Institute of International Relations, Taras Shevchenko National University, Kyiv
The challenges facing our global village: an Indian perspective

(Introductory remarks)

Today's globalized world presents us with numerous challenges and opportunities. How we respond to them will affect the lives of people everywhere. No country can regard itself an island anymore. No part of the world is insulated from the fallout of developments in another part. The current global concern over the deadly strain of avian flu makes this point tellingly. The world has, clearly, been transformed in fundamental ways in the last few decades. Like it or not, we are all neighbours in our global village.

Needless to say, our global village must become more inclusive. Only then can we succeed in addressing the major challenges before us. Our societies must do more than just co-exist. Merely being more tolerant of other cultures isn't enough; we should learn to celebrate the rich cultural diversity of our global village. Harping on the inevitability of the 'clash of civilizations' might unwittingly make it a self-fulfilling prophecy. The twenty-first century could go down in history as the century of bitter conflict - or it could turn out to be a golden age of human civilization. The choice is really ours to make. The fall of the Berlin wall most certainly did not mark the 'end of history,' even if it did ring the curtain down on an important chapter.

Whatever the future holds, the impact of events almost anywhere would be felt across the globe, by people living in countries rich and poor, including - or rather, especially - by those in developing countries struggling on the margins to survive.

Threats to peace and security remain high on the list of challenges we all face today. There are, however, many others: establishing democratic governance structures everywhere; encouraging respect for universal human values, while fostering cultural diversity; promoting rapid development of developing countries to assure a life of dignity for everyone; managing and utilizing the world's limited resources in an efficient, sustainable and equitable manner; providing relief and alleviating suffering in situations involving humanitarian emergencies; and, preventing the occurrence of man-made catastrophes. We clearly need to face these challenges collectively, in a spirit of shared responsibility, as members of a global community. Together, we have to devise optimal strategies for concerted action at national and international levels.

As we grapple with threats new and old, we must not lose sight of the fact that action on issues of global concern must be based on a global consensus. Nothing damages a cause, and alienates its supporters, more than unilateral action by a few claiming to act on behalf of the entire international community. Concepts of democratic governance are liable to be turned upside down. The Westphalian paradigm of sovereignty of nation states for conducting interstate relations may need some adjustment in extreme situations, but unless this is done with great circumspection and on the basis of a clear global consensus, it could have very serious consequences.

The post war architecture for maintaining peace and security faces a serious credibility problem. The Security Council of today is a relic of a different era. It is in need of comprehensive reform and re-structuring. The Council as it is composed today is unrepresentative and anachronistic, and in no way reflects a world that has changed dramatically in the sixty years since San Francisco. Developing countries, which constitute the vast majority of the membership of the United Nations, find no place in the category of Permanent Members and are inadequately represented in the non-permanent category. The Council's actions cannot command legitimacy in the face of such stark imbalance, and the non-transparent methods of its work. It needs to be expanded and made more representative. As the largest democracy, India can rightfully claim a place in this expanded Council.

Democracy and human rights

While respecting cultural differences between peoples, we must also recognize that the core of human rights is common to all cultures. There really is no conflict between societies on the question of basic human values. In that sense human rights are universal. There is no gainsaying, also, that respect for human rights can only be ensured in a democracy - that is, in a political environment that guarantees civic freedoms, non-discrimination, equality and the right to elect and change governments periodically. Ukraine exercised that right two weeks ago. I have no doubt that all Ukrainians would agree that society is better off because of the freedoms that democracy guarantees. Unfortunately, though democracy received a significant boost towards the end of the last millennium in many parts of the world, many undemocratic bastions remain.

While an open democratic country is a sine qua non for a civilized society, it is also a vulnerable target of terrorism. The freedoms and civil liberties of an open society, which are among its defining features, are precisely what make it so vulnerable to terrorist attacks. Alas, democracies have occasionally been forced to curtail some of these freedoms in order to counter the threats posed by terrorists. This is sad, but not surprising, given that a government's first responsibility is to provide security to its people. In India, we continue to bear the brunt of terrorist outrages.

