Prime Minister Modi’s 4R Global Agenda Confirms India’s Commitment To Multipolarity
He envisages his globally significant Great Power leading its developmental peers amidst these turbulent times in human history, with a view towards inspiring them to collectively pool their efforts in order to more effectively stabilize International Relations.
Prime Minister Modi opened up the virtual Voice Of Global South Summit on Thursday by introducing India’s official approach to the emerging Multipolar World Order to those representatives of the over 120 developing countries who were invited to participate in this historic event. It can be summarized as the 4R global agenda since the four operative terms begin with that letter and involve ways in which to make International Relations more democratic, equal, just, and predictable. Here’s what he proposed:
“Respond to the priorities of the Global South by framing an inclusive and balanced international agenda. Recognize that the principle of 'common but differentiated responsibilities' applies to all global challenges. Respect the sovereignty of all nations, the rule of law and peaceful resolution of differences and disputes. Reform international institutions, including the United Nations, to make them more relevant.”
Briefly analyzing each of these, the first concerns India’s top priority during its G20 chairmanship this year, which aligns with what Prime Minister Modi declared in the article that he published last month. He promised that his country will champion the shared causes of its fellow Global South peers, ergo one of the reasons behind this week’s summit in order to brainstorm the best way to do this. As one of their own, India will ensure that this category of states’ interests are included in the international agenda.
The second proposal focuses on the necessity of collective action for effectively responding to humanity’s challenges. The lingering consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the emerging ones connected with climate change, continued difficulties servicing debt, and the interconnected food and fuel crises catalyzed by the West’s anti-Russian sanctions can’t be tackled alone. Everyone must do their part, but therein lies the point since each player’s role is different but nevertheless still important.
As for the third aspect of Prime Minister Modi’s 4R global agenda, this is a reaffirmation of his famous phrase from last year about how “today’s era is not an era of war”. It shouldn’t be interpreted as taking sides in the Ukrainian Conflict, however, since it’s simply a reminder of the principles enshrined in the UN Charter. NATO-Kiev and Russia each accuse the other of violating international law throughout the course of this indisputable proxy war, yet India pragmatically remains neutral amidst these allegations.
Finally, international institutions like the UNSC must indeed be reformed in order to make them more relevant to the contemporary order, which has fundamentally changed since these global bodies were first established in the aftermath of World War II over three-quarters of a century ago. To that end, there’s no doubt that the Global South must be represented more prominently, the role of which should naturally be played by India considering that it already de facto serves as this category of states’ voice.
Altogether, Prime Minister Modi’s 4R global agenda confirms India’s commitment to multipolarity. He envisages his globally significant Great Power leading its developmental peers amidst these turbulent times in human history, with a view towards inspiring them to collectively pool their efforts in order to more effectively stabilize International Relations. The Global South has high hopes for India, but they’re not unrealistic so it’s therefore expected to ultimately fulfill them.