C. S. R. MURTHY
INTRODUCTION
The Commonwealth stands out every bit a time-tested forum where Republic of Republic of India tin give notice build, renew, in addition to redefine links amongst the group’s other fifty-two fellow member states inward Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific, in addition to the Caribbean. Despite its colonial roots, it is the oldest establishment that provided Republic of Republic of India amongst a take in of the basis decades before it achieved independence. After independence, the Commonwealth has served India’s interests inward varied ways: maintaining cordial relations amongst the sometime colonial powerfulness in addition to other countries belonging to the Western bloc; showing solidarity amongst newly joined African countries, every bit good every bit small-scale isle countries, past times expanding merchandise ties in addition to economical assistance; in addition to showcasing its diplomatic in addition to organizational capabilities past times hosting a Commonwealth Summit every bit good every bit the Commonwealth Games.
C. S. R. Murthy
C. S. R. Murthy has been a professor of international organisation at the Center for International Politics, Organization in addition to Disarmament at Jawaharlal Nehru University inward New Delhi since 2003.
However, inward recent years, India’s political leaders take hold non attended its summits, either for wish of fourth dimension or out of deliberate avoidance. This absence has non gone unnoticed amid those who lookout the Indo-Commonwealth relationship’s potential for serving India’s long-term strategic goals. Despite India’s institutionalized ties amongst the Commonwealth since independence, has the organisation mattered to the country’s vital safety in addition to evolution objectives inward past times decades? Furthermore, when many option forums also address the Commonwealth’s values of “democracy, freedom, peace, the principle of constabulary in addition to chance for all,” what is the importance of the organisation today to a rising international powerfulness similar India? Equally of import is the acquaint chore of regularizing the form of unopen engagement Republic of Republic of India brought in, peculiarly during the years 2008 through 2016, when Indian diplomat Kamalesh Sharma served every bit the Commonwealth secretarial assistant general.
On a see to Republic of Republic of India inward Nov 2017, Prince Charles extended an invitation on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II, the organization’s head, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to live held later on this calendar month inward London. According to commentators, the Great Britain wants to usage the conference to reboot the Commonwealth, given the doubtfulness caused past times its determination to quit the European Union. Because Republic of Republic of India is an of import contributor to the Commonwealth every bit good every bit a rising power, the Great Britain probable hopes that it volition live a valuable partner. Modi has signaled that he may attend the meeting. If true, this would increment India’s electrical current diplomatic visibility. The Commonwealth has much to gain from India’s engagement every bit well.
INDIA AND THE CONTEMPORARY COMMONWEALTH
The contemporary Commonwealth comprises some lxxx official in addition to nonofficial bodies engaged inward promoting multipronged partnerships amid members of governments, businesses, in addition to civil society. It facilitates consultations inward a cordial in addition to informal milieu across a broad hit of concerns. These include international peace in addition to security; democracy, law, in addition to goodness governance; the surroundings in addition to sustainable development; debt management in addition to multilateral trade; educational activity in addition to youth affairs; sex equality, human rights, in addition to healthcare services; data in addition to communications technology; in addition to small-states issues.
India has been involved inward every major component subdivision of the Commonwealth network of institutions, in addition to it is ane of its hit sources of funds, experts, in addition to training. It also accounts for a large portion of merchandise amid the fellow member states. In the 2015–2016 financial year, Republic of Republic of India was the fourth-largest contributor to the Commonwealth’s budget in addition to the third-largest funder of its articulation business office at the United Nations inward New York.1 In 2009, Republic of Republic of India doubled its contribution of only about $2 1000000 to the Commonwealth Media Development Fund in addition to an annual contribution of $80,000 to the Commonwealth Small States Office at the UN.2 Further, Republic of Republic of India provides 16–20 percent of the consultants in addition to experts inward the Commonwealth technical assistance programme (the most of whatever member, after Britain). It ranks foremost amid fellow member states inward providing facilities in addition to venues for Commonwealth preparation programs.3 In addition, Republic of Republic of India has oftentimes provided practiced members to Commonwealth election monitoring groups wherever such assistance was requested past times the fellow member governments concerned. In addition, before Sharma served every bit secretarial assistant full general from 2008 to 2016, ii Indian nationals served every bit deputy secretarial assistant full general in addition to some other served every bit assistant secretarial assistant general.4
India hosted the CHOGM inward 1983. In 2007, it hosted the 6th Commonwealth-India Small Business Competitiveness Development Program inward Kochi in addition to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference inward New Delhi. It hosted the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games followed past times the Commonwealth Games inward 2010. Further, Republic of Republic of India has proposed that it pick out on the responsibleness for upgrading the Commonwealth Youth Program Asia Center inward Chandigarh every bit a middle of excellence inward association amongst the Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development inward Sriperumbudur. Since 2010, no major meetings of the Commonwealth take hold been hosted inward India, presumably because of the financial corruption controversies associated amongst the organisation of the games.
