India must shape a new world order
longed Western dominance. The US was a legatee of Western dominance not its progen itor, though it did expand and extend that dominance. For any aspiring hegemon, there is no such legacy to build upon, though China may claim a history of pre-eminence in Asia which is more imagined than real.
Thus China cannot just step into the space hitherto occupied by the US.IT is only a clus ter of major powers, China included, which could together occupy that space and impart a degree of stability and coherence to the evolving international situation. India has the opportunity to play a key role in building an effective, enduring and rule-based order by mobilising other major existing and emerging powers all of whom would prefer a multipolar order in preference to a hege monic or G-2 system which consigns them to secondary status. Such a multipolar order would also be preferable to powers in relative decline since it would still enable them to retain residual influence rather than be com pelled to submit to a latter day hegemon.
We are living in an intensely globalised and inter-connected world where inter-de pendency is the dominant trend. This demands a cosmopolitan temper, an instinc tive embrace of plurality and a relatively democratic governance structure, enabling collaborative responses. India possesses all the necessary attributes to lead the way in shaping such a new order. Indian diplomacy should rise to this challenge and grasp a his toric opportunity. Let us shape events rather than be shaped by them.