GS4 · 10 marks · 150 words

The foreign policy of nations is primarily guided by national interests. Do you think the pursuit of such exclusive concerns leaves little scope for ethics in international relations? Discuss.

Answered by 4 toppers · CSE 2019–2024

Ethics in International RelationsDimensions of Ethics

Syllabus: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.

How toppers approached it

From all 4 answers · about 170 words · 25% drew a diagram.

Opening

  • No separate opening3 of 4
  • A restatement1 of 4

Body

  • Points3 of 4
  • Points and prose1 of 4

Close

  • A way forward2 of 4
  • No separate close1 of 4
  • A summary1 of 4

The toppers’ answers

Ganesh Kumar BaskarAIR 7 · CSE 2019 · 172 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Due to the absence of a global sovereign, nation policies do not follow any law or either legal or moral. They follow only self interest

Body · points

Examples of little ethics in international relations

  1. US intervention in middle east for oil
  2. European attack on egypt during 1956 Suez crisis for self profit motive of profits
  3. China's deceptive attack on India when India used slogan "Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai"
  4. Developing countries refusal to take responsibility for climate change

despite them being responsible for most of the emissions

However there are also exceptions

① India sent doctors in the aftermath of Korean war

② India supported vietnamese against in their war with US despite being dependent on US PL-480 programme for food requirements

③ These examples shows that there is a possibility of ethical action in the international arena.

Close

It is dependent on the moral outlook of each nation and its commitment India's policy of Panchsheel and International peace as per Art 51 require us to be moral in our foreign policy.

More on Ethics in International Relations

Ethical issues in international relations and in funding, aid and conditionality, and obligation beyond the border.

All GS4 questions on Ethics in International Relations