India's foreign policy was built around the principles of peace and cooperation. But India fought three wars in a space of ten years between 1962 and 1971. Would you say that this was a failure of the foreign policy? Or would you say that this was a result of international situation? Give reasons to support your answer.
The three wars between 1962 and 1971 cannot be simply termed as a failure of India's foreign policy. Rather, they were largely a result of the complex international situation and external factors that shaped India's relations with its neighbours.
First, India attained independence at the beginning of the Cold War era, which was marked by political, economic, and military confrontation between the two blocs led by the superpowers, the US and the USSR. This global context significantly influenced India's external relations and created challenging circumstances.
Second, India's foreign policy reflected the interplay of both domestic and external factors. While the noble ideals that inspired India's struggle for freedom influenced the making of its foreign policy, the leadership also had to respond to external challenges. The policy of non-alignment was an innovative response to these challenges.
Third, India found itself in conflict with its neighbours, China and Pakistan, which led to these wars. These conflicts were shaped by the international context and had their impact on domestic politics.
Finally, the fact that there was a broad agreement among political parties on national integration, protection of international boundaries, and questions of national interest shows that the wars were not due to flawed policy but due to genuine external threats. The consensus across parties during this difficult decade indicates that the wars were a result of circumstances beyond India's control rather than a failure of its peaceful foreign policy principles.
Explanation
The textbook context clearly indicates that India's foreign policy was shaped by both domestic ideals and external factors. The Cold War context, the emergence of nuclear weapons, and the establishment of the UN all created a complex international environment. The wars with China and Pakistan were described as conflicts with neighbours that were 'shaped by' the international context. The broad consensus among political parties on national interest during this period suggests that the wars were a result of external circumstances rather than policy failure. The policy of non-alignment itself was an innovative approach to navigate the difficult Cold War era.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify the international context - Cold War era with superpower confrontation
Step 2: Explain how foreign policy reflects interplay of domestic and external factors
Step 3: Discuss the policy of non-alignment as an innovative response
Step 4: Highlight the broad political consensus on national interest during the wars
Step 5: Conclude that wars resulted from external circumstances, not policy failure