Nuclear weapons

For over half a century, the international community has failed to effectively address the threat posed by nuclear weapons. This threat has acquired a frightening new dimension with the very real possibility that non-state actors, or even a small terrorist group, might acquire and use a nuclear weapon. The threat needs to be addressed seriously by all countries, especially those with nuclear capabilities.

India subscribes to the principle of equal and legitimate security interest of all nations. Since a nuclear weapons free world would enhance every nation's security, India has consistently over the years called for elimination of nuclear weapons. In 1988, our former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi put forward an action plan for a phased elimination of all nuclear weapons within a specified time frame. It is unfortunate that these proposals did not receive a positive response from other nuclear weapon states. In the circumstances we were compelled to exercise the nuclear weapons option taking into account our security interests in the prevailing environment. Nevertheless, our commitment to global nuclear disarmament remains undiminished.

As a state with nuclear weapons, however, India is committed to non-proliferation and the maintenance of stringent export controls to ensure that there is no leakage of our indigenously developed nuclear technology and know-how. We have an effective export control regime for nuclear material as well as related technologies even though we are neither a party to the NPT nor a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

The Global Economy

While the freedoms available to people in a democratic society are vital for their wellbeing, in today's globalized world they cannot, alas, guarantee a nation's economic development. The world is far from democratic in its decision making. Global markets have grown rapidly without the parallel development of the economic and social institutions necessary for their smooth, effective and equitable functioning. The pronounced imbalance in the working of the global economy today is ethically untenable and political unsustainable.

The current course of globalization needs to be adjusted, because too few share its benefits, and too many have no voice in its design, or influence over its course. The benefits of globalization must reach the poor, not just the well-educated and the affluent. Major changes in policies relating to global trade and on regulating movement of peoples are needed if the world's poor are to share in the benefits of globalization.

Multilateral economic processes currently underway, particularly in the field of trade, need to ensure that the development of developing countries is fully integrated into the negotiations not merely in name but also in terms of the outcomes. Development must be at the centre of the Doha Round, and all countries must cooperate to make the trading system fair and equitable. The WTO as an institution is important to all its members - developed, developing or countries in transition. Ukraine is expected to join this body in the near future, and India looks forward to welcoming it.

The Indian Perspective

Where does India figure in this global scheme? With it's sub-continental size and a population of more than one-sixth of humanity India has an important role in meeting all of these challenges. It is a veritable microcosm of the globe. Size does matter, but what is more important is that India, as the world's largest democracy, has kept faith with it through all the external and internal challenges.

The wellspring of one of the oldest, richest and most influential of cultures, and repository of an unbroken civilizational tradition, India has through the ages, spread the message of humanism and spirituality. The message is as relevant today as it has been at any time in the past. India is home to four major religions. Its multiethnic, multicultural mosaic mirrors that of the world, accommodating diversity through a secular and democratic framework and an ethos of tolerance. Its immense diversity adds great richness to society. Unity in diversity is its overarching inspiration. Minorities in India, whether religious, linguistic or ethnic, are thus able to preserve their distinct identity while participating fully in all walks of national life and decision making, rather than lose that identity in a 'melting pot.'

Our political system reflects our openness to modern thinking and ideas. The global recognition of the quality and standard of our leading educational institutions, the achievements of so many of our people in diverse fields, the vibrancy of our civil society, our free media, our independent judiciary, the enterprise of our people - all these underscore the point that modern India is fully equipped to make its mark in today's world. But we have a long way to go, we have many challenges to overcome.

Even though poverty has been significantly reduced since we became independent, its incidence is still unacceptably high. That the size of the Indian middle class is expected to exceed the population of the European Union in the near future does not make the challenge of poverty elimination any less daunting. We have to assure universal access to essential services like clean water, electricity, education and healthcare. We have to spread the fruits of economic growth and globalization, we have to increase investment and employment especially in those parts of the country that have so far received insufficient attention from investors, we have to build a world class infrastructure so that current bottlenecks do not continue to hold us back - we have to do all this and more to prove to ourselves and to others that development is a challenge that can be won. Other developing countries can then benefit from our experience.

