Cracks in the World’s Largest Democracy

The contemporary international order i s witnessing rapid transformations driven by shifting power structures, evolving security alliances and new patterns of political and economic realignments. India, as a pivotal player in South Asia and an emerging power within the Indo-Pacific, finds itself at the center of these transitions. However, despite its global visibility and ambition to position itself as a great power, multiple fault lines within India’s domestic political framework, economic trajectory and foreign policy posture suggest that the “ Indian system i s breaking down.” This phrase does not merely imply internal instability but reflects the contradictions between India’s aspirations and its structural limitations amid global realignment.

One of the central dimensions of India’s systemic breakdown lies in its domestic political environment. While India has long prided itself on being the world’s largest democracy, recent trends indicate a move away from pluralism and inclusivity toward a more maj oritari an, centralized and polarized political order.

One of the central dimensions of India’s systemic breakdown lies in its domestic political environment. While India has long prided itself on being the world’s largest democracy, recent trends indicate a move away from pluralism and inclusivity toward a more maj oritari an, centralized and polarized political order. The rise of Hindu nationalism has reshaped India’s political discourse, marginalizing religious and ethnic minorities and eroding the secular ethos enshrined in its constitution. This transformation undermines internal cohesion and weakens the foundations of India’s federal system. States like Punjab, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal increasingly contest the central government’s authority, while the Kashmir issue continues to be a flashpoint of unrest and discontent. The erosion of democratic institutions through restrictions on the press, weakening of the judiciary and suppression of dissent further deepens domestic fragility. Rather than fostering stability, the centralization of power in New Delhi amplifies the risks of political fragmentation, delegitimiz es democratic values and casts doubt on India’s internal resilience in the long term.
Another critical aspect of India’s systemic stress i s the widening gap between its economic aspirations and ground realities. India’s economic growth i s frequently celebrated, yet beneath the aggregate figures lies a highly unequal and precarious structure. The rural economy, where a majority of India’s population resides, suffers from chronic agrarian distress. Rising unemployment, particularly among the youth, has generated frustration that could transform into political instability. Moreover, India’s much-touted technological sector, while globally competitive, does not generate sufficient employment to absorb the millions entering the workforce each year. The result i s a paradox of jobless growth that further exacerbates inequality. Additionally, India’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic exposed institutional weaknesses in healthcare and governance, raising questions about its capacity to manage future crises. The juxtaposition of India’s aspirations to be a global economic leader with its domestic struggles suggests a growing disconnect. A system that fails to distribute economic opportunities equitably, or to address structural weaknesses in agriculture, industry and social welfare, risks long-term instability.
From a geostrategi c standpoint, India faces mounting difficulties in navigating the contemporary realignments shaping the international order. On the one hand, India seeks to strengthen ties with the United States and its allies through initiatives like the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue ( Quad) to counterbalance China’s influence. On the other, India remains deeply entangled with Russia for defense cooperation, energy needs and diplomatic leverage. The Russia-Ukraine war has highlighted this dilemma. While India refrains from condemning Russia outright, in line with its strategic dependence on Moscow, it simultaneously deepens its engagement with Washington to secure defense and economic support. This balancing act i s becoming increasingly unsustainable as the United States presses its allies and partners to align more closely against Russia and China. China’s rise poses another profound challenge. The Sino-Indi an border clashes, particularly in Ladakh since 2020, have exposed India’s vulnerabilities in defending its territorial claims. Despite New Delhi’s rhetoric of strength, the reality remains that China holds strategic and infrastructural advantages along the contested borders. India’s inability to decisively counter China’s assertiveness raises questions about its credibility as a regional power capable of shaping Indo-Pacific security dynamics.
Its strained relations with Pakistan further compound India’s systemic fragility. The abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, has intensified hostility between the two states. While India portrays itself
as a decisive actor, this move has internationalized the Kashmir issue and created an enduring flashpoint in South Asia. Pakistan continues to leverage diplomatic platforms such as the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to highlight human rights violations in Kashmir. Furthermore, the possibility of cross-border militancy and escalation into military confrontation remains ever-present. A system that seeks regional leadership but i s perpetually embroiled in bilateral hostility undermines India’s credibility and prevents it from achieving broader strategic stability in South Asia.
The breaking down of the Indian system i s also visible in its internal federal structure. India’s federalism, designed to accommodate its vast diversity, i s under strain from the central government’s attempts to impose uniformity. Language policies, economic distribution and the dominance of northern states in national politics alienate southern and northeastern regions. The politics of exclusion and identity-based mobilization, especially through caste and religion, erodes the sense of collective nationhood. Instead of integrating diversity, the state’s approach risks reinforcing fractures along ethnic, linguistic and regional lines. The consequence i s a system that lacks resilience against centrifugal tendencies a critical weakness for a state seeking global leadership.
India’s global ambitions manifest in its bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, its active role in BRICS, G20 and Quad and its pursuit of strategic partnerships contrast with its limited material capabilities. While India presents itself as a counterweight to China, it lacks the economic resources, technological sophistication and military readiness to sustain such a role independently. Moreover, India’s foreign policy often oscillates between non-alignment, strategic autonomy and alignment with Western powers, creating
ambiguity about its long-term direction. This lack of coherence weakens its ability to shape global developments, reducing it to a reactive rather than proactive actor. The contradiction between ambition and capacity represents another manifestation of systemic breakdown.
Historically, India’s democratic credentials, cultural richness and non-aligned foreign policy served as important pillars of soft power. However, the current trajectory of rising authoritarianism, communal tensions and suppression of dissent diminishes India’s moral authority on the global stage. Allegations of human rights abuses in Kashmir, discrimination against minorities and curbs on press freedom tarnish its image as the “world’s largest democracy.” This erosion of soft power i s particularly significant in a multipolar world where states increasingly rely on normative legitimacy alongside material capabilities. A system that loses credibility in its democratic identity risks being marginalized in shaping international narratives.
The assertion that “ the Indian system i s breaking down” reflects the growing incongruence between India’s aspirations as a global power and the domestic and external realities it faces. Internally, political centralization, identity-based polarization, economic inequality and federal strains weaken national cohesion. Externally, India’s strategic dilemmas, unresolved conflicts with neighbors and inability to match its ambitions with capacities undermine its global standing. In an era of geostrategi c realignment marked by U.S.-China rivalry, Russia’s reassertion and regional volatility, India’s systemic fragi liti es are becoming more visible. Unless India addresses its internal contradictions, strengthens its democratic institutions and recalibrates its foreign policy with realism, it risks being trapped in a cycle of overextensi on and underperformance. Thus, while India continues to project itself as a rising power, the evidence suggests that its system is under severe stress. The cracks in its domestic and external frameworks reveal that the Indian system is indeed breaking down, not necessarily through dramatic collapse, but through the gradual erosion of its coherence, resilience and credibility in the contemporary global order.