At a New Delhi policy forum, Indian parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor offered a sober reckoning with the world as it is rather than as nations might wish it to be: fragmented, volatile, and indifferent to those who wait for calm before acting. His argument was not a counsel of despair but of preparation — that India's aspiration to become a developed nation depends less on a stable global order than on the strategic leverage, institutional depth, and human capital investment it builds within itself. In an age of polycrisis, readiness is the only reliable foundation.
The Economic Times
· Dec 17, 2025
· governance
· 4 min read
High
Sourcing: Verified
India must build strategic leverage to lead amid global polycrisis: Tharoor
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Economy & Finance
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Bias & Framing
⚖
Article presents Tharoor's strategic vision for India's development with minimal critical counterargument, emphasizing leverage and strength in a favorable framing of his policy positions.
Bias Direction
center-right
Confidence
MED
Authority-based framing through prominent political figure; presents strategic leverage doctrine as pragmatic necessity without examining potential drawbacks or alternative approaches to global engagement.
polycrisis
volatile global order
position of strength
compel future world leaders
strategic leverage
navigate uncertainty
Critiques of leverage-based diplomacy or its limitations
Alternative perspectives on India's development path emphasizing cooperation over competition
Views from economists skeptical of military/strategic spending prioritization
Perspectives from smaller nations potentially disadvantaged by leverage-based international order
Civil society voices questioning the framing of development priorities
Academic debate on polycrisis concept and its validity
Geopolitical Impact
🌎
India must build strategic leverage and economic strength to navigate global polycrisis and achieve developed nation status, rather than relying on stable international order.
Escalation Risk
low
Confidence
HIGH
India
Global North
Global South
Asia-Pacific
Multilateral institutions
India positioning itself as a strategic actor capable of independent negotiation in a fragmented multipolar world. Shift from reliance on stable international frameworks toward strategic autonomy and leverage-based diplomacy. India asserting greater agency in global negotiations through economic strength and human capital development.
Similar to India's Non-Aligned Movement strategy during Cold War—leveraging geopolitical competition to maximize strategic autonomy and negotiate from strength despite being a developing nation.
Economic Lens
📈
India must build economic strength and strategic autonomy to navigate global uncertainty and leverage a volatile world order for development, rather than relying on stable conditions.
Market Signal
neutral
Confidence
MED
International Trade & Diplomacy
Human Capital & Education
Research & Development
Consumer Protection & Regulation
Competition & Market Regulation
Emphasis on consumer welfare as central to economic policy suggests potential for stronger consumer protections and market regulations, which could increase compliance costs but improve product safety and fair competition standards for Indian consumers.
Likely push for increased R&D investment, human capital development, and strategic economic autonomy policies. Potential strengthening of competition law and consumer protection frameworks. May influence foreign policy to prioritize economic leverage and bilateral negotiations rather than multilateral dependence.