INDIA -(Shashi Tharoor) Why nations should pursue "soft" power

jakojako777

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OK

I'll try my definition of "soft" power- winning hearts and minds without complicating just first thing that crosses my mind !

First that crosses my mind is ;

"American Dream" !!


Simple slogan that symbolizes possibility available to even poorest among us to go somewhere (to USA) and have successes in life !
And get filthy rich as result .
And all that to achieve only by determination and nothing else !
Just if one is really determined with no other condition needed !


Actually ALL is about COLLECTIVE subconscious! And hidden desire to find paradise on earth!
And when country has enough people capable to believe in that dream - that situation can generate extraordinary collective energy within every and any nation capable to reach so deep into that collective consciousness that liberates extraordinary creative energy ! And creates also huge magnet for all kinds of creative people from rest of the world to go to that country and start life...

And that creates PROGRESS !
To create permanent "soft" power country MUST reach to our dreams and imagination more than anything else!
Country must make us to DREAM about her
!

Well that is it I hope I didn't say something stupid :)
 

no smoking

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I would like to share my opinion about this "soft power".

What is "soft power" of today? I think it is the cultural influence or your ability to affect other people's way of thinking.

For example, when japanese cartoon becomes popular in china, many chinese boys regards the character in these films as their model. They try to simulate the words and the behaves of these characters. This is the japan's soft power.

But why in today, we accepte some countries' culture while reject or ignore others? The force behind this soft power is economic power. How much money you can spend to promote your culture around the world and how rich or powerful your country is. When japanese cartoon come to china, they were given as gift to every TV station for free. Then every aspects of japanese life were shown to us through their product advertisement. When the young chinese saw JAPAN on TV every day, they begun to accepte some culture aspect of japan. Because they got the impression that japanese culture is linked to the better life. The same principle applied to USA's soft power.

The problem with india and china is that we have the culture without economic power. If you cannot dominate the TV, how people know the exsitence of your culture. If you cannot show your people is richer than average, why the youngth follow you? So, before you talk about soft power, you have to be economic power first.
 

roma

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what do you think guys, Should Tharoor be a next prime minister of India who may have potentiality to lead India to upper level than it's today? You people are saying he is intelligent and has good knowledge.
he's truly a brilliant guy and speaks french as fluently and flawlessly as he does english . Nevertheless the PM's job is a bit beyond him IMHO, but he WOULD make an absolutely first class Foreign Affairs or rather external affairs minister , without doubt.

btw he also speaks top class malayalam ( his tongue ) and hindi
 

jakojako777

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I would like to share my opinion about this "soft power".

What is "soft power" of today? I think it is the cultural influence or your ability to affect other people's way of thinking.

For example, when japanese cartoon becomes popular in china, many chinese boys regards the character in these films as their model. They try to simulate the words and the behaves of these characters. This is the japan's soft power.

But why in today, we accepte some countries' culture while reject or ignore others? The force behind this soft power is economic power. How much money you can spend to promote your culture around the world and how rich or powerful your country is. When japanese cartoon come to china, they were given as gift to every TV station for free. Then every aspects of japanese life were shown to us through their product advertisement. When the young chinese saw JAPAN on TV every day, they begun to accepte some culture aspect of japan. Because they got the impression that japanese culture is linked to the better life. The same principle applied to USA's soft power.

The problem with india and china is that we have the culture without economic power. If you cannot dominate the TV, how people know the exsitence of your culture. If you cannot show your people is richer than average, why the youngth follow you? So, before you talk about soft power, you have to be economic power first.

Agree with all you say except that last sentence... I would structure differently...
Be cause I think that those 2 things go hand in hand - TOGETHER.
Economic power just one step ahead of other "soft "power...
Be cause in the fast modern TV world of marketing & information.
Image one projects is everything !
So instead of saying So, before you talk about soft power, you have to be economic power first

One must creates condition soft power accompanies
economic power the best possible just step behind.
 

roma

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Todays soft power is tighly linked with the english language.

