Maharashtra Board Class 9 Political Science Chapter 2 Indias Foreign Policy PDF Download

India's Foreign Policy

What Are We Going To Learn In This Chapter?

We have got introduced to the international system and its nature and the cold war in the last century and its effects. We shall now get introduced to other related issues. Thus, we shall learn about the meaning of foreign policy, factors that make an impact on it and the nature of India's foreign policy.

Foreign Policy

Meaning And Importance

All countries are members of the international system. We have already studied that none of these countries is completely self-reliant and hence there is mutual interdependence in the international system. Only this interdependence should not be of benefit to a few countries. Efforts need to be made to ensure that it benefits every nation. Each country has to decide the nations with which it should be friendly, in which bloc it should participate or what position it should take in international relations. Such decisions should be made thoughtfully. The theoretical framework in which such decisions are taken is called foreign policy. Every sovereign and independent country decides its own foreign policy. Hence in the discipline of international politics, which studies the international relations between nations, foreign policy has an important place.

Teacher's Note

Foreign policy means the rules a country follows when talking to other countries. India makes its own foreign policy to keep itself safe and strong.

Exam Trick

Remember: Foreign policy = country's friendship rules with other countries. Just like you have rules with your friends, India has rules with other countries.

Points to Remember

Foreign policy is the plan a country makes for its relations with other countries.
Every country decides its own foreign policy.
Foreign policy helps protect a country's independence and safety.
All countries depend on each other in some way.

National Interest

We have briefly understood what foreign policy means. National interest and foreign policy are closely connected to each other. National interest is fostered through foreign policy. Therefore, before studying foreign policy further, we need to understand the meaning and significance of national interest.

National interest implies the means through which the independence and sovereignty of our country can be safeguarded. National interest also includes efforts to achieve our economic development and to take steps towards increasing our national power. When decisions are taken after giving a careful thought to what is beneficial and good for our country, we say that we are nurturing our national interest. In this sense, the following factors are included in the national interest of any country.

Defence, i.e. the protection of our country's independence, sovereignty and integrity is the highest national interest.

Economic development is also an important national interest. An economically weak nation will not be able to maintain its independence. Hence economic development is understood to be an important national interest, next only to defence.

Teacher's Note

National interest means what is good for our country. India's national interest is to stay free and become strong economically, like a student wants good marks and good health both.

Exam Trick

Remember: National interest has two main things - defence (stay safe) and economy (earn money). Defence comes first, then economy.

Points to Remember

National interest means protecting the country's freedom and strength.
Defence is the most important national interest.
Economic development is the second most important national interest.
A weak country cannot stay independent.
National interest comes before personal interest.

National Interest And Foreign Policy

Foreign Policy is drawn up to foster the national interest of defence and economic development. National interest is considered to be the goal and foreign policy is considered to be the means to achieve it. Goals of nations change with changes in conditions and time. Accordingly, national interest also changes. When we have to study a country, it is necessary to understand its Constitution and its foreign policy.

These changes are reflected in the foreign policy. Therefore, foreign policy is always dynamic.

Teacher's Note

Foreign policy changes with time because what a country needs keeps changing. India's needs in 1947 were different from today's needs.

Exam Trick

Remember: Foreign policy is dynamic = it keeps changing like the weather. It is not fixed forever.

Points to Remember

Foreign policy is the tool to reach national interest goals.
National interest is the target, foreign policy is the path.
Foreign policy changes when situations change.
A good foreign policy helps the country grow strong.
Both defence and economy need good planning.

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