PU’s Department of Political Science organised special lecture 

Chandigarh, August 16, 2023: The Department of Political Science, Panjab University, Chandigarh organised a special lecture on Wednesday in the Conference Hall of the Department by Prof. T.P. Singh, Department of Political Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. The speaker speaks on the topic “India’s G20 Presidency: Rising Soft Power of India”.
 
India is 17th President of G-20. India’s assuming of G-20 Presidency has coincided with ourAmritKal when the whole nation is celebrating Amrit Mahotsav. G-20 presidency is offering both challenges and opportunities as well and it will test the leadership skills of India. If successful in meeting with the global challenges, it will enable India to enhance its soft power. Climate change, Ukraine crisis, multilateral trade, rising protectionism, looming debt trap, restructuring of the Bretton Wood institutions are some of the major contentious global issues. The world is looking towards India that India will eventually succeed in evolving global consensus on these issues. Ukraine crisis has created 3F crisis viz. Food, Fuel and Fertiliser crisis as the world heavily depended on Russia and Ukraine for the seamless supply of these three critical essential needs of the world. All three are closely connected and any disruption in the supply of one will disrupt the supply of the other two. There seems to be no end of Russia-Ukraine War and it is having the regional and global fallouts. Developing a consensus among G-20 countries is the greatest challenges as G-20 countries are deeply divided between Russia and Ukraine supporters. Ukraine communique is greatest challenge to India’s G-20 presidency.
 
Green House Gas emission is another issue which so far has eluded any consensus between developed and developing countries. Repayment of Chinese loan, which was taken by many Asian and African countries to build infrastructure is another global challenge. Many countries are on the verge of default and urging China and other donor countries to either waive or restructure the loans. World Bank and IMF don’t reflect upon the contemporary global economic order.
 
India’s power has always been perceived as benign in nature. India’s rising power has never been threatening. It has never scared international community as has been the case with the rise of Chinese power. China with its rise is flexing its muscle in East China Sea, South China Sea and in the Himalayan region. India itself is victim of Chinese aggressive behaviour and its salami slicing strategy. Through itsWolf Warrior Diplomacy it has thrown diplomatic niceties to the dustbin and threatening all countries big or small. China has weaponised trade, commodities and its monopoly over global supply chain. This is the reason international community is alarmed by China’s rise but that is not the case with India’s rise. International community is supportive of India’s rise and welcoming India’s rise. This difference is mainly because of India’s rise being primarily based on soft power rather than hard power unlike China.

Presidency of G-20 has offered an excellent opportunity to India to lead the world in achieving sustainable development goals and make this earth a more peaceful, secure, stable and better place for the humanity. India has articulated this goal through its G-20 Presidency’s slogan Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam,one world, one family and one prosperity.
 
The formal lecture was attended by the faculty and students of the department including the researchers.