India's Vision of its Future in the World

In February 2005, the Foreign Policy Centre (FPC) will launch a new programme of research, publications, forums and public discussions on India and globalisation. The programme aims to engage a broader group of actors with new thinking on the social and economic consequences of globalisation on India and the impact of India's growing influence on the future of globalisation. It will adopt a pan-European focus in exploring the way in which India fits into changing world order and how the new 'rising powers', notably India and China, can be key actors in shaping it.

The programme will take Indian perspectives as its departure point, focusing on three principal areas:

• How India's government, interest groups and diverse communities see their values and how they project these values to the world;
• Outside attempts to understand and engage with the paramount values of the Indian government, leading interest groups, diasporas, civil society and diverse communities; and
• The role of these diverse, often competing, Indian actors in globalisation and in shaping global trends.

A partnership-based programme

The Foreign Policy Centre has received indications of strong support from leading Indian think tanks. The FPC is looking for partners in various fields, including:

• Indian investors in Europe
• UK investors in India
• Prominent journalists, academics and opinion formers
• Indian diaspora organisations in Europe, especially the UK
• NGOs, think tanks and research organisations

Aims and context

India's influence on global affairs is evident in a number of spheres – from academia and development theory to business and movies.

As suggested by the Goldman Sachs 'Dreaming With BRICs: The Path to 2050' report, the BRICs economies (Brazil, Russia, India and China) together could be larger than the G8 in dollar terms in less than 40 years. Despite India's small share of world trade at present, its economy could be larger than all but the US and China in 30 years. The rise of the BRICS will be critical for how the world economy evolves.

Two issues will inevitably shape India's rise. First, India's projected economic clout will inevitably mean that it will be a force in determining the health of international markets and the multilateral trading system. Secondly, as the largest democracy in the world, India enjoys unique political legitimacy which means that it is held up as a role model and a progressive influence in global affairs. In the words of Sunil Khilnani, India needs to "make use of the 'democratic dividend' which it yields and be willing to play a role in the global 'battle of ideas'".

Most analysts agree that India has yet to find its voice in world affairs appropriate to its power and potential and that India's role on the world stage remains unclear. In the short term, key questions remain about how it relates to the west and other emerging powers, especially China. More long term, India has yet to stake out its position as a progressive international player, a positive broker in the pursuit of multilateral solutions to global problems and an active player in the promotion of liberal democracy around the world.

Through an interchange between small groups from India, Europe, the US and selected other countries, The Foreign Policy Centre's programme will explore how India will engage with the world over the first decades of the 21st century. It will aim to address clear questions about India's future. How is globalisation shaping India's worldview and sense of itself? How will India look to shape its own global role? How will India's new role impact on the international system?

The programme will examine a variety of cutting edge issues and new ideas focusing on five areas:

• International political values, multilateralism and international security
• Evolving international economic configuration, trade and finance
• Democracy, pluralism and harnessing variety
• Technology entrepreneurship, competitiveness, corporate governance and knowledge revolution
• Public diplomacy

The Foreign Policy Centre will be launching four main sets of activities in 2005:

• High level forums in London, Brussels and Delhi engaging senior participants from business, government and academia
• Publication of policy reports and papers from Indian authors under the rubric 'New Thinking from India'
• Publication of policy reports and papers from international observers (business, government, journalists and academics) on the various Indian perceptions of their country's place in the world
• Associated public forums, newspaper articles and public lectures

Themes:

International Political Values, Multilateralism and International Security

How do India's concerns and aspirations match with international political values? What are the upcoming global challenges that Europe, the US and India can face together and what are the potential areas of dispute? What is India's evolving attitude towards international law, multilateralism, strategic alliance building, threat, intervention and the use of force? How does India see its role in global issues such as conflict prevention, terrorism, WMD proliferation and the future of the UN? Will the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) coalition reinforce or challenge multilateralism in the future?

Evolving International Economic Configuration, Trade and Finance

Will India be an active player in efforts to promote international cooperation on economic matters? How does India perceive its role within the WTO? How are India's economic reforms likely to impact on the existing regulatory and political barriers to investment, financial stability and the health of the international economy? How is India's trade and investment relationship with other rising economic powers developing and what effect will this have on the current international economic governance and political order? How does India perceive its relationship with major trading blocks including ASEAN, the EU, NAFTA, SAARC, GCC, SACU, COMESA and Mercosur?

Democracy, Pluralism and Harnessing Variety

Can India's experience in managing its religious, cultural and economic diversity become a model for the world? What role can India play in promoting democracy in its immediate neighbourhood / globally? What is the role of India's global civil society / diaspora in portraying India's growing influence in the world? What are the major constraints and principal drivers of change in India and where are they headed – urbanisation, education, communal violence, HIV/AIDS?

Technology Entrepreneurship, Competitiveness, Corporate Governance and knowledge Revolution

Is India's education system catering for the global market? What are the key reforms to drive competitiveness and higher levels of innovation? Is India a source of know-how for other emerging markets? Is outward migration detracting from or contributing to India's pool of skills? What is India's role in international co-operation and exchange in good practice in science and technology, education, health and other wealth creating sectors? How important is the integration of women into the labour market in increasing India's competitiveness? How will India impact on the digital divide? What is the role of key industries - including pharmaceuticals, IT and missile technology - in India's development?

Public Diplomacy

What is the current state of perceptions of India internationally? How are these perceptions likely to evolve? How do these perspectives shape India's current and future international role? What is the role of mass-culture in shaping India's future and its relations with the world? What role can Indian brands, cultural icons, and the Indian diaspora, as well as government institutions, play in projecting India's influence?

Download the prospectus (180 kilobyte PDF; need help viewing PDFs?)