Global politics dictated by realism and self-interest and not solidarity: V-P Jaideep Dhankhar

Hailing V.D. Savarkar as a “celebrated thinker who stood against the post-war order”, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday (June 23, 2025) argued that global politics is dictated by realism and self-interest and not morality or solidarity. Citing the present global scenario, Mr. Dhankhar called for a shift in India’s foreign policy imagination and added that this was the right time to move beyond “romanticism” and focus on economic and strategic strength.

Speaking at the launch of a book written by senior Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) leader Ram Madhav titled New World: 21st Century Global Order in India, the Vice-President warned that enemies of the country are not just outside but also within, and that some forces are determined to make the lives of Indians difficult, even by dividing people on issues like language.

“These sinister forces, pernicious to our interests, want to strike by dividing us on issues like language. Which country in the world can take pride in language richness as Bharat? Look at our classical languages, their number. In Parliament, 22 such languages allow and afford the opportunity to anyone expressing their views in them. It would require many such thinkers to come together and debate and discuss challenges and opportunities and aid policymakers in making right strategic choices,” he said.

Comparing the book and Sarvarkar’s ideology, Mr. Dhankhar said he felt the imprints of Savarkar in the author’s thoughts. “Savarkar, despite all the untenable misgivings in extremity, remains a celebrated thinker who stood at the wee hours of the post-war order. He was staunch realist and believed in a post-war world where nations would act only in pursuit of their own interests not based on idealism, morality or international solidarity. Imagine how prophetic he has been,” said the Vice-President as he asked the audience to look at the present times where the world saw wars and destruction.

Praising the Narendra Modi government at the Centre for its diplomacy, Mr. Dhankhar said that the new India is steadfast, firm, non-negotiable, and notwithstanding the critics — is spinally strong.

“I could not agree more with lamentations of the author Ram Madhav. He highlights a perpetual decline of global multilateralism and prescribes India to give up romanticism and focus on economic growth”, he said adding that similar thoughts were also mooted by Sarvarkar.

Speaking to the media at his book launch, Mr. Madhav said that his book focuses on the world shifting from the liberal international order formed post World War II. He said that it is high time that India reorient its strategy to keep pace.

Citing China as a powerful growing nation, he also gave example how Turkiye turned out to be a powerful factor during recent Indo-Pakistan military conflict.

“In our recent clash with Pakistan, we not only talked about Pakistan but also about Turkey. So the realisation is Turkey is also a power today,” he said, adding that the wars are now being fought in unconventional ways where no army faced each other.

“In such situations, India has to re-strategise its whole future trajectory… That means doing some very important things and becoming a very proactive participant in this new order,” he said.

Replying to a question on Congress’s allegations that India is not doing enough for its old friend Iran amid the war concerns, Mr. Madhav added that international diplomacy must now be grounded in national interest, not ideological loyalty. “In politics and diplomacy, there are no permanent friends and no permanent foes… That was a romantic approach of the past. There are only permanent interests.”

He also emphasised India’s message to global institutions, saying, “India has told the UN [United Nations] leadership that you are not delivering… you are failing. If you fail, we have to look for other ways… other countries will have to come forward.”

Underscoring New Delhi’s diplomatic posturing amid global conflicts, Mr. Madhav said: “India is not taking sides, India is fighting—or is working—for peace.”

Congress MP Manish Tewari, speaking at the event, highlighted global volatility. “The Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Hamas-Hezbollah-Houthi-Iran conflict, the India-Pakistan standoff, and now the U.S. bombing of Iran — we are looking at a world in a flux,” he said. “Modern strategic thought is essentially a European construct…”