The Statesman publishes GPPi op-ed on Brazil's and India's foreign policy strategy

In an opinion piece entitled Relations with IMF: India and Brazil Must Let Go of the Past published on December 16 in The Statesman (India), GPPi Fellow Oliver Stuenkel reviews Brazil’s and India’s transformation from IMF borrowers to IMF lenders, and identifies a clash of identities in both countries that pits new global responsibilities against traditions and long-held beliefs. 

This clash is most visible when looking at both governments’ contradicting rhetoric. While Brazil claims more weight in international institutions such as the IMF, Brazil’s President Lula continues to frequently berate the institution during his speeches. The Indian government, while less vocal, faces them same challenge to reconcile its tradition of non-intervention with its growing interests in the wider region, including Afghanistan, where India is involved. 

Stuenkel argues that both countries need to come to terms with their new role as IMF lenders and global leaders, and shed their third-world identity which policy-makers have often used to lay the blame on outside actors. This process is slow and difficult, but politicians need to prepare their respective societies for this new role.