Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft - Das internationale Forum der Deutschen Bank - 2010 New Delhi

Following a decade of rapid economic growth, India stands at a critical juncture. As a plural democracy in the developing world, it has extraordinary symbolic significance and is poised to be an instrumental player in the emerging international landscape. At the same time, there is much debate about the role India will play as it acquires greater clout in the international system. Organised in partnership with the Indian Council of World Affairs, the Foresight India symposium attempted to clarify the factors that drive Indian policy-making on a range of critical global challenges.

Highly insightful views were discussed by India´s Minister of External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor on sensitive topics such as; Failing States threatening India´s security´ and the necessity to ‘strengthen the UN General Assembly as the primary inter-governmental legislative body.

With Indian leaders from government, academic, business, and cultural circles, the event provided insights into the multitude of views that shape India and its global positions. Senior policy-makers, leaders and experts from across the world had the opportunity to advance their own ideas about how they perceive India’s role in an increasingly interdependent and multi-polar world (see programme and list of attendees).

The event took place at the ICWA in Delhi with panel discussions surrounding the topics of :
• India understanding the multiple transformations
• Sustaining economic globalisation
• Ensuring resource security
• Combating transnational terrorism 

India is a fascinating and dynamic country.  The symposium looked at how seemingly irreconcilable contradictions manage to coexist peacefully and as Nandita Das explained how ´being Indian´ involves a multitude of identities. Whilst debating issues in and threatening India, it was evident that even with the strain of such contradictions and diversity there was still a sense of community which may be the foundation to overcome the conflicts that the globalised India has become subject to.