India
Bringing together leaders and experts from India and across the globe to discuss India's role in an in an interdependent and multi-polar world, the Foresight India symposium took place in New Delhi on 25-26 March, 2010.
Following a decade of rapid economic growth, India stands at a critical juncture. As a plural democracy in the developing world, it has extraordinary symbolic significance and is poised to be an instrumental player in the emerging international landscape. At the same time, there is much debate about the role India will play as it acquires greater clout in the international system.
Organised in partnership with the Indian Council of World Affairs, the forum brought together participants from government, academic, business and cultural circles. Key participants included, amongst others, Shashi Tharoor, Indian Minister of State for External Affairs; Daniel Benjamin; US Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism; Stephen Krasner, Professor of International Relations, Stanford University; Wu Jianmin, President, China Foreign Affairs University; and Nandita Das, Indian actress and film-maker. The discussions provided unique insights into the multitude of views that shape India and its global positions.
A range of global challenges were discussed including:
- Sustaining economic globalisation: the implications for the financial crisis for the future of economic globalisation were analysed. The discussions highlighted the urgency of the need to reform the global economic governance architecture to reflect the changing balance of power, with the G20 being an important first step.
- Combating transnational terrorism: the challenges presented by terrorism in South Asia were explored. The interventions stressed the need to integrate action at the local, regional and global level and not view problems in isolation. Building better regional institutions would also be important.
- Ensuring resource security: how to ensure access to energy, water and other essential natural resources was discussed. The analysis emphasised the need for better cooperation and coordination mechanisms at the international level as well as a shift to more sustainable patterns of development.
These policy areas were analysed in the context of the factors that drive Indian policy-making and the role India will play in the emerging world order. Although there appeared to be a mismatch between external expectations and internal visions, the potential of India to be a ‘bridging' power was one of the key themes that emerged.
A paper based on the symposium discussions will be available shortly.
Should you wish to recieve this, or if you have any questions about this symposium, or the Foresight project, please contact Policy Network researcher Priya Shankar at pshankar@policy-network.net.
Conference material
Agenda - Foresight India
Speech - Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Indian Minister of State for External Affairs
Participant list - Foresight India
Photos
Articles
- Dangerous myths: making the case for water diplomacy
Zha Daojiong - The great resource race
Brahma Chellaney - Afghanistan: reversing the vicious circle
Prem Shankar Jha - Institutional imbalances: can globalisation be sustained?
Andre Sapir - Growing pains: global adjustment architecture
Yao Yang - The perils of protectionism
Karan Singh - Continuity in change: India in a turbulent world
Arundhati Ghose - Bridging identities: India as a positive power?
Sunil Khilnani - The elements of success in Afghanistan
Charles A. Kupchan - Terror, instability and intervention in South Asia
G Parthasarathy - Running out: a systems approach to scarcity
Bas De Leeuw - India