India’s contributions to the Commonwealth’s objectives take hold been peculiarly notable inward ii areas: promoting merchandise in addition to evolution cooperation amid members (including back upward for small-scale island, developing in addition to least-developed countries), in addition to collective measures past times members against the removal of democratically elected governments past times unlawful means.
Development Cooperation in addition to Trade
In the early on 1970s, Indian leaders suggested that the “economic content of the Commonwealth must move to a greater extent than meaningful in addition to purposeful if it had to survive.”5 The economical agenda of the Third World, pushed aggressively at the United Nations General Assembly, was reflected inward the Commonwealth’s political consultations in addition to the functional activities of the secretariat.
This happened around the same fourth dimension every bit a shift toward enhancing India’s economical diplomacy. Republic of Republic of India hoped that the activities of the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC) would complement its ain bilateral assistance program.6 In 1964, the Ministry of External Affairs created the Indian Technical in addition to Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Division to assist amongst capacity edifice inward developing countries. Since its inception, the programme has spent over $2 billion, helping thousands of students in addition to professionals globally. Annual expenditures take hold averaged $100 1000000 inward recent years. From 2009 to 2010, India’s contribution to the Commonwealth’s technical cooperation programs was laid to gradually increment to 1 1000000 pounds every bit component subdivision of its back upward for South-South cooperation. The Special Commonwealth Assistance for Africa Program is a major illustration of India’s cooperation amongst other Commonwealth countries at the bilateral level. Through the ITEC, Republic of Republic of India provided nearly 2,000 slots to train civilians from Commonwealth countries in addition to doubled funding to the Media Development Fund nether the Commonwealth Partnership Platform Portal during 2009–2010.
India’s partnership amongst the Commonwealth on South-South cooperation allows small-scale isle states from the Pacific in addition to the Caribbean Area inward detail to do goodness from its expertise in addition to experiences. Additionally, Republic of Republic of India extends its financial assistance to conferences held inward developing countries, which (along amongst less developed countries) business organisation human relationship for thirty-one of the Commonwealth’s fifty-three members. An analysis of data collected from the annual reports of the Ministry of External Affairs shows that India’s contribution to the CFTC has followed an impressive growth trajectory since the 1990s—from $760,000 inward 1990 to $900,000 inward 1995 to $1.6 1000000 inward 2009. At the 2005 CHOGM, so Indian commerce government minister Kamal Nath announced a contribution of $1.3 1000000 to the Bridging the Digital Divide initiative. During the 2015 CHOGM, Republic of Republic of India announced a contribution of $2.5 1000000 to the Commonwealth Small States Trade Finance Facility. Intra-Commonwealth trade has gained momentum since the 1990s. Its value inward 2015 was estimated to live $687 billion. Simultaneously, Indo-Commonwealth merchandise has also increased markedly. As India’s so external affairs government minister told the Commonwealth Business Forum inward Nov 2009, the organisation so generated an annual intra-Commonwealth merchandise turnover of close $225 billion, of which Republic of Republic of India contributed close $80 billion.
