts. Unified idealism: From independence through the
Three emerging shifts in the international order have 1950s and 1960s India’s foreign policy was framed for
played a key role in catalyzing India’s rising stature in international consumption as one of some idealism,
the international order: terrorism, climate change, and while Nehru tackled the tremendous domestic challenges
the rise of China. As the international order undergoes of long-term cohesion and economic revitalization that
significant changes, India’s policy continues to evolve the British empire had neglected in the final decades of
further. It would be interesting to understand from the Raj.
experts that how will it take further turn and what should
India focus on? Intermittent realism: India veered away from non-
Present study is one such attempt in this direction. alignment towards alignment with the Soviet Union,
marked by the Indo-Soviet treaty of 1971. A few months
later, military intervention in the Bangladesh war enabled
2. Literature Review India to shatter Pakistan and halve its size and weight
in response to Pakistani atrocities and the influx of
India’s journey from 1947 to the present day, in terms of
Bangladeshi refugees into India. In 1974 India conducted
both foreign policy and domestic politics, can be seen
its first nuclear test, a response to that of China in 1964 at
as a transition from idealism under Nehru, through
Lop Nor. In 1975 India intervened during internal unrest
a period of ‘hard realism’ from the mid-1960's to the
in independent Sikkim and incorporated it into the Indian
mid-1980's, to economically driven pragmatism today.
union. India was more occupied by power politics instead
(Chand A, 1992). India followed the path of non-
of looking outwards.
alignment in the face of the bipolar order of the Cold
War, in backdrop of the reason that it would have to The birth of pragmatism: 1990's and onwards. Over
‘plough a lonely furrow’. (Zoya Hasan, 2002). At the time four decades of socialist economic policy and poor fiscal
of independence, Indian foreign policy seemed moralistic management resulted in severe balance of payments crisis.
to outsiders, defining the national interest as congruent Emerging identity-based politics and other ideologies
with ‘world co-operation and world peace’. India is in India resulted in polity and its role in the world was
fast emerging as an important player in regional and virtually discarded. India shed its non-aligned and anti-
international arenas. However, it continues to be beset western ideologies in favor of a pragmatic foreign policy
by a number of security challenges, both internally and with greater focus on national defense, including in the
externally. (Rohan M, 2011). Despite an all-out effort, nuclear sphere and dawning the ‘Look East’ policy.
absence of an overall strategic framework for Indian
foreign and defense policy is clearly visible and is related
to lack of ‘institutional mechanisms … and planning
3. Research Questions
capabilities’ (Sumit Ganguly, 2010). Ever since 2000, five
developments have reshaped India's Foreign Policy namely The questions that present study will try to answer are as
India’s effort to reach out to overseas Indians, its attempts follows:
to build connections with foreign business interests, its (a) Will use of Soft Power expand reach of India’s
nascent foreign aid and development program, its use of Foreign Policy?
major events to showcase a ‘nation-brand’ India, and its (b) What will be the impact of economic development
use of social media to reach out to younger, tech-savvy on India’s Foreign Policy?
audiences. (Manali J, 2018). (c) Will modernization of Armed Forces help in
Ever since India achieved independence in 1947, it boosting India’s Foreign Policy?
has striven assiduously for adopting its foreign policy (d) Will active diaspora policy for a mutually
commensurate with its national interests and the vision beneficial engagement help overseas impact of
set by its leaders who were at the helm of affairs. Hence, India’s Foreign Policy?

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 Indian Foreign Policy: An Empirical Study

4. Research Objectives c) H0: Strengthening of India’s Foreign Policy.

H1: Economic development, improving knowledge
To identify the specific fields of Soft Power or
(a)  power along with technological capabilities and
Cultural Diplomacy which will expand reach of strengthening of our Armed Forces will help
India’s Foreign Policy. boost India’s Foreign Policy.
To determine how the growth of country’s
(b)  d) H0: National Interest need not be the focus for
economy will impact India’s Foreign Policy. formulating India’s Foreign Policy
To relate and implement various new programs
(c)  H1: National interest should be borne in mind
to strengthen bonding with Diaspora to boost while formulating India’s Foreign Policy.
India’s Foreign Policy.
To define the limit of Military modernization
(d) 
and energy security assertiveness to strengthen 6. Research Methodology
India’s Foreign Policy. Both Primary and Secondary data was collected to seek
required information.
5. Hypotheses Secondary sources such as information documented in
Journals, Government publications, Minutes of Conference/
Four hypotheses for this study are as follows: Seminars held at national and international level were
a)  H0: There is no need to change Foreign Policy of used to get valuable inputs.
India. Primary Data was collected as given below. Survey
H1: India’s Foreign Policy should be reshaped and was conducted, following were the respondents.
realigned to changing world order in backdrop Respondents: They were officers with different
of security scenario giving due attention to service bracket from Pan Armed Forces, Bureaucracy,
developments in its immediate neighborhood. Academicians, Journalists, Students pursuing Political
b) H0: There is no need to use Soft Power of India Science and International Relations, Scholars, Analysts,
for its Foreign Policy. Policymakers, Journalists, Researchers and Diplomats
 H1: India should reinforce its Soft Power to (Serving and retired). A sample size of 300 was taken and
expand its Foreign Policy. different Questionnaires were floated for different groups.
Some Interviews were also conducted.
Table 1. Caption- Details of Respondents
LENGTH OF SERVICE/EXPERINCE
SERVICE/ORGANISATION % OF RESPONDENT Less than Bracket :10 -20 Bracket: 20 Years
10-Years Years and above
Pan Armed Forces 20 40 40
20% Junior Level
Bureaucracy 20 40 40
40% Middle Level
Academicians, Researchers, 40% Senior Level 20 40 40
Analyst & Diplomats

