UK-India – beyond trade: power democracy

The UK aims at redefining a ‘modern’ relation with India. But what is a modern partnership? One that builds upon a long and special relationship marked by the legacy of colonialism as much as the missed opportunities and new challenges of globalisation. One also, which entails a rupture with this very precise violent colonial history to better engage, on an equal footing, in a trade relation going far beyond simple commercial exchanges. One that furthers democracy while supporting trade. Against this backdrop for a redefinition of a modern partnership of equals, this article addresses the issue of Non-Trade Concerns (NTC) (as a broad category including Non-Investment Concerns) in selected International and Indian Trade and Investment Treaties; and reviews UK post-Brexit trade treaties attempts to later draw a series of observations on the possible way forward to trade yet also power democracy.