International Relations, Geopolitics and Security Environment
This domain tests whether you can use theory to explain contemporary alignments rather than describe them.
Competing theories
- Realism: Morgenthau's six principles, Waltz's structural realism and Mearsheimer's offensive realism predict balancing and self-help under anarchy.
- Liberalism: democratic peace, institutions and complex interdependence (Keohane and Nye) explain cooperation despite anarchy.
- Constructivism: Wendt's claim that anarchy is what states make of it makes identity and norms causal, not decorative.
Geopolitics
Mahan argued maritime primacy; Mackinder's heartland thesis held that control of Eurasia conferred world power; Spykman's rimland corrected him by stressing the coastal crescent; Brzezinski applied this to Eurasia. Geography enables or constrains but does not determine policy.
India's setting
India's tradition runs from the 1955 Bandung Conference and 1961 Belgrade summit through non-alignment to its current formulation of strategic autonomy and multi-alignment. Its neighbourhood is shaped by China's Belt and Road Initiative, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the string of pearls and the Malacca dilemma, while the Indo-Pacific frame (QUAD, IORA, ASEAN centrality) addresses maritime space. India is a member of the SCO and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, and hosts the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium.
Worked example
Why does the Indian Ocean rim matter strategically? Using Spykman: the rimland's coastal states host trade, bases and chokepoints such as Hormuz and Malacca, so influence there denies an adversary the ability to close sea lines of communication without controlling one's own coastline.
Traps
Describing QUAD as an alliance; treating non-alignment as isolationism; attributing the heartland thesis to Mahan; ignoring domestic politics in explaining alignments.