Support for Democracy
As a follow-up to the 1971 Singapore Declaration on the Commonwealth’s centre values, the 1991 Harare CHOGM reiterated the importance of republic in addition to human rights for Commonwealth membership. Since then, the Commonwealth has observed 130 elections inward thirty-six fellow member countries; Republic of Republic of India took component subdivision inward election monitoring for 16 of those countries.7 Republic of Republic of India also supported the secretarial assistant general’s initiatory inward 2009–2010 to portion experiences inward a grouping of national election commissions.
In 1995, Republic of Republic of India joined the newly created Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group. It retains its membership inward this torso fifty-fifty now. The purpose of the grouping is to monitor the stability of late democratized members in addition to pick out appropriate activeness if an elected authorities is removed illegally from power. Further, to dot disapproval of military machine coups against democratic regimes, the grouping has fully or partially suspended some fellow member states from Commonwealth participation until republic was restored. Instances of suspension include Republic of the Fiji Islands (2000, 2006, in addition to 2009), Nigeria (1995), Islamic Republic of Pakistan (1999, 2007), Sierra Leone (1997), in addition to Republic of Zimbabwe (2002). India’s policy of non exporting republic abroad has non prevented it from actively supporting these suspensions. In fact, from belatedly 1999 until 2002, word close the Commonwealth inward parliament mainly concerned India’s stance toward Pakistan’s continued suspension.
THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF ENGAGEMENT
Scholars take hold described the spot of the Commonwealth inward India’s unusual policy every bit a “cornerstone” during the belatedly 1940s in addition to 1950s, a “useful embellishment” during the 1970s in addition to 1980s,8 in addition to “no to a greater extent than than a tike consigned to [an] orphanage” inward to a greater extent than recent decades.9 The Commonwealth’s relative importance has shifted inward reply to the priorities of Indian unusual policy in addition to the aeroplane to which its activities take hold cohered amongst those priorities. Reviewing the highs in addition to lows of India’s engagement amongst the Commonwealth helps create a realistic appraisal of futurity possibilities. Challenges in addition to setbacks take hold peppered India’s association amongst the Commonwealth throughout the vii decades of the country’s membership. The unevenness inward relations tin give notice live amend understood past times examining the next factors.
India After Independence
As ii scholars note, India’s “pre-independence emergence into the international arena was premised on her association amongst the British Commonwealth/Empire.”10 Colonial in addition to Imperial Conferences, convened irregularly since 1887, enabled the British Empire to shape a mutual spot on unusual policy in addition to safety matters. Dominions similar Australia, Canada, in addition to New Zealand enjoyed the privileges of straight participation, which were initially denied to Republic of Republic of India on the grounds that it was non a self-governing component subdivision of the empire. It was solely at the 1917 Imperial Conference that Republic of Republic of India was allowed rights of straight participation, inward appreciation of its substantial contributions during the First World War. The term “Commonwealth” was foremost officially used to depict the establishment at the 1926 Imperial Conference.
Until 1944, Republic of Republic of India was oftentimes represented past times the secretarial assistant of province for Republic of Republic of India (a fellow member of the British cabinet) in addition to occasionally past times nominees of a princely province or the viceroy. India’s concerns during these conferences were asserting its correct to participate amongst condition equal to that of the dominions, safeguarding its economical interests, in addition to bringing upward the handling of overseas Indians.11 Notably, India’s entry into the British Commonwealth became a justification for its membership inward the League of Nations.
