Indian Foreign Policy: No Intervention Please
India does need a more proactive foreign policy, but should be wary↲ of intervening in the name of democracy.
As India continues its rise↲ as a regional and global power, many academics are calling for a shift↲ in its non-committal foreign policy↲. India is at a crossroads↲, raising the question↲: What is an appropriate direction for India’s foreign policy future? Promoting human rights and democracy abroad↲, however, should not be part of the answer, at least for now.
In their November 7 Foreign Policy article, Sumit Ganguly and Eswaran Sridharan’s argument in favor of promoting “inclusive democracy and human rights as a way of calming suspicions↲, turning around hostile attitudes, and moving toward regional integration” presents an interesting, albeit oversimplified↲, addition to the debate. Though they advocate a need to take “forceful stands,” they fail to specify the extent to which India should take these stands. Would a forceful stand entail↲ unilateral military intervention or would it be limited to vociferous diplomatic protests?
Assuming that the authors do not preclude↲ unilateral military intervention, then the assertion that India has “mostly shied away↲” from promoting democracy and protecting human rights abroad is misleading↲. In fact, India has attempted to pursue↲ this kind of activist foreign policy in the past, with decidedly mixed results.
First, the assumption↲ that a proliferation of inclusive democratic states would necessarily lead to a more stable region is questionable, especially with a factor such as the Kashmir dispute in play. India’s 1971 intervention in East Pakistan was ostensibly to prevent↲ the “suppressing of freedom and human rights,” and was a result of democratic failure. Operation Searchlight and the persecution of the Bengali people were an outcome↲ of West Pakistan’s refusal↲ to accept the Awami League’s victory in the 1970 General Elections. This incident reminds that despite a move toward inclusive democracy, Pakistan relapsed and imploded, forcing Indian intervention. At the same time, one might argue that India’s intervention was deeply rooted in opportunism designed to further↲ its own national interest. By enabling East Pakistan to secede↲, India secured↲ its eastern borders and ensured an unparalleled military dominance of the region.
Second, by involving itself in the domestic affairs of another state, India’s own national security can be placed at risk. India’s involvement in the now-forgotten LTTE-Sri Lankan conflict led directly to the assassination of a former prime minister. Delhi’s failed “peace-keeping” venture↲ into Sri Lanka emerged was part of a more activist foreign policy. Although Operation Poomalai was a blatant↲ violation of Sri Lanka’s sovereignty↲, India nonetheless offered Sri Lankan rebel forces “humanitarian assistance.” Tasked with↲ disarming rebel forces, this operation would eventually lead to Indian boots on the ground in the form of the Indian Peacekeeping Force. Again, India’s promotion of human rights abroad directly embroiled it in an embarrassing conflict akin to U.S. intervention in Vietnam↲. In this context, not only did Indian involvement achieve no strategic objectives, it antagonized the “kin↲” Tamil minority.
One must note that both these interventions, whether by design or happy coincidence, assisted “kin” minorities. Though Ganguly and Sridhar present this as a regional issue↲ creating suspicion and hostility between states, it seems more like an issue dictating Indian intervention. Considering this, it seems quite↲ paradoxical for a state to promote the inclusion of minorities in a region when, historically, that same state has been willing↲ to intervene to protect those very rights. It creates a scenario wherein↲ other states can either conform to Indian values and attitudes or risk war. Such a scenario would most likely• foster hostility toward India and lead to other states balancing against it.
Moreover↲, if India were to actively promote democracy and protect human rights regionally, it would significantly influence India’s foreign relations globally, specifically within the BRICs. An activist foreign policy would have to account for the lack of democracy↲ and blatant human rights violations in Russia and China. It is unwise↲ to utilize a dichotomous foreign policy wherein India condemns human rights violations in Sri Lanka while simultaneously purchases↲ arms from Russia. Considering India’s close military ties with Russia and growing economic ties with China, this would certainly force New Delhi to reevaluate its policies toward those countries.
