Testing Waltzian Neorealism in a rhetorical analysis of India´s power in post-Cold War world politics

Abstract

This thesis probes the concepts of Kenneth Waltz’s neorealism in a rhetorical study of India’s power position in world politics, in the post-Cold War era. This theoretical study concentrates on whether Indian acts and acquiring more power on a global scale can be interpreted in neorealist terms. With a comprehensive and thorough elaboration of Waltz’s theses I have chosen to test four core concepts of neorealism in India’s rhetoric: anarchy whether it rules in India’s political realm, self–help, balance of power, and the changing nature of India’s capabilities. Alexander Wendt’s social constructivist thoughts of anarchy have been taken into consideration complementing to the notion of anarchy presented by Waltz.

Thematically the analysis is divided into four different époques characterising the ongoing global trends of politics and India’s change in those époques. The four neorealist concepts serve as the basis of the analysis of India. The analysis begins with India’s adoption of liberal reforms due to globalization’s effects in 1991 with the Congress party in power. After the reforms put into effect I move on to analyse a more nationalist, BJP-led India and her moves to acquire power through self-help. This époque is highlighted by the remarkable nuclear tests conducted in 1998. The third époque focuses on the analysis of the balance of power in global politics in the aftermath of the nuclear tests. Lastly, the analysis focuses on the return of the Congress-led India in 2004, willing to grow India’s capabilities in global politics and reflecting on the developments taking place from 1991 up to 2006. The aim of the analysis is to interpret India’s policy outlines and the appearing change(s), the implementation and implications of these changes during 1991-2006 in India’s power position in the post-Cold War world. The methodology used is Chaïm Perelman’s argumentative rhetoric. Different kind of argumentation techniques are used to analyse India’s rhetoric, especially the rhetoric’s effects to India’s universal audience. The choice of method was logical as the primary material subject to analysis is compiled of a variety of high-level addresses, an interview, speeches and statements delivered by Indian statesmen.

The analysis reveals that all four neorealist concepts focused on have had to undergo a change of application and adaptation due to non-conventional, hence transnational threats evolving in the era of increasing globalization. Findings show that the neorealist interpretation mostly survives in India’s arguments of power. The anarchic structure of post-Cold War world politics modifies the outcome which units like India produce in a system theory which neorealism claims to exist. The power equity cannot be measured separately anymore in only certain capabilities of a state like India, in e.g. economical terms and political terms. India’s power position greatly depends on the character of India’s dynamic relations with other global power states. Resulting from this, India is taking a stand on the global stage of world power politics and is beginning to contribute - as an international stakeholder - to the global system, when required. This is a consequence of the changed balance of power in the post-Cold War world politics and of India’s changed political realm.