M-01. India's Foreign Policy: Historical Background, Objective and Principles

About this video

• Video Title: M-01. India's Foreign Policy: Historical Background, Objective and Principles
• Channel: e-Content:Social Science
• Speakers: Shagun Sharma
• Duration: 00:37:57

Overview

This video provides a comprehensive overview of India's foreign policy, detailing its historical background, the evolution of its objectives, and the core principles that guide its international relations. It explains how India's foreign policy is shaped by its past experiences, national interests, and a commitment to global peace and cooperation.

Key takeaways

• Historical Context: India's foreign policy is not a sudden development but a product of its long past, freedom movement, and historical legacies, significantly influenced by figures like Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Ideological Foundations: The policy is rooted in ancient Indian traditions of peace, non-violence, cooperation (influenced by Buddha and Gandhi), and a pragmatic approach to realism and power.
• Objectives: Key objectives include ensuring national security, promoting economic development, fostering a favorable world order, opposing colonialism and racialism, supporting disarmament, playing an important role in Asia, promoting Afro-Asian cooperation, and protecting overseas Indians.
• Core Principles: The guiding principles of India's foreign policy are non-alignment, Panchsheel (five principles of peaceful coexistence), dynamism, adaptability, and peaceful coexistence itself.
• Evolution and Adaptability: India's foreign policy has evolved significantly, adapting to changing international dynamics, from Cold War bloc politics to the post-Cold War era, while consistently pursuing its national interests.