Choosing to rest inward the organisation was India’s foremost major unusual policy determination after independence. This provided the bedrock for the modern Commonwealth. Republic of Republic of India did non compromise its sovereign in addition to democratic condition past times remaining a member. Consequently, its illustration precipitated the transformation of the Commonwealth into a various organisation over subsequent decades, every bit newly independent Asian, African, Pacific, in addition to Caribbean Area countries followed suit. a mix of pragmatic economical in addition to political considerations motivated India’s decision. One was the demand to safeguard the rupee-sterling residuum in addition to to ensure continued access to the British market, which accounted for to a greater extent than than one-half of India’s unusual commutation earnings inward 1947. Another constituent was the wish to secure British back upward inward negotiations amongst the princely states next independence. Yet some other was the demand to neutralize whatever possible back upward Pakistan, which had already decided to rest inward the Commonwealth, powerfulness garner against India’s interests on matters arising from segmentation in addition to the dispute over Jammu in addition to Kashmir.12
The Prime Ministers’ Conference of 1949 accepted Republic of Republic of India every bit a total member. Republic of Republic of India accepted the Rex “as the symbol of the gratuitous association of independent fellow member nations, in addition to every bit such the Head of the Commonwealth.”13 The conference statement made it clear that all members were “free in addition to equal” spell “co-operating inward the pursuit of peace, liberty in addition to progress.” Then prime number government minister Jawaharlal Nehru had “security” replaced amongst “liberty,” for neither Republic of Republic of India nor whatever other Commonwealth province could live assured of back upward from other members inward all circumstances.14
The determination to bring together was non gratuitous of disceptation inward India, especially amid those on the left. The criticism mainly consisted of anti-British sentiment in addition to apprehension that an association amongst the Commonwealth would dilute India’s sovereignty. During the 1950s, anti-Commonwealth sentiment increased, due to disapproval of British actions vis-à-vis the Kashmir dispute in addition to the British-French laid on on Arab Republic of Egypt during the 1956 Suez Crisis. Nevertheless, Nehru stood past times the Commonwealth throughout his premiership. Still, many believed that Indo-Commonwealth relations would non live on his decease inward 1964.15
Britain’s Shadow Over the Commonwealth
In the early on years of Indian independence, the Commonwealth constituted a important dimension of the novel republic’s unusual policy. Simultaneously, Republic of Republic of India was the focus of the modernized Commonwealth’s attention. During this period, for certain norms evolved that guided deliberations, especially at the aeroplane of prime number ministers’ meetings. One such norm was that the discussions live informal every bit a score of trust in addition to friendship amid the interlocutors. It was also agreed that internal in addition to bilateral matters would non live raised. Republic of Republic of India respected this norm past times non raising the number of racial discrimination inward South Africa. In 1951, it was persuaded to allow informal conversations on the Kashmir question, in addition to the authorities faced domestic criticism every bit a result.
Strains appeared inward relations primarily because Commonwealth membership was seen every bit synonymous amongst Indo-British relations. The Indian populace viewed the Commonwealth every bit a substitute for the old purplish relationship, which rendered Indo-Commonwealth relations vulnerable to the periodic fluctuations inward relations betwixt the ii countries.16 In the early on 1950s, the actions of the Commonwealth countries that had joined U.S.-sponsored military machine alliances inward West in addition to Southeast Asia started to clash amongst India’s regional safety interests. Such alliances were reverse to India’s nonalignment policy, which was the defining characteristic of the country’s unusual policy for the next decades.
In 1956, Republic of Republic of India stoutly criticized the massive military machine laid on the Great Britain launched amongst French Republic in addition to State of Israel against Arab Republic of Egypt after the latter’s nationalization of the Suez Canal.17 The Suez Crisis prompted demands inward the Indian parliament for withdrawal from the Commonwealth. Almost a decade later, the brazenly anti-India stance of the UK government, led past times so prime number government minister Harold Wilson, during the 1965 conflict betwixt Republic of Republic of India in addition to Islamic Republic of Pakistan undid whatever goodwill had been generated past times British back upward during the state of war betwixt Republic of Republic of India in addition to Red People's Republic of China 3 years earlier. This episode produced powerful negative perceptions inward Republic of Republic of India close the Commonwealth’s usefulness. That same year, inward an of import development, a sort Commonwealth Secretariat was established to render consultative in addition to conference services to fellow member states, making the organisation to a greater extent than distinct from the British authorities in addition to its policies. Meanwhile, the UK downgraded the Commonwealth inward its unusual policy past times turning to Europe inward the early on 1970s.
