THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 19 March 2020 (A revival of multilateralism, steered by India (The Hindu))

A revival of multilateralism, steered by India (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2:International
Prelims level: COVID-19 crisis
Mains level:Effect of policies and politics of developed anddeveloping countries on India's interests

Context:

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought out in sharp relief the compelling reality that has been staring us in the face for the past several years. This reality has two aspects.

Key challenges:

One, that most challenges confronting the world and likely to confront it in the future, are cross-national in character.
They respect no national boundaries and are not amenable to national solutions.
Two, these challenges are cross-........................................

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Rise of nationalism:

The intersection of cross-national and cross-domain challenges demand multilateral approaches. They require empowered international institutions of governance.
Underlying these must be a spirit of internationalism and solidarity, a sense of belonging to a common humanity. But over the past decade and more, the world has been moving in the reverse direction.
There has been an upsurge in narrow nationalism, an assertion of parochial interests over pursuit of shared interests and a fostering of competition among states rather than embracing collaboration.
COVID-19 has brought these deepening contradictions into very sharp relief. This is a global challenge which recognises no political boundaries.
It is intimately linked to the whole pattern of large-scale and high-density food production and distribution.
It is a health crisis but is also spawning an economic crisis through disrupting global value chains and creating a simultaneous demand shock. It is a classic cross-national and cross-domain challenge.

The current situation:

But interventions to deal with the COVID-19 crisis are so far almost entirely at the national level, relying on quarantine and social distancing.
There is virtually no coordination at the international level.
We are also seeing a blame game erupt between China and the United States which does not augur well for international cooperation and leadership.
While this is the present state of play, the long-term impact could follow alternative pathways.
One, the more hopeful outcome would be for countries to finally realise that there is no option but to move away from nationalistic urges and embrace the logic of international cooperation through revived and strengthened multilateral institutions and processes.

Major consequences:

The other more depressing consequence may be that nationalist trends become more intense, countries begin to build walls around themselves and even existing multilateralism is further weakened.
Institutions such as the United .................................

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Remarks from Prime Minister:

In this context, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks at the recent The Economic Times Global Business Summit are to be welcomed.
While speaking of the COVID-19 crisis, he said, “Like today, the world is facing a huge challenge in the form of Corona Virus.
Financial institutions have also considered it a big challenge for the financial world.
Today, we all have to face this challenge together. We have to be victorious with the power of our resolution of ‘Collaborate to Create’.”
He went on to observe that while the world today is “inter-connected, inter-related and also interdependent”, it has “not been able to come on a single platform or frame a Global Agenda, a global goal of how to overcome world poverty, how to end terrorism, how to handle Climate Change issues.”

Seeking friendship:

Mr. Modi lauded his government’s policy of seeking friendship with all countries as contrasted from the earlier policy of non-alignment.
He seemed to suggest that non-alignment was a defensive policy which advocated “equal distance from every country”.
Now, he claimed, India was still “neutral” — presumably meaning non-alignment — “but not on the basis of distance but on the basis of friendship”.
He cited India’s friendship with Iran and Saudi Arabia, and with the U.S. as well as Russia.
Elaborating on this, he added, “There was a time when people were neutral by creating equal distance, but we are now neutral by creating equal friendship.
Today we are being friends and trying to walk together. This is the very essence of India’s foreign policy and the economic policy of India today.”

Highlights of the India’s foreign policy:

Mr. Modi may wish to distinguish his foreign policy from that of his predecessors, but what he describes as its “essence” is hardly distinguishable from the basic principles of Indian foreign policy since Nehru.
India’s non-alignment was ...........................................

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Pandemic as opportunity:

The Prime Minister made no reference to the role of the U.N., the premier multilateral institution, as a global platform for collaborative initiatives.
There may have been irritation over remarks by the UN Secretary General on India’s domestic affairs and the activism displayed by the UN Commissioner for Human Rights on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act controversy.
This should not influence India’s long-standing commitment to the U.N. as the only truly inclusive global platform enjoying international legitimacy despite its failings.
If one has to look for a “single platform” where a Global Voice could be created, as the Prime Minister suggested, surely a reformed and strengthened U.N. should be on India’s agenda.

Way forward:

The COVID-19 pandemic presents India with an opportunity to revive multilateralism, become a strong and credible champion of internationalism and assume a leadership role in a world that is adrift.
The inspiration for this should come from reaffirming the well springs of India’s foreign policy since its Independence rather than seeking to break free.
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General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the Uttar Pradesh Recovery of Damage to Public and Private Property Ordinance, 2020, consider the following statements:
1. It is a stringent new law to recover compensation from those who damage public and private property during protests and riots.
2. Every order or award passed by the Claims Tribunal would be “final” and no appeal would be “maintainable” before any court.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2