Lecture by Lawrence Prabhakar William as part of CPPR Talk Series

KOCHI:
“India is an “Aspirational Power” with rich civilizational ethos and a pluralistic social-cultural order that has stood the test of time and hence should rejuvenate on the Vasudeva Kutumbam paradigm”, says Dr Lawrence Prabhakar Williams, Author, Researcher & Professor of International Relations & Strategic Studies. He was speaking at the CPPR Talk series in Kochi on Civilizational State, Governance and Grand Strategy of Aspirational Powers: A Perspective of India.

He noted that in the context of Civilizational States transforming into Aspirational Powers and dominating the Asian landmass—the connotations of the Western construct of “Rising Powers” is inadequate. These Aspirational Powers like China and India evolve unique paradigms of civilization-driven narratives of ‘Culture-Commerce-Connectivity’ in the crafting of their own regional spheres of influence and public diplomacy. The Belt and Road initiative is a good example of such a narrative.

Talking specifically about India he highlighted that India lacks a national strategy based on the articulation of national power and prefers the “adhoc” over the long-term in all sectors of India’s strategic mosaic. India takes contradictory positions swinging between preaching morality and practising realpolitik, thus sending confusing signals that evidences inaction.

He attributes this adhocism to various factors including an intellectual and institutional deficit in strategic concourse. He noted that bureaucratic impediments in Governance is the greatest peril in Aspirational Powers. India’s elite are often resistant to adapt themselves to a ‘Learning Curve’ and often dwell in the blame-game rather than a coherent review and augmentation of thought and action. India with all its power trappings is yet to have a National Defence University; while neighbour Pakistan has a well-endowed system in place.

In addition, India is embroiled in the perils of increased educated unemployment; stymied economic growth and radicalisation that has prevented us from capitalising on the human dividend and subverting our constitutional and democratic process. He warns that the civil dissent will only increase in the coming years eroding the momentum for Aspirational India.

In such a context he underlined the importance of good governance in outlining the Grand Strategy for such a civilisational power. He noted that without the critical factors of Accountability and Transparency—Governance suffers inevitably-leading to corruption, criminalization and ensuring social, civic and political violence which is evidenced in the very high levels of social, civic and political dissent seen in China and India, which in turn undermines the national power.