The Raisina Dialogue

Context:

At the ninth edition of the annual Raisina Dialogue, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar characterized India as a “bridging power,” emphasizing its commitment to finding common ground through a nuanced “multi-vector” policy. He portrayed India as a global friend, adopting the role of a “Vishwamitra” or a friend of the world, reflecting the nation’s lofty ambitions.

Relevance:

GS-2

• Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India’s Interests
• Global Groupings
• Effect of Policies and Politics of Countries on India’s Interests

Mains Question:

Whether the ninth edition of the Raisina Dialogue lacked diversity in conversations on foreign policy is a question that needs to be asked. Comment. (15 Marks, 250 Words).

The Raisina Dialogue:

About the Raisina Dialogue:

• Raisina Dialogue stands as India’s foremost conference dedicated to the exploration of geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges confronting the global community.
• Modelled after the Munich Security Conference and Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue, this annual event has been held in New Delhi since 2016.
• The structure of the Dialogue emphasizes a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral approach, bringing together heads of state, cabinet ministers, local government officials, and thought leaders from the private sector, media, and academia.
• The conference, initiated by the Ministry of External Affairs, serves as a platform to engage with global leaders on significant issues and challenges in the contemporary world.
• The Observer Research Foundation (ORF) organizes the event in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

Key Facts about Observer Research Foundation (ORF):

• Established in 1990, ORF operates as an independent, nonpartisan think tank, conducting policy research in areas such as good governance, foreign policy, and sustainable economic development in India.
• The organization’s research covers a broad spectrum of topics, including climate, energy, cyber issues, media, economic development, and national security. ORF provides non-partisan, independent, and well-researched analyses to various decision-makers in governments, business communities, academia, and civil society worldwide.
• Its mandate is to guide policy thinking towards the creation of a robust and prosperous India in an equitable global setting.

Shangri-La Dialogue:

• The Shangri-La Dialogue serves as Asia’s premier defense and security summit, drawing attendance from Defence Ministers, permanent heads of ministries, and military chiefs representing 28 Asia-Pacific countries.
• Organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), an independent think tank, the summit takes its name from the Shangri-La hotel in Singapore, where it has been hosted since 2002.

Ninth edition of the annual Raisina Dialogue:

• During the event’s inauguration, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis highlighted the importance of connectivity projects, particularly emphasizing the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
• Discussions at the conference delved into topics such as global governance, addressing inequality within the UN Security Council, and the imperative need for reform.
• Repeated references were made to India’s rightful place at the high table of global decision-making, echoing Minister Jaishankar’s aspiration for India “to be a player, rather than a playing field.”
• The conference also acknowledged India’s success in hosting the G-20 the previous year.
• Despite the absence of senior ministerial representation from the P-5 or major G-7 or BRICS-10 countries due to the G-20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Brazil, the substantial ministerial presence from Central and Eastern Europe, including all Ministers of the Baltic-Nordic forum, provided a new avenue for diplomatic outreach.
• This outreach is particularly significant as the government seeks to establish trade agreements and investment ties with this often-overlooked but economically competitive region of Europe.
• The event thus served as a vital platform for India to assert its global standing, discuss pivotal issues, and forge diplomatic ties with regions that hold economic potential.

Shortcomings in the Discussions in Raisina Dialogue:

• The majority of the discussions centered around global conflicts, with the significant presence of European dignitaries bringing attention to the Russian war in Ukraine.
• Panels on military and naval strategy also focused on the imperative to address an assertive China. Unfortunately, these discussions lacked balance as neither Russia nor China were extended invitations.
• The representation from South East Asia, Latin America, and even South Asia (excluding Nepal and Bhutan) was minimal, and a more diverse presence could have offered varied perspectives, shedding light on the challenges these regions face from ongoing conflicts.
• Conversations on democracy understandably avoided delving into the vibrant debates within India on the erosion of freedoms.
• However, the absence of non-governmental civil society organizations in the discourse resulted in a narrow view of the challenges that democracy confronts globally.
• Notably, there were no discussions focusing on the Israeli war in Gaza.

Conclusion:

These omissions not only contribute to a lack of diversity in conversations at India’s premier forum for foreign policy discussions but also detract from External Affairs Minister Jaishankar’s otherwise valid observation that the Raisina Dialogue has evolved into the “Made in India” version of the “Global Public Square.” Whether the Raisina Dialogue lacked diversity in conversations on foreign policy is a question that needs to be asked.