Role of Soft Power in India’s Foreign Policy

Authors

  • Dr. Nabin Kumar Khara Lecturer, P.G. Department of Political Science, Udayanath Autonomous College of Science & Technology, Cuttack, Odisha (India)
  • Prof. Brahmananda Satapathy Formerly Chairman, P.G. Council, and Professor & Head, P.G. Department of Political Science, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha (India)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31305/rrjss.2022.v02.n02.003

Keywords:

Cultural Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, International Relations, Peaceful Coexistence, Soft Power

Abstract

The article focuses on power and its ramifications which has always been the central point in all security studies in international relations. Power is a crucial element of international relations that influences world affairs. As a result, power plays a significant role in foreign policy formulation. Realism is the dominant theory of international relations, and it revolves around the concept of power. Power can come in a variety of forms and implies the capacity to influence others to do what one wants. There are two types of power: hard power and soft power. These two types of power influence international politics, security, economy, and foreign policy. Whereas hard power derives from a country’s military or economic might, soft power derives from the attractiveness of its culture, political ideals, and policies. In international relations, soft power is just as important as hard power. This paper argues that soft power is one dimension of power that refers to one’s ability to persuade others to do something. Different countries place a high value on soft power in today’s international politics. In international relations, the concept of soft power discourse emerged in the early 1990s. This article also argues that foreign policy of a country consists of self-interest strategies. It contains a general objective that guides the activities and relationship of one state in its interaction with other states. This paper intends to explain and analyze India’s foreign policy on the ideas of friendly relations, international cooperation, and peaceful coexistence among all nations, regardless of their political systems. Maintaining national security, advancing democracy, fostering world peace, providing aid, and establishing open trade are the main objectives of India’s foreign policy. The purpose of this paper is to theorize the dynamics of soft power in international relations and to analyze India’s soft power potential. In recent years soft power has become an important tool for governments to achieve their foreign policy goals. India, a country with rich sources of soft power, has made great efforts to use this capacity to achieve its foreign policy goals. Among Indian leaders Narendra Modi has paid considerable attention to the capacity of soft power in India’s foreign policy.

Author Biographies

Dr. Nabin Kumar Khara, Lecturer, P.G. Department of Political Science, Udayanath Autonomous College of Science & Technology, Cuttack, Odisha (India)

Dr. Nabin Kumar Khara has obtained his M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees from Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar (India). He is currently serving as Lecturer in Political Science at the P.G. Department of Political Science, Udayanath Autonomous College of Science & Technology, Cuttack, Odisha (India). His academic interests include International Relations, Diaspora Studies, Indian Diaspora in USA, Indian Government and Politics. He has many research papers published in national and international journals. He has also presented papers at national and international conferences/seminars.

Prof. Brahmananda Satapathy, Formerly Chairman, P.G. Council, and Professor & Head, P.G. Department of Political Science, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha (India)

Prof. Brahmananda Satapathy, Formerly Chairman, P.G. Council, and Professor & Head, P.G. Department of Political Science, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha (India). At present, he has joined as Professor Emeritus, at Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha (India). His academic interests focus on issues related to International Politics, Political Theory/Thought, Gender Studies, Research Methodology. Many of his research papers have been published in edited books, national and international journals.

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Published

2022-12-31

How to Cite

Khara, N. K., & Satapathy, B. (2022). Role of Soft Power in India’s Foreign Policy. Research Review Journal of Social Science, 2(2), 18–25. https://doi.org/10.31305/rrjss.2022.v02.n02.003