Date: 16/11/2022

Relevance: GS-2: India Foreign Policy; India and its Neighborhood- Relations.

Key Phrases: Observer Research Foundation, 75th year of Independence, Foreign policy, India’s young people, Pokhran nuclear tests, India-China war, Border conflicts, Invasion of Ukraine, Reliable partner, Multipolar, Indo-Pacific, Strategic importance, New world order, Political engagements, Infrastructure and Connectivity projects, Non-traditional and Transnational threats, Multilateral reforms.

Context:

• Recently, Observer Research Foundation (ORF) conducted The ORF Foreign Policy Survey 2022 which sampled 5,000 Indians between 18 and 35 from 19 cities and in 10 languages.

Key Highlights:

• Respondents demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of India’s foreign policy and the evolving world order.
• Young people have a decisive impact on national conversations on foreign policy approaches and influencing what issues get on the agenda.
• So bridging the gap between the policymakers and the public is a necessary step for the country’s foreign policy.

Outcomes of the Survey:

• Key Turning Points in Foreign Policy
  • The Pokhran nuclear tests, the India-China war, and the Galwan Valley clashes were perceived as key turning points in India’s foreign policy.
• Biggest Inter-state Foreign Policy Challenge
  • Border conflicts with China were seen as India’s biggest inter-state foreign policy challenge – even surpassing conflicts with Pakistan.
  • Terrorism and border conflicts with Pakistan remained important challenges for India’s foreign policy.
  • The majority of respondents also indicated that India’s foreign policy of not engaging with Pakistan benefited regional peace and stability.
• India-USA Relationship
  • The USA was seen as the second-most trusted partner since its Independence,
  • 85% of respondents thought the USA will be India’s leading partner in the next 10 years;
  • 83% of respondents also agreed that the USA support will be crucial to India’s rise.
• Russia-India Relationship
  • Many respondents indicated optimism for Russia, despite its invasion of Ukraine; 43% saw Russia as India’s most reliable partner since Independence.
  • But many showed their awareness of broader geopolitical changes.
    • For instance, an overwhelming majority agreed that India’s economic ties with Russia are limited and expressed concerns about strengthening Russia-China ties, and India and Russia drifting away from one another.
  • When it came to India’s leading partner in the next 10 years, Russia was ranked third, behind the US and Australia.
• Indian interests as the driver of foreign policy
  • Indian interests remained the driver for such a perception.
    • For instance, Indian youth preferred non-alignment and neutrality if US-China tensions increase.
    • But responses changed when Indian interests were at stake: 73% said that India should align with the US to countervail China.
• Importance of Regional Power
  • In a multipolar, more uncertain world order, regional powers are growing in importance.
  • Quad found limited enthusiasm among respondents but some members such as Australia and Japan enjoyed a significant positive perception.
  • Japan was seen as the most important Indo-Pacific partner in the future, followed by Australia.
• Strategic Importance to India’s neighbourhood
  • Despite India’s rising stakes in the new world order, young people attached strategic importance to India’s neighbourhood.
  • Respondents believed India defined its neighbourhood efficiently and followed an adequate foreign policy across all the sectors – security, trade, and culture.
• Non-traditional and transnational threats
  • Non-traditional and transnational threats were seen as significant threats.
  • The pandemic was considered a bigger challenge to India’s foreign policy than border conflicts with China and Pakistan.

Way Forward:

• Investing in the South Asia and Indian Ocean Region
  • There is a need to increase political engagements and infrastructure and connectivity projects across the region. So India needs to continue investing in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region.
• Multilateralism
  • Multilateralism should be India’s preferred mode of engagement with other countries.
  • There is a strong urge for multilateral reforms – 91% of respondents supported India’s bid for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council.

Conclusion:

• The foreign policy of a country is often driven by popular perception.
• It is, therefore, important to understand how young people perceive foreign policy goals as they are important stakeholders, an even more critical process in a young nation such as India.

Source: ORF-Online

Mains Question:

Q. What are the major perceptions of Youth related to India’s Foreign Policy? Describe the challenges to India and also suggest measures to counter the threats. (150 Words).