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Key Terms…
- wary ↔ cautelosa ↲
- its rise ↔ sua ascensão ↲
- shift ↔ mudança ↲
- non-committal foreign policy ↔ política externa não-comprometedora ↲
- at a crossroads ↔ numa encruzilhada ↲
- raising the question ↔ ao levantar a questão ↲
- abroad ↔ no exterior ↲
- a way of calming suspicions ↔ uma maneira de acalmar as suspeitas ↲
- albeit oversimplified ↔ embora simplista ↲
- forceful stands ↔ posições enérgicas
- the extent to which ↔ até que ponto
- entail ↔ envolver, ocasionar ↲
- vociferous ↔ vociferantes
- the authors do not preclude ↔ os autores não excluem ↲
- assertion ↔ afirmação
- shied away ↔ esquivou-se ↲
- misleading ↔ equivocada ↲
- has attempted to pursue ↔ tentou perseguir ↲
- assumption ↔ suposição ↲
- to prevent ↔ para evitar ↲
- suppressing of freedom ↔ supressão da liberdade
- persecution ↔ perseguição
- outcome ↔ resultado ↲
- refusal ↔ recusa ↲
- despite a move toward ↔ apesar de um movimento em direção a
- relapsed and imploded ↔ teve uma recaída e implodiu
- one might argue ↔ pode-se argumentar
- designed to further ↔ concebido para promover ↲
- By enabling East Pakistan to secede ↔ Ao permitir que o Paquistão Oriental se separasse ↲
- secured ↔ garantiu ↲
- unparalleled ↔ incomparável
- domestic affairs ↔ assuntos internos
- placed at risk ↔ colocada em risco
- peace-keeping ↔ “pacificador”
- venture ↔ empreendimento ↲
- Although ↔ Embora
- blatant ↔ flagrante ↲
- sovereignty ↔ soberania ↲
- nonetheless ↔ no entanto
- Tasked with ↔ Com a tarefa de ↲
- abroad ↔ no exterior
- embroiled it in an embarrassing conflict akin to U.S. intervention in Vietnam ↔ a envolveu em um conflito embaraçoso semelhante à intervenção dos EUA no Vietnã ↲
- achieve ↔ alcança
- kin ↔ “parentes” ↲
- whether by design or happy coincidence ↔ seja por planejamento ou feliz coincidência
- Though ↔ Embora
- a regional issue ↔ uma questão regional ↲
- suspicion and hostility ↔ suspeita e hostilidade
- quite ↔ bastante ↲
- willing ↔ disposto ↲
- intervene ↔ intervir
- those very rights ↔ esses mesmos direitos
- wherein ↔ em que ↲
- risk war ↔ (gerar o) risco de guerra
- most likely ↔ provavelmente
- foster ↔ fomentar
- Moreover ↔ Além disso ↲
- would have to account ↔ teria que representar
- the lack of democracy ↔ a falta de democracia ↲
- unwise ↔ imprudente ↲
- dichotomous ↔ dicotômica
- purchases ↔ adquire ↲
- close military ties ↔ laços militares estreitos
- growing economic ties ↔ os crescentes laços econômicos
- toward those ↔ em relação àqueles
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After that encounter Jiang was nervous and wary every time he traveled overseas. ↔Após esse encontro, Jiang ficava nervoso e desconfiado a cada vez que viajava ao exterior. |  |
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Its rise is expected to continue, outperforming the housing market and stocks. ↔Sua ascensão deve continuar, superando o mercado de habitação e as ações. | |
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A shift to greater saving would tend to hit outlays for both goods and services. ↔Uma mudança para uma economia maior tenderia a atingir os gastos de bens e serviços. | |
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We need a foreign policy that flows from our values and are not foreign to them. ↔Precisamos de uma política externa que derive de nossos valores e não seja estranha a eles. | |
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We see the outlook as non-committal in terms of near term financial objectives. ↔Nós vemos as perspectivas como não-comprometedoras em termos de objetivos financeiros de curto prazo. | |
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Greece could now be at a crossroads, which requires a bit of history to explain. ↔Grécia poderia agora estar numa encruzilhada, o que requer um pouco de história para explicar. | |
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Some researchers fear that even raising the question trivializes the whole issue of rape. ↔Alguns pesquisadores temem que, mesmo levantando a questão, seja banalizado todo o problema do estupro. | |
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To stay safe abroad, the country can’t stint on national defense or foreign aid. ↔Para se manter confiável no exterior, o país não pode se limitar à defesa nacional ou à ajuda externa. | |
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In any industry, the most efficient distribution system has a way of prevailing. ↔Em qualquer setor, o sistema de distribuição mais eficiente tem um jeito de prevalecer. | |
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Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose. ↔A memória é uma forma de agarrar as coisas que você ama, as coisas que você é, as coisas que você não quer perder nunca. | |
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The result is a map of the Eastern U.S. seaboard that calculates plausible, albeit oversimplified, numbers for the increased damage that storm surges could cause. ↔O resultado é um mapa da costa leste dos EUA que calcula os números, ainda que simplificados, plausíveis para os danos que podem ser causados pelo surgimento de tempestades. | |
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He said such sanctions wouldn’t entail any catastrophic consequences for Russia. ↔Ele disse que essas sanções não implicariam quaisquer consequências catastróficas para a Rússia. | |
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Relationships do not preclude issues of morality. ↔Relacionamentos não impedem problemas de moralidade. | |
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Hantak and Baldwin, for instance, have never shied away from voicing criticism. ↔Hantak e Baldwin, por exemplo, nunca se esquivaram de manifestar críticas. | |
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He said it’s misleading to say the upswing is the result of an improved economy. ↔Ele disse que é enganoso dizer que a ascensão é o resultado de uma economia melhorada. | |
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Throughout history, workers claiming some sort of right have attempted to pursue their interests. ↔Ao longo da história, os trabalhadores reivindicando algum tipo de direito tentaram perseguir os seus interesses. | |
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The old thinking of hiring salespeople to generate demand is a false assumption. ↔O velho pensamento de contratar vendedores para gerar demanda é uma suposição falsa. | |
