Democracy Promotion in India's Foreign Policy: Emerging Trends and Developments

Abstract

Democracy promotion has never been an integral element of India's foreign policy. The pursuit of its national interests in the international arena has traditionally revolved around security, trade, and energy issues. This article demonstrates, however, that in recent times India has taken a more active stance in promoting and supporting democracy abroad. It identifies the specific ways in which India has engaged in democracy promotion and support abroad. Nevertheless, 'realist' concerns about strategic and economic interests, namely India's desire to improve its relationship with the United States and enhancing its status as an emerging power, rather than any idealistic commitment to democracy, may help explain this behavior. The pursuit of traditional foreign policy objectives will continue to take precedence over democracy promotion and support abroad. As such, there are elements of both continuity and change observed regarding the issue of democracy promotion in India's foreign policy.India is one of the few countries in the developing world that has been relatively successful in constructing and sustaining a democratic political system. Significant

Prospects for Pak-China Relations

“…India is the only regional secular democracy which can help American against Islamic militancy (Gupta, 2005). India wants US to compel Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nepal for regional stability and democracy (Mazumdar, 2014).…”

Role conflict and the limits of state identity: the case of Indonesia in democracy promotion

“…However, in reality, there is an urgent need to overcome the "political development gap". While Asia is also home to another democratic emerging power, India, it tries to avoid framing its foreign policy in terms of supporting democracy due to geopolitical considerations (Mazumdar and Statz 2015). Indonesian foreign policy elites have observed that Indonesia's initiative for regional partnership can fill this gap.…”