UPSC 2019 Mains GS2 Model Answer - The long-sustained image of India as a leader of the oppressed and marginalised Nations has disappeared on account of its newfound role in the emerging global order. Elaborate.

Model Answer:

India, once a champion of the Non-Aligned Movement and an advocate for developing nations, has undergone a significant transformation in its international standing. Its economic growth, strategic partnerships, and geopolitical ambitions have reshaped its role in the global order.

Historical context

1. Non-Aligned Movement leadership

• India as a founding member of NAM in 1961
• Promotion of independence from Cold War power blocs 

2. Advocate for decolonization and anti-imperialism

• Support for newly independent nations
• Vocal critic of apartheid and racial discrimination

Factors contributing to India's changing role 

a) Economic liberalization and growth

• 1991 economic reforms opening up the economy
• Rapid GDP growth and emergence as a major economy 

b) Nuclear capabilities

• 1998 nuclear tests establishing India as a nuclear power
• Strategic autonomy and increased global influence 

c) IT and service sector boom

• Positioning as a global hub for technology and outsourcing
• Rise of Indian multinational corporations

India's newfound role in the emerging global order 

a) Strategic partnerships

• Closer ties with the United States and other Western powers
• Participation in forums like QUAD (with the US, Japan, and Australia)

 b) Regional leadership ambitions

• Assertive stance in South Asia
• Competition with China for influence in the Indian Ocean region

 c) Global governance participation

• Active role in G20, BRICS, and other multilateral forums
• Push for permanent UN Security Council membership

Implications for India's relationship with developing nations 

a) Shift in priorities

• Focus on national interests over collective developing world concerns
• Balancing act between global ambitions and regional responsibilities

b) Changing perceptions

• Viewed increasingly as an emerging power rather than a developing nation leader
• Criticism from some quarters for aligning with Western interests

Challenges and opportunities in India's evolving role 

a) Balancing act

• Maintaining strategic autonomy while fostering new alliances
• Addressing domestic development issues alongside global ambition

b) Soft power potential

• Leveraging cultural influence, diaspora, and democratic credentials
• Potential to bridge divides between developed and developing worlds

In conclusion, India's transition from a leader of the oppressed to an emerging global power reflects the complex realities of 21st-century geopolitics. While this shift has altered perceptions of India's role, it also presents opportunities for the country to shape the international order in new ways, potentially benefiting both its national interests and those of developing nations.

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