Language inherently brings with it ideas, culture , concepts, ways of thinking and so on.

Both the usa and britain are so far ahead in soft power that at the moment there seems to be no competition from others.

The Arab world might have some real potential to be a major soft power due to their hold on the muslim world which is huge , but so far they have not hit on it other than their awesome pull via religion. It can be very readily converted into soft power but so far they have not constructed the infrstructure to get going. If and when they do , it will equal the usa and britain combined or nearly so.

as fro india, the extent and influence of its soft power will for the forseeable future, reside within the country ., similarly for china i think.
 

jakojako777

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Todays soft power is tighly linked with the english language.

Language inherently brings with it ideas, culture , concepts, ways of thinking and so on.

Both the usa and britain are so far ahead in soft power that at the moment there seems to be no competition from others.

The Arab world might have some real potential to be a major soft power due to their hold on the muslim world which is huge , but so far they have not hit on it other than their awesome pull via religion. It can be very readily converted into soft power but so far they have not constructed the infrstructure to get going. If and when they do , it will equal the usa and britain combined or nearly so.

as fro india, the extent and influence of its soft power will for the forseeable future, reside within the country ., similarly for china i think.
India has one important advantage comparing with China - to be much more fluent in English than China..
((correct me if I'm wrong) it is 2nd official language in the country)
So they already belong to that universal domination of English.......
 

roma

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After listening to him , ( i posted the previous two before hearing ) i think he should be deputy PM or President ( but still not PM ).
 

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This is a good example of Indian soft power in Brazil

India is cool in Brazil thanks to hot "novela"


(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-21 11:34

The pink-walled palaces, shimmering saris and Bollywood dances all scream India. So why are the actors speaking Portuguese and kissing passionately?

Welcome to Brazil's latest soap opera hit, a lavish production that has sparked a mini India boom in Brazil, even while taking liberties with its portrayal of the Asian giant.

The "Caminho das Indias" (Way of the Indias) telenovela, with Hindi phrases thrown into the Portuguese dialogue, has piqued Brazilians' interest in the emerging economic powerhouse that was little-known here before.

Hindi phrases such as the exclamation "Arre Baba" (Oh my goodness!) have entered everyday speech; interest in yoga, meditation and Indian dance is on the rise and demand for Indian clothes and decorations has jumped.

On Rio de Janeiro's beaches, vendors are touting Indian-style sarongs.

"People like it because it's very energetic and very happy," said Samra Sanches, an instructor who has started giving Indian dance classes. "We try to work on moves similar to those in the novela."

The story, which like most Brazilian soaps is told in a grueling 200 or so episodes over more than six months, centers on a forbidden love between beautiful high-caste woman Maya and handsome Bahuan, a low-caste Dalit, a group formerly known as "Untouchables."

Filmed partly in India's Rajasthan state, the action flits between Jaipur and Agra where tradition and religion hang in the air and the beach-side Rio of micro-bikinis.

"The novela shows the respect in India for the elders of a family, which isn't always the case in the West," said Tony Ramos, a 60-year-old soap opera idol who plays the conservative head of the Brahmin Ananda family in the series.

CROSSING THE LINE

He spoke between takes at Brazilian entertainment giant Globo's studios, where several Indian "towns" have been constructed complete with Hindi temples and a river Ganges.

Ramos and the other leading actors spent three weeks filming in India, on top of a two-month course to get them up to speed on yoga, Indian dance moves and language.

The impact of "Caminhos" on Brazilians' speech, fashion, and interests is the latest example of soap operas' powerful social influence in Latin America's biggest country.

Globo's prime-time novelas, often portraying a wealthy elite in Rio that is far from the everyday reality of most Brazilians, can grab more than 40 million viewers a night.

Indian Ambassador to Brazil B.S. Prakash said his embassy had seen a jump in phone calls and e-mails from Brazilians curious about India. The novela, he said, helped fill a cultural gap between the two nations that remained wide despite stronger diplomatic relations in recent years.

