It is certainly not without good reason that the American soft power and indirect influence over other countries is on decline.
Some would even say it's withering and even collapsing especially on democracies. In such a situation how does India work on this aspect of foreign policy? Unlike Hard Power; Soft Power requires more time .... and more efforts.
The Soft Power by nature is not a costly affair. But it is a vital tool that can help a country like India cherishing civilisational values to make inroads into the minds of people across the globe and also win the hearts. However, this is also something that is linked to a nation's basic approach in pursuing Hard power. This is where Donald Trump has done a few mistakes and hence his 'soft power' has lost its sheen.
In fact, Trump's Soft Power push is guided by negativity and contempt for the other side. As an illustration one can point out that ....
** Trump’s strategies spend/involve so much energy and venom denouncing Europe.
** In multiple manner; the EU 'embodied' the values of the liberal order and in doing so it surpassed Americans too.
Please note - after Soviet domination of eastern Europe collapsed, the EU expanded to bring in countries so that they also internalise democratic principles. Today, probably Europe is a good example of use of Soft power while the US standards and roles have declined.
After the second world war, the US pushed its global ambition.
Even there was a principle of consensus building between Republicans and Democrats on that score. They shared and pushed a conviction that the post-war world built on American model would be better for the rest of the world and also for the US.
Democracy and the rule of law were the ideals. Of course in some cases; argument could be built that while pushing such a cherished principle -- the American leadership, say under Nixon-Henry Kissinger -- actually often encouraged military powers and dictatorship.
This is where India needs to be careful.
An image of being assertive has been pushed by the Moditva phenomenon. But there is a side effect behind all that because in countries like Bangladesh; New Delhi is also getting a tag of being a regional Dada (elder brother) per se.
Over 15 years back; I interviewed a former Nepal foreign minister Upendra Yadav and he had said -- there could be motivated allegation that India interferes into everything in our country -- but all that may not be Satya. But they are Ardha Satya for sure.
If Hard Power is presented as something to be 'feared' and not necessarily loved and respected -- there are chance that even Soft Power will not work.
 |
| India's Covid19 Vaccines were good examples of Soft Power |
This has happened with Russia too.
"Putin knows his aggressive revanchism won’t win Russia any love among countries whose respect he craves.
But if he can’t be loved, he hopes at least to be feared. If you are in a social order that regards you as inferior, you have every incentive to turn spoiler," write Henry Farrell and Sergey Radchenko in a joint article for London's 'The Guardian'.
'The Guardian' article also says --- "Trump wants to disrupt a social order that regards him and his worldview with contempt.
The US president and his officials get respect from dictators and kings (although perhaps not from the ones whose respect they most want – Putin and Xi Jinping), but they know that the leaders of many other democratic countries look down their noses at them."
In Indian context, the Soft Power can be traced back to the 15th century when Vasco D Gama was welcomed in Kerala. That era marked 'establishment' of India as a confluence of worship and civilisational wisdom.
Centuries later, India provided shelter to Parsis, Tibetans and Bangladeshis. Mind you this did not fell under 'necessiry diplomacy' ... but this simply demonstrated India's deep rooted culture in itself.
Prior to that again, India's wisdom or ideology laid emphasis on human race and humane approach. We said - the world is one .... 'Vasudeva Kutumbakam'.
This much cherished principle/phrase did not come as a politically correct statement. It is based on Indian ethos.
Under Narendra Modi, India's greatest soft power-win was in the ability to get the UN vote for the International Day for Yoga.
Proposed by India and endorsed by as many as 175 UN member states in 2014.
It is not about winning a war or creating strategic partners as rivaled to another.
June 21 as the International Day for Yoga --- Connects to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for health, universal well-being, and environment.
It encourages mindful living, self-awareness, and harmony with nature.
In 2016 none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave credence to India's strong argument for Soft Power when he told the inaugural session of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s cultural extravaganza in New Delhi that----
"We can make contribution (of India’s soft power) only when we ourselves feel proud of our culture. But if we continue to curse ourselves, then how will the world look towards us.
The world is not only united by concerns of economic growth, but also by human values and India can play a vital role in it".
Sometime around 2019, BJP leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe had said -- To truly understand India; one must visit India. His refrain was India cannot be understood just by reading books or visiting one or multiple websites.
(Blogger's daughter Tanvi Dev : Extreme left at 2016 World Fest )
Life is often like standing in the dusk.
It is all about optimism. Optimism is linked to patience.
Every storm would pass off eventually no matter, how long it is. This is the take away from any grand cultural fest.
That’s also the essence of India’s civilisational Soft Power strength.
The big picture message is - the international game can be no longer about pushing a single-agenda item. Soft power game also means persuasive diplomacy. It may be out of the box, but not something out of the blue.
ends
No comments:
Post a Comment