Much like the immediate years after the Second World War, the third world finds itself increasingly engulfed in an ensuing Cold War. The great power tussle between t

Much like the immediate years after the Second World War, the third world finds itself increasingly engulfed in an ensuing Cold War. The great power tussle between the hegemon western bloc and the emerging counter-hegemon bloc, primarily led by the China-Russia alliance, has resulted in a return to the Cold War era of consolidating presences and striking alliances, particularly in the third world. The third world, on the other hand, faces the much difficult challenge of trying to avoid subordination while maintaining sovereignty. India's conduct since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war has been a glowing testament to this. India, so far, has successfully maintained strategic autonomy while playing the balancing act rooted in the policy of non-alignment. Historically, the policy of non-alignment has been a vital part of India's policy assessments. Emerging from the Nehruvian era, non-alignment has served India's interests in a changing world over the years. 

As India faces challenging times ladened with geopolitical uncertainties, the policy of non-alignment must continue to direct India's foreign policy assessments. 

Indian foreign policy in a changing world

In recent times, India has found itself at the epicentre of significant geopolitical changes. The Russia-Ukraine war has come about as a watershed moment in international politics, marking a clear shift in the world order. The war has played a polarising role, effectively dividing nation states into two distinct camps: sustainers of the western liberal order and its challengers. However, India's situation is more nuanced than this binary dichotomy. While India has grown closer to the United States and the Western European countries in recent decades; Russia, being a time tested friend, has provided itself as a major source of 

 imports facilitating India's needs. India has, therefore, been hesitant to abandon one bloc in favour of the other. Maintaining cordial ties with both blocs, however, is a difficult endeavour that has its own set of problems. India has recently come under the scanner for increasing its 

 from Russia and for its stance towards the western imposed 

, India has so far avoided sanctions, advocating in favour of maintaining closer ties with Russia. However, maintaining strategic autonomy in the face of external pressures is a challenging feat, nevertheless, in a highly polarised environment.

The policy of non-alignment emerged as a response to the polarising world order of the Cold War era. Non-alignment advocated for, as the name implies, non compliance with any of the blocs while making sense of the international environment and guiding foreign policy autonomously. 

For India, there were largely three factors that led to the adoption of non-alignment as the basis of foreign policy. These were: nationalist inclinations, proximity to the Soviet Union, and the economic troubles that India faced at the time of Independence.

During the years of the freedom struggle, the Indian leadership recognised the lack of any immediate external military threats. In the absence of any such threats, the biggest concern was being drawn into the conflicts created by great power rivalries. This further solidified the belief that internal security must be given priority over the imperialist adventures of powers like Britain. This assessment carried over to the Independence movement, forming the pillar for the eventual policy of non-alignment. 

Another reason for adopting the non-aligned policy was India’s proximity to the Soviet Union. Other than the obvious geographical proximity, the USSR was admired by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru admired its rapid and successful industrialization and retained a positive opinion of the USSR. Being the largest democracy, India seemed fit for joining the Western bloc, however, Nehru’s admiration of the USSR and geographical proximity to both the USSR and China led to India adopting a more balanced approach. 

A third factor which contributed to upholding the principle of non-alignment was India’s socio-economic situation in the post-independence era. The Indian economy in 1947 was stagnant with the country being highly dependent on agriculture which could not sustain the needs of a growing population. Nehru believed peace to be a prerequisite for development. Hence, a policy of non-alignment would allow India to minimise its defence expenditure, reduce the chances of costly conflict, and draw on multiple sources of aid without any strict conditions. 

In the current geopolitical situation, India finds itself at the centre of an increasingly polarising world order. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has sharpened the global power divide, marking clearly the distinctions between the two power blocs. Amidst growing external pressures which threaten autonomous decision making capabilities, India must look towards employing a balancing act similar to the non-aligned stance in order to serve its national interests. 

Over the past few years, India has grown closer to the United States, being increasingly involved in the ensuing US-China rivalry in the region. While the recent border conflicts highlight India’s concerns, these threat perceptions have been further intensified under the influence of the United States. As India has emerged as a key global player, it has been pushed into compliance with the western order, putting it at odds with China. However, the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan and the continuing conflict in Ukraine have brought the infallibility of the western rules based order into question. Amidst growing uncertainties, it is imperative for India to pursue a policy that places its national interests at the forefront of its foreign policy objectives. In the current state of affairs, India's primary concern is to maintain peace and stability in the region while assuring an independent foreign policy free of external interventions. In such a scenario, non-alignment presents itself as a viable alternative seeking to fulfil India’s national interests. 

While being a highly contentious region, peace and stability serves as a common goal and a prerequisite for growth and development in India’s neighbourhood. A better employed balancing act can further India’s interests in the region. Non-alignment can lead towards bridging the trust deficit between India and its neighbours. Non-alignment can also help India in striking strategic alliances irrespective of bloc power politics. 

Often criticised as a measure rooted in idealism, non alignment has been downplayed by various strategists as a measure of the past which does not reflect the present concerns. However, India’s recent policy posturing reflects a return back to the strategic ambiguity and non-compliance of the non-alignment era. In the past as well, the adoption of the non-alignment policy was not just an idealistic dream of the political leadership but a decision rooted in realistic assessment of India’s geopolitical concerns. 

While not a mirror image of the past, the current geopolitical situation is not much different from the tussle of the Cold War era. The geopolitical uncertainty is set to rise with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine contributing to the seemingly rising tensions. In a world ladened with uncertainties and challenges, India must continue on the path of the balancing act, defining its foreign policy on the grounds of national interests and cordial relations. 

Non-Alignment: India's Grand Strategy

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