As commerce ministers collect on the World Trade Organization summit in Abu Dhabi this week, one of many villains will, as common, be India. And, actually, there’s some justice to the criticism that Indian negotiators are far too prepared to dam consensus at such confabs except granted concessions on their very own priorities. Saying “no” typically comes too simply to them.

But these priorities should be seen within the context of India’s fiendishly sophisticated home politics. This is a rustic the dimensions of a continent, and attaining inner consensus on a drastic shift in coverage is as exhausting — or more durable — than getting settlement on the WTO.