India ranked 4th most powerful nation in Asia. Here's what that means

Hindustan Times

12 Feb 202304:50

Summary

TLDRThe Asia Power Index by the Lowy Institute ranks India as the 4th most powerful nation in Asia, just behind the US, China, and Japan. With a score of 36.6, India shows strength in diplomatic influence and future resources, particularly in demographics, placing first in the region. However, it faces challenges in global political leadership and economic diplomacy, ranking lower in international leverage compared to smaller economies. Despite a decline in comprehensive national power from 2018 to 2023, India's strategic ambitions and regional leadership are recognized, yet its power projection beyond its immediate neighborhood is limited.

Takeaways

🌏 The Asia Power Index ranks India as the fourth most powerful nation in Asia, following the United States, China, and Japan.
🏆 The United States and China are the only countries classified as superpowers, with scores of 80.7 and 72.5 respectively, significantly ahead of other nations.
📊 India's comprehensive National Power score is 36.6, placing it narrowly behind Japan but with a potential to become a major power due to its size.
🔼 India's diplomatic influence in Asia increased in 2022, with high ratings for its leaders' ability to secure national interests on a global stage.
🌱 India ranks third in the region for future resources, with a growing economy and a young population, and first in the region for demographic resources.
💪 India's geo-economic and geopolitical security is among the highest in the region, indicating strong defense against financial or military aggression.
🔋 India is among the top five in the region for defense spending and warfare capabilities, showing substantial military power.
📉 Despite India's strengths, its comprehensive National Power score has declined from 41.1 in 2018 to 36.3 in 2023, influenced by global shocks like the pandemic and war.
🔍 India's influence in Asia is patchy, with a strong presence in its immediate neighborhood but lower international leverage compared to smaller economies.
🤝 India's economic diplomacy is affected by its refusal to join major trade pacts, resulting in less economic integration into Asia.
🏛 The Indian Foreign Service ranks 10th in Asia, indicating capacity issues despite the country's strategic ambitions and regional political leadership.

Q & A

What is the Asia Power Index and what does it measure?
-The Asia Power Index is an annual ranking produced by the Lowy Institute in Australia that assesses the relative power of countries in Asia. It measures various indicators such as military power, economic strength, and cultural influence to determine a nation's comprehensive power score.
Which countries are classified as superpowers according to the Asia Power Index?
-The United States and China are the only countries classified as superpowers by the Asia Power Index, with the United States scoring 80.7 and China scoring 72.5.
What was India's ranking in the Asia Power Index?
-India was ranked as the fourth most powerful nation in Asia, following the United States, China, and Japan.
What is India's comprehensive National Power score according to the index?
-India's comprehensive National Power score is 36.6, which is narrowly behind Japan's score.
How does India's diplomatic influence in Asia compare to other countries?
-India's diplomatic influence in Asia is rated highly, with experts noting its leaders' ability to secure the country's national interests both regionally and globally.
In which specific area did India rank first in the region according to the index?
-India ranked first in the region in terms of demographic resources, highlighting its growing economic strength and young population.
What challenges does India face in terms of its geo-economic and geopolitical security?
-While India's geo-economic and geopolitical security is among the highest in the region, it faces challenges in terms of its comprehensive National Power, which has declined over the last five years, especially due to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
How does India's government effectiveness and internal stability compare to other countries in the region?
-India's scores on government effectiveness and internal stability have declined, which has widened the gap between India and superpowers like the United States and China.
What is India's ranking in terms of international leverage and why is it lower than expected?
-India ranks sixth in terms of international leverage, indicating that its ability to use economic power to influence others is lower than countries with much smaller economies, partly due to its refusal to join major trade facts and less economic integration into Asia.
How does India's diplomatic service compare to other countries in Asia?
-The Indian Foreign Service ranks 10th in Asia, behind much smaller countries like Vietnam, Taiwan, and South Korea, which may be due to capacity constraints such as a smaller diplomatic service compared to most competitor nations.
What is the overall picture of India's power and influence in Asia according to the Asia Power Index?
-The Asia Power Index presents a mixed picture for India. While it remains far ahead of regional competitors and is closing the power gap with Japan, it still lags behind superpowers like America and China. Additionally, India's ability to project its power beyond its immediate neighborhood is constrained.