Sampling Technique: Initially it was purposive semi-structured questions giving adequate flexibility for
to get the required respondents. At a later stage within the respondents to express their thoughts and opinions,
each category, sample was taken based on voluntary without bias. The responses were sought on a Likert (Five
participation of informants. Point) Scale.
For ensuring quality of data, spot checks were also
done. Interviews were also carried out to cross check the
information.
7. Results and Discussions
Questionnaire: Comprehensive questionnaires for Use of SPSS was done for data analysis. Results and
the respective target audiences were administered. The Interpretations are as follows:
questionnaire was explicit; it included structured and

134 Vol XVIII (Special Issue) | September 2019 SAMVAD: SIBM Pune Research Journal
 Sanjeev Sharma and Poornima Tapas

Questions(Q) Content
Q1 to Q5(Less Q 6) Soft Power & Diaspora upliftment will help boost India's Foreign Policy.
Q8 to Q11 (Less Q7) Military modernization, Energy Security, Policy aspects related to Foreign Policy.
Q12 to Q16 (Less Q17) Economic development and policies related to it.
Q18 to Q20 Issues of National Interest, World order changes, Balance of Power related to Foreign Policy.

Exploratory Factor Analysis: This analysis helps to

Moving towards
reduce correlated variables to certain attributable factors. For
stronger economy
results, a total of 20 Questions were analyzed on Likert scale. and exchanges
Noticing the Screen plot and suppressing the absolute value of high-level
below 0.385 the numbers of factors were reduced from 7 to visits by scholars,
4. Based on the Questionnaire and the elimination of three media persons, 8.245 0.010 <0.05
questions, the Newly Grouped Factors were as follows: think tanks will
be beneficial to
Reliability Test: Cronbach’s Alpha value of 0.744
the Nation for its
confirmed the reliability analysis: matured foreign
Reliability Statistics policy.

Cronbach’s Cronbach’s Alpha Based Results from Inferential Statistics indicate that all the
N of Items
Alpha on Standardized Items alternative hypothesis - Honoring National Interests, Use
.744 .749 17 of Soft Power, Stronger and Stable Economy, Military
Modernization and Diaspora integration with mainstream
will go a long way to boost India`s Foreign Policy have
Inferential Statistics: Categorical data duly tabulated
been proved correct. Hence, they were accepted.
provided the basis for use of Chi-square test of independence
To achieve what is desired from India’s Foreign Policy,
to test the hypothesis.
several factors have to be tactfully encountered in Indian
scenario. Some of them are listed below:
Asymp. a) Economic growth and reshaping of India’s Foreign
Pearson policy: India’s has a rapidly growing economy, which is now
Factors Sig. (2 Inference
Chi Square
sided) projected to be the world’s third largest by 2028. India wants
to enlarge its foreign policy ambitions as it increases its global
National Interest presence in business. India has developed internationally
always are always focused service sectors in the cities of Bangalore, Hyderabad
kept in mind 31.846 0.000 <0.05
and National Capital Region. India wants to be part of a global
while formulating
Foreign Policies. trade system and understands the growing importance of
multinational logistical chains. India is a growing source of
Policy changes outward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). For a successful
in Defense FDI model, the companies should be able to get natural
modernization resources and access higher technology from other nations.
aligned to This is only possible if the futuristic foreign policy is designed
15.123 0.001 <0.05
changing security
situation will boost
and implemented with precision. This indirectly will also
Foreign Policies enhance India`s global position and outreach. India has
initiatives. transformed its ‘look east ‘ to ‘act east’ policy under the present
regime to take advantage of the huge trade potential in East
Cultural
Diplomacy by
Asia and South East Asia. India’s growing engagement with
using Soft Power 23.066 0.000 <0.05 ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) and
is a must to extend SAARC (South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation)
Foreign Policy. will further enhance its ability to access a wider market as well.

Vol XVIII (Special Issue) | September 2019 SAMVAD: SIBM Pune Research Journal 135
 Indian Foreign Policy: An Empirical Study

India is moving ahead to use its Trade Policy as extension of all of India’s problems, and will not alone secure much
its Foreign Policy. greater power status. Taking a holistic perspective, however,
b) Soft Power or Cultural Diplomacy to boost India has a bright future as its foreign policy directions are
India's Foreign Policy: Soft power is one of the key benign, dynamic, evolving and flexible and thus taking care
components of foreign policy in this age of mass of the fluid international environment in a fast-changing
communication, global trade and tourism. India boasts world. India is striving not only to revive national pride in
an amazing variety and wealth of soft power resources. the country’s ancient values, but also enhancing its hard
Topping the list is its spirituality. India’s influence as a Soft power by using its soft-power advantages so as to pave way
Power in its myriad forms has also increased manifold for stronger Foreign policy. However, like any other nation,
in shaping values, beliefs and attitudes of a wide cross - National interest alone would guide our foreign policy in
section of world’s population. India is progressing steadily days to come. However, in this uncertain world, it is essential
to become a global hub for education and healthcare. that for India to move from sphere of Regional Power to
India is regarded as a knowledge-producing machine & Global Power, India`s Foreign Policy should be Holistic,
its healthcare industry is growing at a rapid pace and Realistic, Interest and Goal based and should be ambitious
likely to become a $280 billion industry by 2020. Both enough to achieve long-term objectives.
Education and Medical tourism is on rise, attracting
world’s attention. India’s film industry is expanding even
though its share in global cinema revenue is a mere 1%,
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