Soft Power as a Tool in Indian Foreign Policy

Abstract

India, the largest and most powerful country in the South Asian region, has a major role in keeping diplomatic relation within region than with other western or Middle East regions. Hence, Indian foreign policy is more towards South Asian countries because its culture appreciates in its immediate neighbourhood. Moreover India Continues to have tremendous potential in soft power because of its culture, large diaspora, popular films, music, arts and many cultural links with several countries in the world. Soft power is mainly known as “The ability to obtain what you want through attraction rather than coercion or payment. In fact soft power can arise due to the attractiveness of a country’s culture, political ideals, and policies which are ‘real but intangible’”. World politics in modern age has been undergoing changes elevating the importance of soft power relative to hard power. In this transformed international system, soft power is crucial in enhancing influence over international outcomes because it has become more difficult to compel nations and non-state actors through principle levels of hard power. India has used its own potentials and capabilities in terms of culture, religion, economy and politics since Indus-Valley civilization as means of its soft power. Even though India has successfully applied its soft power within region; she has not successfully extended its power beyond it to encompass other world states. Research problem investigates whether India is using soft power as national capability and studies how much of it is utilized in her foreign policies within the region. Using mixed methods, the study investigated whether India actually relies on soft power resources in foreign policies. Main objective is to understand utilization of Indian soft power in South Asian region. Additionally, the research finding is India has utilized soft power tools within her foreign policy to spread power and control in South Asian Region.