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That’s the safest and best way to get vitamin D and also to prevent skin cancer. ↔Essa é a melhor e mais segura maneira de se obter a vitamina D e também de prevenir o câncer de pele. | |
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Hisana was overjoyed by this outcome, for she had always wanted a baby sister. Or a baby brother but it seemed a sister was preferred. ↔Hisana estava radiante pelo resultado, pois ela quisera sempre uma irmãzinha. Ou um irmãozinho, mas parece ter preferido uma irmã. | |
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Pity does not get you aid. Admiration at your refusal to give in does. ↔A pena não te ajuda. A admiração à sua recusa em ceder o faz. | |
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The woman in the red dress. I designed her. ↔A mulher de vestido vermelho. Eu projetei ela. | |
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Ask Altobello to speak to me. To further the marriage. ↔Peça a Altobello para falar comigo. Para promover o casamento. | |
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This evidence enables a fresh look at the case. ↔Esta prova permite um novo olhar sobre o caso. | |
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She enabled the compression feature of the software. ↔Ela ativou o recurso de compressão do software. | |
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Sudan President Omar al-Bashir has said he will let the south secede peacefully. ↔O presidente do Sudão, Omar al-Bashir, disse que vai deixar o sul se separar de forma pacífica. | |
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Please secure your seatbelts before takeoff. ↔Por favor, apertem (or: afivelem) o cinto antes de decolar. | |
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The team has secured their place in the top league. ↔A equipe garantiu o seu lugar no topo da liga. | |
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The financial officer secured funding for the expansion of the company. ↔O diretor financeiro garantiu o financiamento para a expansão da empresa. | |
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The rock climber’s rope was secure. ↔A corda do alpinista estava segura (or: presa). | |
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Most business ventures in my town don’t last longer than six months. ↔A maioria dos empreendimentos na minha cidade não duram mais do que seis meses. | |
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The Whittakers are not required to report what they earn on their side ventures. ↔Os Whittakers não são obrigados a informar o que eles ganham em seus empreendimentos secundários. | |
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To begin with, promoting a personal agenda is a blatant misuse of your position. ↔Para começar, a promoção de uma agenda pessoal é um abuso flagrante de sua posição. | |
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Any further loss of sovereignty might require Germany to amend its constitution. ↔Qualquer outra perda de soberania pode exigir da Alemanha que altere a sua constituição. | |
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It was tasked with providing counterintelligence support to the entire Pentagon. ↔Ele foi encarregado de dar apoio a toda a contra-espionagem do Pentágono. | |
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Moreover, Oxy has become embroiled in a nasty legal dispute with the government. ↔Além disso, Oxy se envolveu numa disputa legal desagradável com o governo. | |
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It was kind of embarrassing after that, but she made it like it was no big deal. ↔Foi meio constrangedor depois disso, mas ela fez como se não fosse grande coisa. | |
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The vehicle also has to land on a rough landscape, akin to a lunar landing site. ↔O veículo também tem que pousar em uma paisagem áspera, semelhante a um local de pouso lunar. | |
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Why is CNN so obsessed with the moment-by-moment details of Paul Walker’s death? Coverage is macabre, and no doubt hurtful to his kin. ↔Por que é que a CNN está tão obcecada com os detalhes de cada momento da morte de Paul Walker? A cobertura é macabra, e sem dúvida dolorosa aos seus parentes. | |
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Why Brazil, if is a regional issue with a continental outcome? ↔Por que o Brasil, se é uma questão regional, com um resultado continental? | |
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However, he said a family health issue last month caused him to change his mind. ↔No entanto, ele disse que um problema de saúde da família no mês passado fez com que ele mudasse de ideia. | |
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Everything in its place? Not quite yet but we’re getting there! ↔Tudo em seu lugar? Não exatamente ainda, mas estamos chegando lá! | |
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They attributed most of the rise to more victims being willing to report crimes. ↔Eles atribuíram boa parte do aumento ao fato de mais vítimas estarem dispostas a denunciar os crimes. | |
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A quiz portion wherein 25 random audience members will participate in the game. ↔Uma porção de questionário na qual 25 membros aleatórios da audiência participarão. | |
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For many small companies, moreover, the options for protecting cash are limited. ↔Para muitas pequenas empresas, além disso, as opções de proteger o dinheiro são limitadas. | |
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Lies kill trust and it’s the lack of trust that kills a relationship. ↔Mentiras acabam com a confiança, e é a falta de confiança que acaba com um relacionamento. | |
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It is clearly unwise to let the dog sit at the dining table and be served first. ↔É evidente que é imprudente deixar o cão sentar-se à mesa de jantar e ser servido em primeiro lugar. | |
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When larger grocery purchases are needed, they ride with a friend or get a taxi. ↔Quando são necessárias compras maiores de supermercado, eles vão de carona com um amigo ou pegam um táxi. | |
On Learning Brazilian Portuguese 