The Tussle Between Principles and Rationality in Foreign Policy in a Complex Neighbourhood: India's Democratic Dilemma
Dr. Devarati Mandal
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science,
New Alipore College, Kolkata.
devarati.mandal@gmail.com
Submitted on: 25.11.2025
Accepted on: 25.12.2025
Abstract: Despite the global experience of a purported fourth wave of democracy, South Asia confronts a stark reality – the consolidation of threats and challenges to democratic norms. This observation underlines the pressing need for concerted efforts to fortify democratic institutions in the face of mounting challenges. With the onset of the new millennium and the advent of the fourth wave of democratisation, the prospect for India for furtherance with the democratic ideals accelerated manifold. India, as a preeminent regional power and considering its potential to shape the dynamics of neighbouring countries, it is expected that New Delhi would play a pivotal role within geopolitical calculus of the region. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has persuaded a foreign policy that places a significant emphasis on strengthening relations with its neighbouring countries, with the overarching goal of upholding democratic values in the region. This approach is characterized by several key principles, such as- Neighbourhood First Policy, Economic Diplomacy; Cultural and People-to-People Ties; Security and Counterterrorism Cooperation; Development Assistance and Capacity Building; and Conflict Resolution and Diplomatic Engagement. The distinctive hallmark of the Modi era has been to present itself as an exemplar, where India aims to inspire other nations on their democratic trajectories and serve as a beacon of democratic success.
In this changing scenario, this particular paper in concern intends to identify the paradigm shift in India’s neighbourhood policy and probe into the rationality and scope of furthering democratic assistance as an alternative neighbourhood foreign policy strategy.
Key Words: Upholding democracy, Democratic assistance, Neighbourhood policy, capacity-building, High Impact Community Development programme.