India
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar defended India’s democracy at the Munich Security Conference 2025, countering the Western narrative that democracy is in decline globally. Participating in a panel discussion titled “Live to Vote Another Day: Fortifying Democratic Resilience,” Jaishankar shared the stage with Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, US Senator Elissa Slotkin, and Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski.
During the discussion, Jaishankar expressed optimism about India’s democratic system and presented a contrasting view to the Western perspective on global democracy. Holding up his ink-marked finger, he highlighted India’s recent elections and the massive voter turnout.
“We just had an election in my state. Last year, we had a national election where nearly 700 million out of 900 million eligible voters cast their votes. We count the votes in a single day, and no one disputes the results after they are announced,” Jaishankar asserted.
‘For us, democracy is actually delivered’
Jaishankar dismissed the idea that democracy is universally in crisis. “The notion that democracy is in trouble worldwide—I must differ. We are voting well, we are optimistic, and for us, democracy is actually delivered,” he said.
He also responded to US Senator Elissa Slotkin’s remark that “democracy doesn’t put food on the table.” He countered, “Actually, in my part of the world, it does. We provide food and nutrition support to 800 million people through democratic governance. That determines their health and well-being. Please do not assume that democracy is a universal struggle; different parts of the world have different realities.”
Jaishankar on the global democracy debate
Jaishankar acknowledged that while some nations face challenges in governance, democracy functions effectively in others. He urged a more nuanced global conversation, emphasizing the need to understand the diverse experiences of different countries.
He further attributed some of the challenges in Western democracies to the “accumulated problems of the model of globalization followed for the past 25-30 years.”
In a post on X, Jaishankar reaffirmed his stance, stating that he “differed with the prevailing political pessimism” at MSC 2025 and addressed concerns about “foreign interference.”
India’s democracy as a model for the Global South
Jaishankar emphasized that India has remained committed to its democratic model despite facing numerous challenges. He pointed out that while democracy was historically viewed as a Western characteristic, many nations in the Global South now relate more to India’s democratic experience than to Western models.
Urging the West to recognize successful democratic systems beyond its own region, he concluded, “If democracy is to triumph, the world must acknowledge diverse and successful models outside the Western framework.”
The Munich Security Conference 2025, held in Germany from February 14 to 16, serves as a platform for high-level discussions on global security, foreign policy, and governance challenges.
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