Shifting Priorities After Nehru
In the 1960s, every bit Republic of Republic of India began to line away from the Commonwealth, several developments transformed the organization’s character. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 large number of African countries joined, in addition to issues inward South Africa in addition to Rhodesia attained high priority on the Commonwealth’s agenda. African states felt that Republic of Republic of India was non aggressive plenty inward its back upward for their continent’s anticolonial agenda. Indeed, Indian leaders refrained from continuing an active role on African problems because they believed it powerfulness drive resentment amid the newly independent African members. In 1970, so prime number government minister Indira Gandhi acknowledged this risk:
We ourselves . . . would non similar that spot [of a leadership role for India]. . . . We should live real careful that at no fourth dimension nosotros give an impression that nosotros . . . [want] to pick out a leading position. That would right away hateful that nosotros are trying to force them [other smaller developing countries] towards a somewhat backward position.18
During the 1970s, Indian unusual policy makers also paid greater attending to bilateral in addition to regional safety issues. The importance of the Commonwealth in addition to Republic of Republic of India to each other diminished inward parallel. Between 1950 in addition to 1971, the cyberspace value of India’s merchandise amongst the Commonwealth, every bit a pct of the total value of the country’s unusual trade, dropped from 38 percent to 15.9 percent.19 The shrinking economical value of the Commonwealth, therefore, curtailed its significance inward the overall framework of Indian unusual policy. At the 1975 CHOGM, other participants saw Republic of Republic of India every bit a “diffident” attendee.20
Parallel to these transformative developments inward India’s engagement, the institutionalization of the Commonwealth to brand it functionally autonomous from the UK’s unusual policy establishment received a major boost amongst the creation of the secretariat. Republic of Republic of India worried that formal institutions powerfulness dilute the potential of the Commonwealth every bit an informal venue for edifice a constructive atmosphere of mutual accommodation.21CHOGMs began to live held exterior the United Kingdom, outset amongst the 1971 coming together inward Singapore. The Singapore Declaration was an organizational milestone inward damage of enunciating a laid of political values, such every bit a commitment to democracy, peace, in addition to human rights.
From the 1970s onward, the Commonwealth also began to pick out on an economical dimension, which over fourth dimension substantially increased every bit a proportion of its activities. Commonwealth assist to Republic of Republic of India nearly doubled every bit a pct of the organization’s total assist betwixt 1965 in addition to 1971, from 10.4 to 19.9 percent.22 However, inward the terminal quarter of the twentieth century, massive U.S. assist programs began to overshadow the organization’s economical in addition to technical assistance (although British in addition to Canadian assistance remained important inward crucial areas such every bit steel in addition to nuclear technology). The Commonwealth’s portion of India’s merchandise also fell, in addition to the United Kingdom’s membership inward the European Economic Community accelerated this decline.23
The foremost attempts past times Republic of Republic of India to claim the postal service of Commonwealth secretarial assistant full general inward the belatedly 1970s ended inward an embarrassing defeat in addition to loss of face. Then unusual government minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee sought back upward for the candidacy of so unusual secretarial assistant Jagat Mehta. However, the authorities shelved the thought every bit it sensed that the bulk of fellow member states favored some other term for the incumbent. Yet after a precipitous alter of government, Vajpayee’s replacement—S. N. Misra—approved India’s sponsorship of Mehta, presumably due to an inadequate briefing past times the bureaucracy. The chair of the 1979 CHOGM later on refused to clear Mehta’s candidacy—a predictable anticlimax from the clumsy handling of the matter.24
Indifference Since the 1990s
The 1990s witnessed the terminate of the Cold War in addition to other systemic changes that necessitated novel preoccupations for India, peculiarly a focus on maintaining friendly relations amongst the U.S. in addition to expanding economical relations amongst a variety of merchandise groups, peculiarly inward Asia. As a result, the Indian authorities had piffling involvement inward Commonwealth matters. The participation of prime number ministers inward CHOGMs grew erratic, spell the diversification of the Commonwealth into law, finance, in addition to merchandise areas allowed the relevant ministers to participate.
