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Showing posts with the label India's soft power strategy

India's power projection through humanitarian and relief operations

Indian Air force undertaking relief operations in Nepal ( Credits- VOA) India has been undertaking relief operations in emergencies internationally. It is a projection of power masked as a soft power. The Diplomat has discussed the topic in detail ( To the read the entire article, click here  ..........)

Life In Aerocity: Finding India’s Place in the New Strategic Context ( Source- The Diplomat)

Image credits- Wikimapia Source- The Diplomat Author- Roncevert Ganan Almond Over the past three years, through periodic observations, I have measured the rise of New Delhi Aerocity, the commercial complex adjacent to Indira Gandhi International Airport. Unlike the unruly and burgeoning outskirts of this megacity – the teeming slums, clogged arteries, impromptu shrines and haphazard construction – Aerocity is sterile and organized, and, hopefully, a secure compound of paned-glass modernity. Like its cousins, Gurgaon’s DLF Cyber City and Noida’s Jaypee Sports City, Aerocity is a planned urban-development with a specific commercial design, in this case an international business hub intended to enhance the airport’s economic engine beyond aeronautical activities, a common characteristic of our futuristic global age. In the shadow of the future, history always awaits in India. At Aerocity, the nearby Delhi Metro connects you to the city center, and within half an hour y

India and the 21st Century’s Great Game ( Source- The Diplomat / Author- Francis P. Sempa)

Image credits- Prime Minister's office. Government of India Source- The Diplomat Author- Francis P. Sempa The U.S. Army War College’s Strategic Studies Institute recently published a monograph by Roman Muzalevsky on India’s strategic role in the 21st century’s “Great Game” in Central Asia. Titled “Unlocking India’s Strategic Potential in Central Asia,” Muzalevsky’s work analyzes the complicated relationships between, and rivalries among, India, China, Iran, Russia and the United States in the heart of the Eurasian landmass. He concludes that India and the United States can best advance their interests in the region if they develop a “strategic partnership” that allows them to both compete and collaborate with the other powers vying for influence in Central Asia. Muzalevsky, a researcher and analyst for iJet International, Inc. and former analyst at the Hudson Institute, has studied and written extensively about the region. He is the author of China’s Rise and Reco

The True Origins of India's Military Strategy ( Source- The National Interest / Author- Akhilesh Pilalamarri)

Indian army Rajput regiment in parade ( Image source- Wikimedia Commons / Credits- Antonio Milena) Source- The National Interest Author- Akhilesh Pillalamarri India has two great, ancient epics that saturate its civilization, much like the Bible and Shakespeare in the West: the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata. The Ramayana is simpler in structure and focuses on the ideal reign of a single ruler, Rama, who has traditionally been the model for political authority in South and Southeast Asia. On the other hand, like the Bible or Herodotus’ Histories, the Mahabharata describes a multitude of political and military situations from many perspectives. This makes it a broad, useful compendium of strategy, rather than just political authority, that was widely accessible to anyone throughout Indian history. Since it was composed around 400 B.C.E. (possibly loosely based on events that happened around 1000 B.C.E.), its contribution to the Indian worldview cannot be understated, not

Europe and India: Testing New Delhi’s New Diplomacy ( Source- The Diplomat / Author- Kabir Taneja)

Credits- Getty Images Source- The Diplomat Author- Kabir Taneja At a recent business event in a major European city, a senior executive was heard to explain why his company did not do business in China. His main argument was economic: The Chinese market was crowded with competitors to midsize companies such as his. But the executive also said that he felt more comfortable doing business in democratic economies such as India, even if it takes more effort and time for projects to come to fruition. While that view may be in the minority among corporate investors, it offers one more reason why India, the world’s largest democracy and a market economy set to be the world’s fastest growing by next year, should become a global economic hub without any further delay. In fact, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now moving to realize this ambition, and the world is showing renewed interest in the India story following the change in government last year. Yet the E

Yoga As Soft Power: Rebranding India’s Global Image – Analysis ( Source- Eurasia Review / Author- Sanghamitra Kalita / South Asia Monitor)

Credits- Art of Living Source- Eurasia Review Author- Sanghamitra Kalita / South Asia Monitor Over the last decade, many scholars and analysts have assessed the emergence of India as a major global player in the context of military capabilities, economic growth and political dynamism. This has often resulted in the overlooking of India’s credentials for developing its soft power existing in the form of culture, values and policies. This new form of power called ‘soft power’ has gained credence in International relations discourse in the post-Cold War era. The term ‘soft power’ which was coined by Harvard University Professor Joseph Nye, is the ability to obtain what one wants through attraction rather than coercion or payments. The smart power, according to Nye, is the combination of hard power and soft power. The concept of power is the mainstay of the traditional approaches to security studies in International Relations. Power is the ability of actor A to influence