Outlines

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🏆 Asia's Power Rankings: India's Position and Challenges

The Asia Power Index by Australia's Lowy Institute annually assesses the region's most influential nations. India ranks fourth in Asia, following the United States, China, and Japan, with a comprehensive National Power score of 36.6. Despite being classified as a major power, the gap between India and superpowers like the US (80.7) and China (72.5) remains significant. India excels in certain metrics such as diplomatic influence, future resources, and demographic strength, ranking first in the region for the latter. However, the country faces challenges in global power projection, with a decline in its comprehensive National Power score from 41.1 in 2018 to 36.3 in 2023, partly due to the pandemic's impact on government effectiveness and internal stability. India's economic diplomacy and integration into Asia are also areas of concern, with lower international leverage compared to smaller economies and a ranking of 18th in economic diplomacy.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Asia Power Index

The Asia Power Index, released by Australia's Lowy Institute, ranks the power of nations in Asia based on various indicators such as military power, economic strength, and cultural influence. It is crucial for understanding the balance of power in the region and how countries like the United States, China, and India stack up against each other.

💡Comprehensive National Power

Comprehensive National Power is a score out of 100 that reflects a country's overall power based on multiple factors like economic strength, military capability, and cultural influence. India scored 36.6, placing it fourth in Asia, just behind Japan but significantly behind the United States and China.

💡Superpowers

In the context of the Asia Power Index, superpowers refer to countries with the highest scores in comprehensive national power, specifically the United States and China. These countries have dominant military, economic, and cultural influence globally and regionally.

💡Diplomatic Influence

Diplomatic Influence measures a country's ability to shape international relations and secure its national interests through diplomacy. India has increased its diplomatic influence in Asia, indicating a strong presence in regional and global political arenas.

💡Future Resources

Future Resources refers to a country's potential for future growth and power based on factors like economic strength and demographic trends. India ranks third in the region for future resources, driven by its growing economy and young population.

💡Demographic Resources

Demographic Resources are the human capital aspects, such as population size and age structure, which contribute to a nation's potential power. India ranks first in this measure, highlighting its significant and youthful population as a key asset.

💡Geo-economic and Geopolitical Security

Geo-economic and Geopolitical Security refers to a country's ability to defend itself against economic and military threats. India's high ranking in this area shows its strong defensive capabilities and strategic positioning in the region.

💡Economic Diplomacy

Economic Diplomacy is the use of economic tools and policies to achieve foreign policy goals. India's lower ranking in economic diplomacy reflects its lesser integration into regional trade agreements like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

💡Capacity Issues

Capacity Issues refer to limitations in a country's infrastructure, administrative capabilities, and manpower. India's diplomatic service, for example, is smaller compared to other nations, which impacts its effectiveness in international political leadership.

💡International Leverage

International Leverage is a country's ability to influence other nations through economic means. Despite its large economy, India ranks lower in this measure compared to smaller countries like Singapore and South Korea, indicating a need for more effective economic diplomacy.

Highlights

The Asia Power Index ranks India as the 4th most powerful nation in Asia, after the United States, China, and Japan.

India scores 36.6 on a comprehensive National Power score of 100, narrowly behind Japan.

The United States and China are the only countries classified as superpowers, with scores of 80.7 and 72.5 respectively.

India's large size means it is almost certainly destined to be a major power behind only the US and China.

India scores highly on diplomatic influence in Asia, with experts rating its leaders' ability to secure national interests.

India ranks 3rd in the region on the future resources measure, due to its growing economic strength and young population.

India finishes first in the region on the specific measure of demographic resources.

India's geo-economic and geopolitical security is among the highest in the region.

On most major defense metrics, India features among the top five regionally.

India holds a substantial advantage over regional countries on indicators like demographic resources, diplomatic influence, and military capability.

India's comprehensive National Power score declined from 41.1 in 2018 to 36.3 in 2023, impacted by global shocks like the pandemic and war.

India's scores on government effectiveness and internal stability have declined, increasing the gap with superpowers like the US and China.

India's influence in Asia is patchy, ranking sixth in international leverage despite its economic heft.

India's economic diplomacy is hindered by its refusal to join major trade pacts like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

India ranks lower in economic integration, investment ties, and regional trade relations compared to smaller economies like Singapore and South Korea.

India's diplomatic service ranks 10th in Asia, smaller than many competitor nations.

India's diplomatic service struggles with manpower constraints, affecting its global political leadership ranking.

The Asia Power Index provides a mixed picture for India, highlighting both its strengths in future resources and defense, and challenges in projecting power beyond its immediate region.