Core tensions
- Sovereignty vs Responsibility to Protect (R2P — Libya 2011).
- Aid with conditionalities (Washington Consensus) vs no-strings South-South (India, China).
- Realpolitik vs value-based diplomacy.
Funding ethics
- FCRA 2010 & 2020 amendments — regulation vs civil-society space.
- Political-party funding — electoral bonds struck down (2024).
- Global — dark money, PACs, dependency in fragile states.
Frameworks to cite
- Kant — perpetual peace, universal moral duties.
- Rawls — 'Law of Peoples' & duty of assistance to burdened societies.
- Amartya Sen — capabilities and global justice.
Balanced position
- Interest and values are not mutually exclusive; 'enlightened self-interest' offers a bridge.
- Transparent funding + civil-society space is the ethical minimum.
Common Pitfalls
- Do not write a GS-2 IR answer here — ethics questions require moral reasoning first, facts second.
FAQs
- Best classical thinker to invoke?
- Kant for cosmopolitan duty; Kautilya for realism balanced with dharma.
UPSC Mains PYQs on this microtheme
- Carl von Clausewitz once said, “War is a diplomacy by other means.” Critically analyse the above statement in the present context of contemporary geo-political conflict.📅 2025 · 📌 10
- “It is not enough to talk about peace, one must believe in it; and it is not enough to believe in it, one must act upon it” In the present context, the major weapon indus- tries of the developed nations are adversely influencing continuation of number of wars for their own self-interest, all around the world. What are the ethical consider- ations of the powerful nations in today’s international arena to stop continuation of ongoing conflicts?📅 2024 · 📌 10
- ‘International aid’ is an accepted form of helping ‘resource-challenged’ nations. Comment on ‘ethics in contemporary international aid’. Support your answer with suitable examples.📅 2023 · 📌 10
- Russia and Ukraine war has been going on for the last seven months. Different coun- tries have taken independent stands and actions keeping in view their own national interests. We are all aware that war has its own impact on the different aspects of society, including human tragedy. What are those ethical issues that are crucial to be considered while launching the war and its continuation so far? Illustrate with justification the ethical issues involved in the given state of affair.📅 2022 · 📌 10
- “Refugees should not be turned back to the country where they would face pros- ecution or human rights violation.” Examine the statement with reference to the ethical dimension being violated by the nation claiming to be democratic with an open society.📅 2021 · 📌 10
- ‘The will to power exits, but it can be tamed and be guided by rationality and princi- ples of moral duty.’ Examine this statement in the context of international relations.📅 2020 · 📌 10
- Strength, peace and security are considered to be the pillars of international rela- tions. Elucidate.📅 2017 · 📌 10
- At the international level, the bilateral relations between most nations are governed on the policy of promoting one’s own national interest without any regard for the interest of other nations. This leads to conflicts and tensions between the nations. How can ethical consideration help resolve such tensions? Discuss with specific examples.📅 2015 · 📌 10