Recent strategic relationships and nuclear agreements between India and the US, between India and Israel draw upon the imperatives of Indian capitalism and its peculiar emergence in the post-Cold War global capitalist polity. Those who perceive these relationships as decisive breakthroughs or a change in approach often forget to put them in a historical perspective. However, a word of caution is needed here for them too who see in these agreements a “sell out” to foreign interests. Proponents of this perspective do not take note of the intertwined phenomena of competition and cooperation in every international “coalitions”. They do not ponder over the fact that the hegemonic political economic interests in India are sufficiently integrated into the global class hegemony to be motivated to defend themselves globally. Recent agreements are in fact means to protect these interests in the context of the ongoing international realignment. They are not mere agentive or clientele. On the contrary, they are simultaneously collaborative and competitive, which make all ties and relationships opportunistic, fondly termed as pragmatic. India’s frequent hobnobbing with the idea of a “third world” unity in the WTO and other world forums, and its independent dealings with the Russian, Chinese, Iranian and other regimes are relevant in this regard. They are symptomatic of the complex crisscrossing of ever-dynamic international relations that constitute the global capitalist polity, of which India is an integral part. The essence of these relationships cannot be found in the ever-changing color of diplomacy, “but in an analysis of the objective position of the ruling classes in all” these countries, including India - in their conflicting and collaborative interests.

Full text:  http://indiaontheglobe.blogspot.com/2005/12/indias-strategy-of-realignment.html