India in the Arctic

106 Pages·2016·0.76 MB·English

India in the Arctic: Science, Geopolitics
and Soft Power

Perspectives on Contemporary
Indian Foreign Policy

Alexander Engedal Gewelt

Master’s Thesis in South Asia Studies
Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages
60 credits

University of Oslo

Spring 2016
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India in the Arctic: Science, Geopolitics and Soft Power
Perspectives on Contemporary Indian Foreign Policy

Alexander Engedal Gewelt

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© Alexander Engedal Gewelt

2016

India in the Arctic: Science, Geopolitics and Soft Power
Perspectives on Contemporary Indian Foreign Policy

Alexander Engedal Gewelt

http://www.duo.uio.no

Print: Reprosentralen, University of Oslo

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Abstract
This thesis is an analysis of contemporary Indian foreign policy from the vantage point of
India’s recent engagements in the Arctic. By analysing what is argued to be an ‘Indian Arctic
discourse’ that emerged between India’s first expedition to Svalbard in 2007 and the
following accession to observer status in the Arctic Council in 2013, this thesis explores how
this discourse frames the Arctic within a broader Indian foreign policy perspective. The
Indian Arctic discourse establishes India as a stakeholder in the Arctic and envisages India as
playing an active role in Arctic affairs. Studying this discourse unveils central principles and
themes in Indian foreign policy, and offers new perspectives on contemporary Indian foreign
policy. This is the first study to use soft power theory to discuss how the Indian Arctic
discourse views India as an emerging power on the global stage and how India pursues its
interests internationally, and in the Arctic region in particular. As this thesis shows, soft
power has increasingly become a part of contemporary Indian foreign policy, both in official
policy and in the academic discourse.
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Acknowledgments
First of all, I would like to thank my brilliant supervisors, Associate Professor Lars Tore
Flåten and Research Director at the Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research
Geir Heierstad, for sharing their invaluable comments and insights while writing this thesis,
and also throughout most of my time as a student. I would also like to thank Professor Arild
Engelsen Ruud, for his positive response to my initial idea of writing about India in the
Arctic.
During my two visits to Delhi in 2015, I received Mughal treatment as a guest in
Johan and Margrete’s residence in Chanakyapuri, along with good academic advice and tasty
home-made butter chicken when needed. Pretzels are not enough to show my thankfulness. A
small rupee of gratitude must also be sent to the ‘Secret Chai Spot’ (the location of which
may never be revealed) for excellent morning chai. I am also grateful to the Department of
Culture Studies and Oriental Languages at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Oslo, for
providing a travel stipend that funded my trips.
The South Asia Master’s study group at the University of Oslo has been an
indispensable platform for discussion and valuable feedback. Fazal-Ur and Emilie made the
time at the department’s reading hall worthwhile, through extensive breaks and gossip.
Moreover, huge thanks must be directed to Adrian Plau, whose uncompromised
academic talent helped the language of this thesis, and for many wonderful moments in India,
as well as with the Hindi reading seminars at the University of Oslo.
Finally, I would like to thank my wife, Silje, for supporting me throughout the process
of writing this thesis and providing me with careful advice and love.

Oslo, May 24th, 2016
Alexander Engedal Gewelt

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Table of Contents

1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1
Research questions and argument ................................................................................................................... 2
Previous research .................................................................................................................................................... 3
The Arctic .................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Structure of the thesis ............................................................................................................................................ 9
2 Methodology ................................................................................................................................... 10
My project’s rationale .......................................................................................................................................... 10
Hermeneutics and discourse ............................................................................................................................ 10
Sources and material ........................................................................................................................................... 13
My position as researcher and access to the field ................................................................................... 18
Ethical considerations ......................................................................................................................................... 19
3 Indian foreign policy: History, Theory and the ‘Question of Antarctica’ ................... 20
Principles and themes in Indian foreign policy ....................................................................................... 21
Towards the Southern Continent and the ‘Question of Antarctica’ ................................................. 27
Theory: Soft Power – A means to assess Indian foreign policy? ....................................................... 32
4 Breaking the Ice: India’s Arctic Endeavour ......................................................................... 40
India in the Arctic: Science ................................................................................................................................ 41
India in the Arctic: Geopolitics ........................................................................................................................ 45
5 The View from India: The Indian Arctic Discourse ........................................................... 52
Locating the discourse ........................................................................................................................................ 53
Establishing India’s Arctic interest: From the Vedas to the Svalbard Treaty ............................. 57
Strategic and geopolitical significance of the Arctic – implications for India ............................. 60
India’s role in Arctic Affairs .............................................................................................................................. 69
Science and soft power in the Arctic region .............................................................................................. 76
6 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 83
Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................ 87
Appendix 1: List of informants ................................................................................................ 95
Appendix 2: Abbreviations ....................................................................................................... 96
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