For example, at the 1991 CHOGM so prime number government minister Narasimha Rao was the terminal caput of authorities to arrive, in addition to he left the coming together early. Instead of attending the 1993 in addition to 1995 CHOGMs, Rao sent his ministers of finance in addition to unusual affairs. On the other hand, when so prime number government minister Inder Kumar Gujral led a high-level delegation to the 1997 conference, he had the privilege of speaking inward the opening session on behalf of all the Commonwealth delegations. As prime number minister, Vajpayee attended the 1999 in addition to 2003 CHOGMs, but non the ane held inward 2002. Lack of involvement prevailed after the United Progressive Alliance authorities came to powerfulness inward 2004. The commerce minister, non the prime number minister, represented Republic of Republic of India at the 2005 meeting. Then prime number government minister Manmohan Singh attended the adjacent ii CHOGMs, inward 2007 in addition to 2009, but sent the vice president in addition to the unusual government minister to the succeeding conferences inward 2011 in addition to 2013. At the 2013 CHOGM, held inward Colombo, a coalition partner insisted that Republic of Republic of India non appear to endorse Sri Lanka’s much deplored violations of humanitarian norms inward its military machine operations against the Tamil people. The authorities led past times Modi has demonstrated a similar lack of involvement inward the CHOGM, in addition to he opted non to attend the 2015 conference, amongst External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj participating inward his stead.
In 2007, when it was Asia’s plough to offering a candidate for the postal service of secretarial assistant general, Republic of Republic of India fielded Kamalesh Sharma, who was serving every bit its high commissioner inward London in addition to had impressive sense inward multilateral forums.25 The determination tin give notice live seen every bit a reply to India’s other failed efforts to exercise greater influence in addition to seek leadership positions inward multilateral organizations.
India made hectic efforts through G4 countries inward 2005, seeking a breakthrough on the vexing number of enlarging the United Nations Security Council’s permanent membership. In 2006, Republic of Republic of India fielded its candidate for the spot of United Nations secretarial assistant general. Neither of these moves succeeded. It is inward this context that the postal service of the Commonwealth secretarial assistant full general presented an opportunity. Unlike inward 1979, Republic of Republic of India was successful, maybe partly due its growing economical in addition to political stature along amongst Sharma’s credentials. While fielding a candidate implied greater multilateral engagement, India’s indecisiveness before the belatedly annunciation indicated its continually insufficient strategic vision when approaching international candidatures.26In 2011, Sharma was re-elected for a 2nd term without contest. Coincidentally, his tenure until 2016 witnessed a rejuvenation of India’s economical engagement amongst the Commonwealth. Sharma’s contacts inward New Delhi powerfulness take hold helped, too the fact that India’s high charge per unit of measurement of economical growth had also facilitated this rejuvenation.
THE WAY FORWARD
The academic M. S. Rajan ane time remarked that the key to reinventing the Commonwealth for the novel century lies inward systematic attempts past times prominent fellow member states to revive in addition to supplement traditional “links of affinity in addition to advantage” to brand the organisation “dynamic in addition to purposeful in addition to the membership of it worthwhile.”27 Some analysts annotation that the rootage drive of the Commonwealth’s decline is a lack of leadership that agency “it has move nobody’s Commonwealth.”28 If leadership, past times member-state governments inward particular, is lacking, where should the Commonwealth turn?
Does this offering Republic of Republic of India an opportunity? After all, Republic of Republic of India is habitation to threescore percent of the Commonwealth’s population (and a substantial number of people of Indian descent alive inward other fellow member states), in addition to one-quarter of intra-Commonwealth merchandise involves the country. Consequently, Republic of Republic of India is the most obvious fellow member to Pb a revitalization process—to serve non solely its ain interests but also the interests of other countries who wish the Commonwealth to emerge every bit ane of many poles inward a nonhegemonic regional in addition to global order.
