“With the waning of globalization, post-Cold War world is becoming a site of sovereign nationalism.” Elucidate.
Approach · directive: “elucidate”
What it asks · Explain how and why the post-1991 liberal, globalising order is giving way to states asserting sovereignty over trade, technology, borders and identity — and how far the claim holds.
The question has 2 parts — answer each
- Elucidate: how globalisation is waning and sovereign nationalism rising — in trade, security, multilateralism and identity — and why
- Elucidate: how far the claim holds, and where India stands
Open with · The post-Cold War consensus of open markets and shared rules is yielding to a 'sovereignty-first' politics in which states put national control ahead of integration.
Cover
- Trade: tariff wars, including sweeping US tariffs in 2025; Brexit; a return of industrial policy and export controls on technology.
- Security-first economics: friend-shoring, critical-mineral competition and sanctions after the Russia–Ukraine war.
- Weakened multilateralism: WTO Appellate Body paralysed since 2019; Security Council deadlock on major conflicts.
- Identity politics: anti-immigration sentiment and populist nationalism across many democracies.
- Causes: the 2008 crisis, inequality within nations, China's rise, and COVID-19 exposing supply-chain dependence.
- Nuance: globalisation is changing shape, not ending — digital trade, services and regional FTAs keep growing.
- India: strategic autonomy with openness — Atmanirbhar Bharat alongside FTAs with the UAE, Australia, EFTA and the UK.
Close with · The world is moving from rules-first to sovereignty-first globalisation; India's task is to guard strategic autonomy while staying open.
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2025, GS Paper II — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer · 191 words (UPSC limit 150) · Minimalist IAS
The post-1991 consensus of open markets and shared rules is yielding to a 'sovereignty-first' politics in which states put national control of trade, technology, borders and identity ahead of integration.
Signs of sovereign nationalism
- Trade: tariff wars, including sweeping US tariffs in 2025; Brexit; the return of industrial policy and export controls on chips and critical technology.
- Security-first economics: friend-shoring, critical-mineral rivalry and sanctions after the Russia–Ukraine war treat interdependence as vulnerability.
- Weakened multilateralism: the WTO Appellate Body paralysed since 2019; Security Council deadlock on major conflicts.
- Identity: anti-immigration sentiment and populist nationalism across democracies.
Why it is happening
- The 2008 crisis and rising inequality within nations, China's rise as a strategic competitor, and COVID-19 exposing supply-chain dependence.
How far the claim holds
- Globalisation is changing shape, not ending: digital trade, services and regional FTAs keep growing; supply chains are being re-routed, not dismantled.
- India's response is strategic autonomy with openness — Atmanirbhar Bharat alongside trade agreements with the UAE, Australia, EFTA and the UK.
The world is moving from rules-first to sovereignty-first globalisation rather than to autarky; India's task is to guard its autonomy while staying open to the world.
Written by Minimalist IAS from facts checked at source (how we verify) — a little fuller than exam length, so every part of the question is covered; in the hall, keep the structure and trim the detail. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.