As a country India can be proud of its contribution to the modern world. It is among the biggest and most dynamic economies, with one of the fastest growing markets. According to some economists, India could emerge as the fourth largest economy in the world by the year 2015 and one of the largest markets with a middle class estimated around 500 million by the year 2025. India has the second largest pool of scientific and technical manpower.

We have made remarkable achievement in several fields of science and technology since we gained independence. There are Indians working in virtually every field of science, often at the frontiers of knowledge. A few stand out - nuclear energy, space, medicine, and, in the last decade, information and communication technology - but others, while less visible, are no less remarkable.

In today's energy starved world, the importance of nuclear technology cannot be overstated. Nuclear power generation has been accorded a high priority in India. Eight power reactors are under construction in India - the largest number in any country. Nuclear power can help in meeting the growing worldwide energy need in a sustainable way with the least harm to the environment. Our nuclear energy plan accords primacy to safety in all its activities. With around 200 reactor-years of operating experience, we have an excellent safety record.

Given India's size, if we succeeded in finding an environment friendly way to boost our production and consumption without sacrificing our economic growth, it would have an enormous positive implication for ecological sustainability overall. As we continue on our ambitious journey to transform the economic face of our country, a great deal rides on our success - not just for India, but for the world at large.

Our success would also mark a major triumph of democratic society. Democracy would be seen not only as a good basis of governance - one that guarantees freedoms and offers choices - but also as a dynamic force for economic development. It would demonstrate that it is possible to successfully manage the tension between the soft approach of democracy, with its emphasis on consensus and social justice, and the discipline and hard choices required to deliver rapid economic growth.

Foreign Policy

I had wanted to focus in this talk on global issues that are important to all countries. Accordingly, I have not addressed the detailed contours of our foreign policy. But I should, perhaps, say something about the basic principles that shape this policy. Also, I would like to briefly touch on India-Ukraine bilateral relations.

An important feature of our foreign policy has been, and remains, our freedom to choose what is in our best national interest. We are extremely protective of our right to chart our course based on our own assessment of each situation. While we are never doctrinaire in our approach, and regularly consult with countries with which we share many common positions, we place great importance to being able to take positions based on the merits of each case. As a nation with a 5,000 year old history and culture, we have always been peace-loving, and so our policy of independent action is, by its very nature, non-threatening to other nations.

The foundations of this policy were laid during our freedom movement when our leaders, even when fighting for independence, were engaged in the great causes of the time. The principles underpinning India's foreign policy that emerged at that time, have served us well ever since. These area: pursuit of friendly relations with all countries of the world; a commitment to resolution of conflicts by peaceful means; a belief in the sovereign equality of all states; and, a conviction that we must preserve our policy independence, so that we can always take action that is in our best interest. Non-alignment was but a natural corollary flowing from these overarching principles.

India-Ukraine relations

Before I close, let me say a few words about our bilateral relations with Ukraine. As part of the former Soviet Union, Ukraine helped us in a big way to develop our industrial infrastructure in key sectors, such as mining, heavy engineering, and steel. Several of our steel plants are currently being upgraded and renovated by Ukrainian experts. Today, Ukraine is our second largest trading partner among the CIS countries, with bilateral trade having grown very rapidly since 2000. It tripled in the last 3 years and crossed US $ 1 bn in 2005. Our goal is to reach US $ 5 bn by 2010. We have around 15 joint projects in science and technology.

With a large number of the military industrial enterprises of the former Soviet Union located in Ukraine, defence cooperation is another important area in our relations. The Indian Air Force, for example, has more than 100 Antonov aircrafts built in Ukraine during the Soviet period, and a number of Indian naval ships are propelled by huge gas turbines manufactured in Ukraine.

As many as 2,500 Indian students study in the higher educational institutions of Ukraine - mainly in medicine, engineering, and civil aviation. Students play no small role in building connections between countries, and I regard this as an important dimension of our relations. I have also been heartened by the spontaneous interest in Indian culture, dance and music, history and philosophy, among significant sections of the people in Ukraine. While official and business level contacts are no doubt important for building relations between countries, I am convinced that people-to-people contact provides the best foundation for an enduring relationship.

Thank you.