India in Asia Power Index 2024: The missing dimensions

Recently, an Australia-based think tank, the Lowy Institute's Asia Power Index 2024, ranked India as the 3rd most powerful country in Asia, trailing just behind the USA and China, which were ranked 1st and 2nd, respectively.

- GARGI L. SHANBHAG & CHETAN B. SINGAI

These rankings come at a time when the world is witnessing multiple conflicts in different regions: Israel-Hamas, Russia-Ukraine, the South China Sea conflict, the Taliban in Afghanistan, anti-junta protests in Myanmar, etc. These are just a few of the pivotal geopolitical events unfolding in India's neighborhood. Such indices should be considered critically because they can influence and shape perceptions of global power dynamics. They also influence how countries view themselves and how others view them. However, reducing a nation's power and identity to mere metrics is a reductionist approach. Ranking India solely on conventional power metrics diminishes its broader contributions to global peace, multilateralism, and moral leadership.

The notion of 'locating a nation' suggests a geographic understanding of power, but influence is increasingly dispersed and transcends borders. In an interconnected, globalized world, does the index truly consider a nation's global reach through digital diplomacy, soft power, or transnational networks? For example, India's leadership in digital public infrastructure and South-South cooperation may not neatly fit into the index's traditional metrics of power.

Are the parameters in this index truly valid? If power is relative, can it be accurately ranked? Indices with such parameters are watertight compartments, leaving little room for socio-political, historical, and policy differences. The index claims its purpose is to sharpen the debate on power in Asia. What is the index's purpose? Is it meant for policymakers, academics, governments, or public reference? Does it reflect a realist, constructivist, or neo-liberal view of power? If intended to guide strategy, how useful is it when it overlooks the historical and geopolitical nuances unique to each country?