Cold War 2.0: Non-Alignment, Multi-Alignment and Internationalism

As global tensions intensify—China’s assertiveness in South Asia, political flux in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, and the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan—many view India’s posture as strategic alignment in response. Simultaneously, Washington’s Indo‑Pacific presence deepens. Yet beyond power‑play, a deeper narrative shapes India’s diplomacy. Drawing on its ancient civilizational ethos—embodied in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (“the world is one family”)—India harmonizes national interest with universalism, championing peace, coexistence, and soft power. Rejecting binary allegiances, it advances a modern iteration of non‑alignment: “non‑alignment 2.0” or multi‑alignment. Rather than opposing blocs, India embraces a pluralistic diplomacy guided by its identity as Viswa Guru and a global family vision. This paper argues that, contrary to Western narratives, India’s choices today stem less from great‑power rivalry and more from its unique blend of civilizational values and strategic pluralism—offering an alternative foreign‑policy model rooted in ancient wisdom and contemporary nuance.