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American exceptionalism presumes that America’s values, political system, and history are unique and worthy of universal admiration. They also imply that the United States is both destined and entitled to play a distinct and positive role on the world stage. This has more or less been imbibed by the West or the North at large since the Second World War.
Western policymakers and commentators, often blinded by this faith, feel alarmed whenever it is challenged. As a result, since the Cold War era, it’s been a choice of whether you are with us or against us. Post-colonial-era countries, including India, have always been openly uncomfortable with this and have always tried to lead the Global South through the Non-Aligned Movement, trying to bridge the gap and making their voices heard.
However, in the 21st century, the new challenge to this American exceptionalism is stronger, and yet again, it is India that is presenting a formidable challenge to it. While China, which also names itself from the South, has increasingly isolated itself in recent years in this fight, largely due to its own actions, India, thanks to its appetite to always engage, is confronting this exceptionalism through all the mainstream platforms and other multilateral partnerships.
When we talk about Indian exceptionalism, it is very similar in that it is primarily about Indian interest and preserving and expanding its influence regionally. But where it differs is that India manages its interests and differences diplomatically (also privately) more often than not and does not indulge in endangering the lives of the people of that country by creating instability in pursuit of its own interests. Yes, India does watch elections closely in other countries and lobby for influence, but it never ignores them when an unfriendly regime comes to power.
However, this challenge to the West is all the more daunting since, unlike China, where many in the Global South are sceptical because of its growing coercive nature, India’s standing has increased a lot thanks to its own proven record, not just in the last three years but ever since the Cold War era, making it a natural choice of partner for the Global South.
So, while the West courts India and other growing economies to balance the rise of China, it has to accommodate their interests more and more as it tries to win over the Global South as a whole. But the immediate lack of appreciation for this is pretty evident when we see that the West is not really ready to seriously put their support on paper at the UN while they are forced to add support in bilateral and multilateral joint statements for a more inclusive United Nations. Most importantly, what the Global South sees here is the fact that India has never really abandoned the UN and its principles, even after having been at the receiving end on issues like Kashmir and regional terrorism, and that India’s inclusion will certainly add more heft to their voice as well.
India, on the other hand, believes that, along with the West, a more inclusive UN can deliver more to this world and is backing the UN, which is at its weakest in terms of consensus building and action on the ground. The West, during COVID and the subsequent Ukraine war, abandoned the Global South even at the UN, if not for India, actively putting in the efforts reminding the UN and delivering outside through various arrangements. Thus, when India voices out its interests in terms of global supply chain issues and regional security, the Global South trusts them and rallies behind them. They understand integrating India into the world is beneficial for all; India is their ‘Viswamitra’. The muddle that the US and the West find themselves in now was visible during the recent diplomatic spat between Canada and India.
While the Western policymakers and commentators could not accept the possibility of India, not an ally, non-cooperating on the allegations made by an ally without evidence, India reminded them of the years of ignorance of the collective West on genuine security concerns. No Western country condemned the blatant threats to the lives of Indian diplomats and to its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Other victims soon joined, as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh rallied behind India in support as their own terrorist threats emanated from the West, where the same people were let off the hook in the name of a free and open society.
People from the South have suffered in the name of exceptionalism in the form of regime changes, sanctions, and tacit support for military dictatorships. The West’s open hypocrisy of democracy and values was long exposed, but this mighty push with the collective weight of the South, led by India, is more powerful than ever before. The African and Asian continents are the future, and they have the market that they want: a growing population, cheap labour, educated English-speaking aspiring people in billions, and a technological revolution from India that is redefining the lives of billions in the region.
Last week at the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA), India’s external affairs minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, said, “Mr. President, all nations pursue their national interests. We, in India, have never seen that as being in contradiction with the global good. When we aspire to be a leading power, this is not for self-aggrandisement but to take on greater responsibility and make more contributions. The goals we have set for ourselves will make us different from all those whose rise preceded ours.” Later, at an event, he said, “They will all mouth the right things. But the reality is, still today, it’s a world very much of double standards”. This is India speaking realism and of its own rise, aspirations, and shared responsibility with confidence. India has become the voice of the Global South, and as India grows, the Global South grows. And as our minister says, “We are not anti-western; we are non-western,” perhaps that’s a collective statement too.
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