INDIA'S SOFT POWER

Soft Power.  Joseph Nye is known as the father of the concept. He defines soft power as: “Power is the ability to affect others to obtain the outcomes you want. One can affect their behavior in three main ways: threats of coercion (“sticks”); inducements or payments (“carrots”) and attraction that makes others want what you want. A country may obtain the outcomes it wants in world politics because other countries want to follow it, admiring its values, emulating its example, aspiring to its level of prosperity and openness.”

Importance of Soft Power. One could go on and on and on. How important is sft power may be imagined from the fact that in an address to the party, Chinese president, Hu Jintao said that China should "enhance culture as part of the soft power of our country to better guarantee the people's basic cultural rights and interests." He continued by adding that, “culture has become a more and more important source of national cohesion and creativity and a factor of growing significance in the competition in overall national strength.”

India’s Soft Power.

Some of us hardly stop to think of the good things about our motherland. We are so busy criticizing that we fail to see what’s good. Probably the “total” India is better seen from the outside – or from above. One can hardly do justice to the listing of the contributory factors, leave alone ranking them. I’ll make an attempt though.
 
Despite its unpredictable chaos, our democracy must rate as the foundation of our soft power. Our amazing diversity contributes in a big way too. And the fact that a country with such diversity is such a strong advocate of democratic norms, adds to our soft power. Historically non-aligned, our nonthreatening image, an anti-colonial past, and many more such intrinsic attributes make us a very rich soft power. But there is more. Our legal system, despite the delays, is also seen to be as sound in principle. Mahatma Gandhi, a global icon, (& himself a major contributer to our soft power) is seen to represent peaceful, non-violent people despite the communal clashes & terror strikes.

India’s population story, once a threat, is considered an asset today. We are seen today, as a growing country with average ages reducing. Today we are seen as a people with brains to think (IT industry for example), and countless hands to work with. Pictures of poverty may be fading as those of progress & developments come into sharper focus. Nano & Ratan Tata’s acquisitions abroad, Mittal & Arcelor, to name just a couple, are our global footprint which is now taken seriously. From the time the British “acquired” territories in India & set up industry here, to our ability to “export” our own industry today is a long way indeed.

In a world reeling under stresses of the information age, the alternative lifestyles of religion, yoga, spiritualism, ayurved etc are stocks worth exploiting too. Indian community living abroad are our agents & ambassadors. They can, and do influence opinion.

The loud, forceful, and blatantly intrusive media are seen as the voice of the society, and add to our soft strength. And then - our film industry contributes in a big way too – exporting our rich & diverse cultural collage.

Thinking of all this, and much more makes one feel proud of our country. I have made a modest attempt. I will request the readers to add to the list of “what in their opinion contributes” to our soft power. Reading this, thinking about it, and keying a few lines will help re-kindle some of what we know, but had forgotten – or had forgotten to share.

My regards