Source [http://www.indiandefencereview.com/news/how-india-can-acquire-great-power-status/]
Due to New Delhi’s slavish use of ‘carrot’ since Independence, without any equilibrium with the ‘stick’, the great power potential of India lies in tatters. In fact it threatens to endanger the writ on its territory. Between Naxals in the Red Corridor, Border States particularly the J&K and the Northeast, New Delhi‘s writ barely runs in fifty per cent of its territory.
With the failure to govern within, there is an automatic rollback of influence of central and state governments towards their respective capitals.
With the failure to govern within, there is an automatic rollback of influence of central and state governments towards their respective capitals. This lopsided use of ‘carrot’ has emboldened neighboring countries like China, Nepal (Maoists), Pakistan, and Bangladesh to execute a sly rollback of the Indian Union on its borders through ingress, territorial claims, occupation of Indian territory, infiltration, export of Islamic terrorism and demographic assault. Simultaneous shrinking of influence without and within is sowing seeds of disintegration of the Union.
If only one element is used in the policy of “carrot and stick” it creates an enormous imbalance and upheavel. This can easily be discerned in the illogical use of the ‘stick’ alone by Washington’s neo-conservatives. Without balancing it with the ‘carrot’ has created unprecedented turmoil for the western alliance, dented American aura, created a divide within, and sapped the societal confidence.
India has clear potential of achieving a great power status. Unlike the negative demographic young profile in its neighborhood, it boasts of a highly skilled young population. Its geographical location and the size lend it the advantages of both, a continental as well as maritime power which, make it possible for New Delhi to impact and influence West Asia, Southeast Asia and the Central Asia.
However, this is only possible if instead of being an inward looking nation, New Delhi’s footprints extend outwards. Inward looking entities tend to wither away as their influence shrinks. This in particular is true of India that faces a 14,000 km wall (on its land frontiers) of fundamentalist / authoritarian regimes. Despite India’s geographical location and human resources bestowing on it all the advantages that can develop it as the Asian hub of liberal values, the manufacturing gateway, and the research base for cutting edge technologies, it continues to waste its potential of achieving a great power status due to skewed policy making, indecision and inconsistency.
It is absolutely vital for India to achieve dominance in Asia so that it can engage constructively with the totalitarian regimes in its vicinity without losing its poise and balance.
To be a great power, the Indian aim should be to establish its preponderance over Asia. Broadly, this requires three decisive steps. First, set your own house in order. Second, develop political, economic, military, and technological dominance in your vicinity. Third, create international alliances without forming a formal block, based on the age-old principal of “enemy’s enemy is a friend.”
New Delhi and the state capitals must ruthlessly endeavour to recover the territories lost internally to Naxals; mafias in the crime corridor; and terrorists and insurgents in its borders areas. In other words, government’s writ and influence through transparent and fair governance must fan outwards to recover the lost territories within.
Due to New Delhi’s slavish use of ‘carrot’ since Independence, without any equilibrium with the ‘stick’, the great power potential of India lies in tatters. In fact it threatens to endanger the writ on its territory. Between Naxals in the Red Corridor, Border States particularly the J&K and the Northeast, New Delhi‘s writ barely runs in fifty per cent of its territory.
With the failure to govern within, there is an automatic rollback of influence of central and state governments towards their respective capitals.
With the failure to govern within, there is an automatic rollback of influence of central and state governments towards their respective capitals. This lopsided use of ‘carrot’ has emboldened neighboring countries like China, Nepal (Maoists), Pakistan, and Bangladesh to execute a sly rollback of the Indian Union on its borders through ingress, territorial claims, occupation of Indian territory, infiltration, export of Islamic terrorism and demographic assault. Simultaneous shrinking of influence without and within is sowing seeds of disintegration of the Union.
If only one element is used in the policy of “carrot and stick” it creates an enormous imbalance and upheavel. This can easily be discerned in the illogical use of the ‘stick’ alone by Washington’s neo-conservatives. Without balancing it with the ‘carrot’ has created unprecedented turmoil for the western alliance, dented American aura, created a divide within, and sapped the societal confidence.
India has clear potential of achieving a great power status. Unlike the negative demographic young profile in its neighborhood, it boasts of a highly skilled young population. Its geographical location and the size lend it the advantages of both, a continental as well as maritime power which, make it possible for New Delhi to impact and influence West Asia, Southeast Asia and the Central Asia.
However, this is only possible if instead of being an inward looking nation, New Delhi’s footprints extend outwards. Inward looking entities tend to wither away as their influence shrinks. This in particular is true of India that faces a 14,000 km wall (on its land frontiers) of fundamentalist / authoritarian regimes. Despite India’s geographical location and human resources bestowing on it all the advantages that can develop it as the Asian hub of liberal values, the manufacturing gateway, and the research base for cutting edge technologies, it continues to waste its potential of achieving a great power status due to skewed policy making, indecision and inconsistency.
It is absolutely vital for India to achieve dominance in Asia so that it can engage constructively with the totalitarian regimes in its vicinity without losing its poise and balance.
To be a great power, the Indian aim should be to establish its preponderance over Asia. Broadly, this requires three decisive steps. First, set your own house in order. Second, develop political, economic, military, and technological dominance in your vicinity. Third, create international alliances without forming a formal block, based on the age-old principal of “enemy’s enemy is a friend.”
New Delhi and the state capitals must ruthlessly endeavour to recover the territories lost internally to Naxals; mafias in the crime corridor; and terrorists and insurgents in its borders areas. In other words, government’s writ and influence through transparent and fair governance must fan outwards to recover the lost territories within.