Old-timers similar Krishna Menon had ane time envisioned that Republic of Republic of India would exploit the Commonwealth “until it becomes a big, major power.”29 On the other side are those closely associated amongst India’s unusual policy establishment in addition to the Commonwealth institutions in addition to who retrieve that Republic of Republic of India should live able to exercise “great leverage in addition to influence over the entire ambit of its activities.”30 Today, the aspiration for Republic of Republic of India to pick out a to a greater extent than prominent house inward international institutions manifests principally inward its bid for a permanent spot inward the United Nations Security Council in addition to through its membership inward various safety in addition to economical bodies similar the BRICS grouping (Brazil, China, India, Russia, in addition to South Africa), the G20, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, in addition to the Wassenaar Arrangement. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 to a greater extent than prominent role inward the Commonwealth would gibe good amongst this aspiration.
There is much that Republic of Republic of India in addition to other preeminent Commonwealth members tin give notice do to reinvigorate the organization. In fact, the post-Brexit surroundings presents an chance for Indian-UK cooperation to remap the Commonwealth for the ii countries’ mutual benefit. Great Britain seems to live looking to the Commonwealth every bit an alternative channel for safeguarding its economical in addition to merchandise interests. According to reports, the UK is interested inward edifice a stronger partnership amongst India, spell Republic of Republic of India is interested inward using the Commonwealth to boost trade.
The many observers inward New Delhi who dismiss the Commonwealth every bit a relic from the past times may non reveal the proffer worth considering. However, hope arises when realists similar C. Raja Mohan say that “a rising Republic of Republic of India must consider taking over the leadership of the Commonwealth at some dot [in] time, working amongst English-speaking leaderships of Commonwealth countries inward Africa, the Caribbean Area in addition to the Pacific.” Modi is believed to live interested inward this thought in addition to the prospect of establishing a merchandise in addition to investment middle inward New Delhi every bit a way of decentralizing the Commonwealth Secretariat’s activities.
The Commonwealth is unique for its transregional composition in addition to conciliatory approach to contentious political matters. Republic of Republic of India is an exemplar of the Commonwealth inward damage of democratic stability, social diversity, in addition to economical in addition to technological progress. As a province eager to showcase its novel activism inward global institutions, it makes sense for Republic of Republic of India to deepen its relations amongst existing ones similar the Commonwealth. At a fourth dimension when the regional initiatives to which it is a party—such every bit the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical in addition to Economic Cooperation, in addition to the Indian Ocean Rim Association—are non performing to their potential, Republic of Republic of India could weigh the pick of forming a distinct subgroup of Asia Pacific countries; at that spot are 18 such countries inward the Commonwealth. Further, Republic of Republic of India could move an economical couplet betwixt the Asia Pacific subregional cooperation to heighten economical in addition to merchandise relationships amongst the xix African members of the Commonwealth. In other words, the Commonwealth could live redesigned to piece of work at the aeroplane of feasible regions in addition to amongst multispeed mechanisms.
From a political in addition to strategic viewpoint, a greater Asia-Pacific orientation to the Commonwealth could buttress India’s travail to residuum China. The Commonwealth could render a discrete, feasible platform to pick out together Asian in addition to South Pacific countries on safety in addition to economical issues. The payoff of forging such a subgrouping is that it would non include the United States, whose presence may otherwise ship alert bells ringing inward Beijing. Of course, this must live done diligently, every bit the Commonwealth was non conceived to piece of work against whatever country. Even so, it offers a groovy bargain inward damage of furthering meaningful cooperation inward the areas of counterterrorism, maritime security, in addition to combating organized offense in addition to coin laundering—all of which are critical to India’s futurity safety needs.
The fundamental challenge in addition to chance for Republic of Republic of India inward the Commonwealth is to showcase its leadership abilities. As a foremost stair inward that direction, it should offering to host a CHOGM. Malta, a tiny isle country, has hosted the summit twice inward the past times x years, whereas Republic of Republic of India has hosted it solely once, in addition to some thirty-five years agone at that. Former unusual secretarial assistant Krishnan Srinivasan ane time argued that Republic of Republic of India should live to a greater extent than invested inward the Commonwealth because “above all, inward the Commonwealth, when Republic of Republic of India speaks, everyone listens,” different inward the Nonaligned Movement in addition to the United Nations.31 By piloting in addition to participating inward a collaborative travail to reinvent the Commonwealth for the twenty-first century, it tin give notice demonstrate its collegial in addition to consultative leadership style.
