Vibrant International Studies programmes a must for rising India.

Today's world is becoming smaller in many respects. Whether it is the international economic crisis, or terrorism or climate change --what happens in one part of the world [also affects] other parts. The international economic and political order is changing. C*Our foreign policy should be able to cater to India's interests in these constantly changing circumstances. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India August 15, 2009

INDIA is a vibrant, multicultural democracy that is undergoing dramatic political, economic, social, and technological change. Firmly on the path of progress and modernity, India now appears confident it can overcome the many still formidable challenges and realise its " true potential" at home and abroad. In addition to mobilising domestic consensus, support, and resources, New Delhi has deemed it important to harness international support and resources to realise India's potential.

Beginning with the government of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and with significant initiatives undertaken by the governments of Prime Ministers P. V. Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Manmohan Singh, India's international relations have been undergoing gradual but fundamental change.

New Delhi now enjoys good relations with all major powers and Europe, has cultivated strong relations with countries in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, and the Gulf, is reinvigorating its relations with Africa, and is seeking opportunities in Latin America.

With sustained impressive economic growth rates over the last decade and a sophisticated foreign policy, India has emerged as a significant regional and global power with interests and responsibilities in a broadly defined Asia and the world.

Mismatch 

International Studies ( IS) in India, however, have not kept pace with the changing scope and content of India's international relations that must now address new challenges, problems, threats, and opportunities in a wide range of domains including economics ( trade, investment, finance), climate change, security ( traditional and nontraditional), and regional and global governance. Despite a strong beginning in the early decades after Independence, there is concern in several quarters in India that International Studies programmes and institutions in the country are not fully able to cope with the demands and opportunities facing a modernising and rising India, which is fast integrating itself into a changing, complex, and increasingly knowledge driven world. In comparative terms, India, which had the more developed International Studies programmes and institutions in Asia in the 1950s and 1960s, has since fallen behind East Asian countries, particularly China.

This is an unanticipated development in light of India's many advantages -- an open society, freedom of thought and expression, and competence in the English language, etc.

The rising profile of India in regional and global affairs demands that the demand- supply disjuncture and the promise- reality gap should be addressed quickly and substantively with the goals of making India a leading centre of knowledge, education, and research in international studies, and that Indian scholarship contributes to increasing the knowledge base for India's international interaction and role. Now is an important and opportune time to posit a far- reaching vision for making India a leader in International Studies and initiate programmes and measures to realise that vision.

India should be home to worldclass schools, research institutions, think tanks, and programmes in International Studies by 2025. When that is achieved, centres of excellence in International Studies, including strong foreign language programmes, will exist in all regions of India. Leading national and international scholars doing cuttingedge research and teaching will staff these schools, research institutions, and programmes. Indian schools and programmes will offer joint degree programmes with prestigious institutions in the United States, Asia ( China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and others), and Europe.

Vision

Indian academia will be a vibrant community that actively partakes in the production and accumulation of knowledge in the field of IS and in shaping international scholarly debates. Leading IS journals will be published in India, and Indian scholars will occupy influential positions in international associations, committees, and publishing.

The Indian student body will be highly competitive and broadly educated with the required analytical and methodological skills to meet demands in a wide range of government ministries and agencies, research institutions and think tanks, national and international private sectors, civil society organisations, print and electronic media, and international organisations. The student body will be empowered to organise research groups, associations, and conventions, as well as run journals and other publications. About 10 to 20 percent of the student body will be international, drawn from all of Asia and the rest of the world.

Libraries will be well resourced with faculty and students having ready access to leading journals, and electronic databases and sources. A strong professional environment underpinned by active professional associations and several high- quality peer- reviewed journals will advance knowledge and foster professional development.

Although the vision outlined above may appear ambitious, it is possible to realise it in the stipulated time frame. Doing so will require a substantial initiative and resource commitment on the part of the Indian government. Equally important will be a mindset that is open to change and the promotion of excellence, as well as a deep commitment on the part of relevant government agencies, university administrators, schools and departments, faculty, students, research institutes, and professional associations to strengthen IS in India. The private sector should take a lead role as well.

An Indian International Studies Foundation, funded initially through public and private sector funds, could also play a catalytic role.

The realisation of the 2025 vision will require a set of actionable goals and products, as well as a strategy that builds on existing institutions and practices and that is open to charting new paths by drawing on knowledge and best practices from around the world. The forthcoming report on Strengthening International Studies in India outlines a set of measures to realise the vision. In brief these include: a. Reorienting the field of international studies in India and making the scope and requirements for postgraduate degrees in international studies more demanding; b. Strengthening international relations teaching and research; c. Reorienting area study centres from teaching institutions to research hubs; d. Creating world- class programmes and institutions comparable to those in leading universities in other countries.

This would involve restructuring existing schools and programmes as well as creating new ones, strengthening existing Ph. D. programmes in selected universities, and building strong language centres and programmes; e. Fostering professional development of faculty and students by upgrading their expertise and capability and putting in place challenging requirements, incentives, and opportunities; f. Creating an India International Studies Association and related professional associations at the national, regional, and state levels; g. Strengthening international links to integrate Indian international studies programmes and institutions into the global mainstream; h. Creating world class research institutes and think tanks comparable to the best in other countries; i. Encouraging the private sector to take a lead role in strengthening international studies in India; j. Revising regulations including the tax policy to foster charitable giving to universities, research institutes, and think tanks as well as to foster public- private partnerships in developing international studies; and k. Setting up an India International Studies Foundation to play a catalytic role in the development of international studies in India.

Commitment

These measures are crucial components of a sustained effort that would be required to strengthen international studies in India. That effort must be multifaceted and involve the Government of India, the professional community, and the private sector.

Upgrading international studies in India is not simply a resource issue, though funding is a key consideration.

Equally important will be a commitment on the part of government agencies, university and research institute administrators, schools and departments, faculty, students, and professional associations to reform and upgrade International Studies in India. Such a commitment would go a long way towards strengthening the field of International Studies in India and putting it on a firm and steady upward trajectory, as well as enhancing the knowledge base to support India's growing international interaction and role.

The writer is Distinguished Senior Fellow in the East- West Center in the United States

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