EU-India Relations

Geopolitics, Security, Economy

The global order is in flux—more rapidly and radically than most of us ever thought possible. The bipolar balance of power during the Cold War and the unipolar world order of the 1990s and 2000s ensured stability for many decades. Now they no longer exist. Many experts today speak of a multipolar order. Yet, the term is hardly suitable for understanding the new balance of power in the world.

More helpful is the model coined by political scientist Herfried Münkler. A new world order with five key players: the United States, Europe, Russia, China, and India. Münkler calls this order a pentarchy.

Put simply, in this system, the Western democracies of the U.S. and Europe stand on one side, and the autocracies of Russia and China on the other. Added to this is India, a new power that is difficult to categorize.

It is certainly worth debating whether the bloc of democracies comprising the U.S. and Europe still has much in common in light of current geopolitical developments, and whether Russia and China actually form a common camp. But that is not the issue here. This study aims to contribute to a better understanding of the fifth world power: India.

In Germany and Europe, knowledge about India remains very limited and is often distorted by stereotypes. The world’s most populous country, the largest democracy with a booming economy and a leading IT hub—that is usually the extent of it.

But what are India’s goals, what are its ambitions on the global stage, what values does it uphold, what is India’s relationship with other global powers, and what security challenges does the country face? To answer these questions, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, and the Indian Kalinga Kusum Foundation commissioned the polling institute Rajneethi to conduct a survey of Indian decision-makers and opinion leaders.

The results, now available, are intended to contribute to a deeper understanding of India, foster realistic expectations, and strengthen the partnership with a country that will play a decisive role in shaping the future of the world order.