C. S. R. Murthy has been a professor of international organisation at the Center for International Politics, Organization in addition to Disarmament at Jawaharlal Nehru University inward New Delhi since 2003.
NOTES
1 Ministry of External Affairs, Annual Report, 2015-16 (New Delhi, 2016), pp. 144-146, http://www.mea.gov.in/Uploads/PublicationDocs/26525_26525_External_Affairs_English_AR_2015-16_Final_compressed.pdf. Since 1983 the organisation has maintained inward New York a articulation business office for Commonwealth permanent missions at the UN, which provides business office infinite for representatives to the United Nations of ix small-scale fellow member states from the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, in addition to the Pacific.
2 See for example, Ministry of External Affairs, Annual Report, 2009-10(New Delhi, 2010), 112–14, http://www.mea.gov.in/Uploads/PublicationDocs/168_Annual-Report-2009-2010.pdf.
3 Krishnan Srinivasan, “India in addition to the Commonwealth,” International Studies 37, no. 1 (January-March 2000): 61–68.
4 Krishnan Srinivasan, “Rethinking India’s Leadership Role inward the Commonwealth, Indian Foreign Affairs Journal 2, no. 4 (October-December 2007): 33–47.
5 Nandhini Iyer, Republic of Republic of India in addition to the Commonwealth: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Critical Appraisal (New Delhi: ABC Publishing House, 1983), 38.
6 Iyer, Republic of Republic of India in addition to the Commonwealth, 41.
7 Srinivasan, “India in addition to the Commonwealth,” 66.
8 Iyer, Republic of Republic of India in addition to the Commonwealth, 8.
9 Srinivasan, “India in addition to the Commonwealth,” 67.
10 Charles Heimsath in addition to Surjit Mansingh quoted inward Iyer, Republic of Republic of India in addition to the Commonwealth, 1.
11 Iyer, Republic of Republic of India in addition to the Commonwealth, 2.
12 Ibid., 3.
13 B. Vivekanandan, The Shrinking Circle: The Commonwealth inward British Foreign Policy 1945-1974, (Bombay: Somaiya Publications, 1983), 10.
14 Sarvepalli Gopal, Jawaharlal Nehru: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Biography, (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1989), p. 204.
15 Iyer, Republic of Republic of India in addition to the Commonwealth, 8.
16 Ibid., 5.
17 M.S. Rajan, Republic of Republic of India inward World Affairs, 1954-56 (New Delhi: Indian Council of World Affairs, 1964), regard chapter 7, “Commonwealth on Trial.”
18 Iyer, Republic of Republic of India in addition to the Commonwealth, 50.
19 Ibid., 15.
20 A. J. R. Groom in addition to Paul Taylor, The Commonwealth inward the 1980s: Challenges in addition to Opportunities (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 1984), p. 209.
21 Iyer, Republic of Republic of India in addition to the Commonwealth, 14.
22 Ibid., 16.
23 Ibid., 5.
24 Ibid., 49–50.
25 Srinivasan, “Rethinking India’s Leadership Role,” 37–39.
26 Beth Kreling, “India in addition to the Commonwealth: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Symbiotic Relationship?,” The Round Table 98, no. 400: 63.
27 M. S. Rajan, Republic of Republic of India in addition to the Commonwealth: Some Studies (New Delhi: Konark, 1990), 152.
28 Krishnan Srinivasan, “Nobody’s Commonwealth? The Commonwealth inward Britain’s Post-Imperial Adjustment,” Commonwealth & Comparative Politics44, no. 2 (July 2006).
29 S. C. Gangal, Republic of Republic of India in addition to the Commonwealth (Agra: Shiva Lal Agarwala & Co., 1970), p. 7.
30 Srinivasan, “India in addition to the Commonwealth,” 65.
31 Archis Mohan, “The Commonwealth: Old Links, New Ties”, Nov 8, 2013, http://www.mea.gov.in/in-focus-article.htm?22455/The+Commonwealth+Old+Links+New+Ties.
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