"The novela in that sense has opened many doors, many people are getting to have an impression about India," he told Reuters by telephone from Brasilia.

"Caminhos" has attracted strong ratings and spawned at least one spin-off program on Indian life. But the steamy demands of a Brazilian soap opera have inevitably crossed the line of what would be acceptable in India, where public or on-screen kissing is still taboo.

Some Indians in Brazil are shocked by the sexual encounters between Maya and Bahuan, saying Maya would have been expelled by her family if they had happened in real life.

Some critics also take issue with the portrayal of widespread discrimination against Dalits and a rigid caste system which they say is out of date.

But actor Ramos, fresh from a scene in which he goes head-to-head against a Dalit candidate in an election, defended the portrayal of the caste system as not so far from reality.

"It's the same when you show the Brazil of slums, or the political problems -- many Brazilians will say my country isn't like that," he said.

India is cool in Brazil thanks to hot "novela"
 

S.A.T.A

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I think Roma almost nailed the answer.While not discounting the power of medium which conveys ideas(a language for instance),its the sheer power of collective thought of a indigenous culture(or civilization)that eventually decides the esteem with which a nation is looked upon.The little island nation of England is only the most recent example from the many such instances in history,even then many of the ideas that have shaped modern global society and that have the decidedly English stamp are hardly indigenous to the English.

India,China,Romans,Greeks,Arabs or English(and USA)did not selectively project any ideas as a manner of expanding national influence or for eliciting a more benign perception for themselves from the rest of the world.They were the embodiment of such Ideas, which over the period time for the rest of the world came to be perceived as defining traits of their national character.

Which brings up the same question that i asked earlier,and in the light of the above mentioned fact,what constitutes the core constituents of the 'soft' power that India needs to be projecting,what is indigenous and unique about them(or to say what is Indian about them) and how will they transform the 'others' perception of 'us'.

Since Japanese and their popular Manga comics came up a couple of times,has anyone wondered why many of the 'Japanese' Manga characters(if i was more sure,i would say all of them) apparently seem to have blond/ hair,blue eyes(or of the lighter tone) and a generally European/Caucasian appearance to them.

If you were to call manga comics a popular example of a Nations soft power projection,what does this indicate,do the comics represent projection of a real national self or are they merely reinforcing the perception that foreign audience is comfortable and is able to identify with.
 

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His french is impeccable. He surprised a few (including me) while he was in M'tius a few weeks ago. Thanks for the video Jako :goodstuff:
 

jakojako777

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I think Roma almost nailed the answer.While not discounting the power of medium which conveys ideas(a language for instance),its the sheer power of collective thought of a indigenous culture(or civilization)that eventually decides the esteem with which a nation is looked upon.The little island nation of England is only the most recent example from the many such instances in history,even then many of the ideas that have shaped modern global society and that have the decidedly English stamp are hardly indigenous to the English.

India,China,Romans,Greeks,Arabs or English(and USA)did not selectively project any ideas as a manner of expanding national influence or for eliciting a more benign perception for themselves from the rest of the world.They were the embodiment of such Ideas, which over the period time for the rest of the world came to be perceived as defining traits of their national character.

Which brings up the same question that i asked earlier,and in the light of the above mentioned fact,what constitutes the core constituents of the 'soft' power that India needs to be projecting,what is indigenous and unique about them(or to say what is Indian about them) and how will they transform the 'others' perception of 'us'.

Since Japanese and their popular Manga comics came up a couple of times,has anyone wondered why many of the 'Japanese' Manga characters(if i was more sure,i would say all of them) apparently seem to have blond/ hair,blue eyes(or of the lighter tone) and a generally European/Caucasian appearance to them.

If you were to call manga comics a popular example of a Nations soft power projection,what does this indicate,do the comics represent projection of a real national self or are they merely reinforcing the perception that foreign audience is comfortable and is able to identify with.


How eloquent !
I certainly admire your English and style !
But on the other hand, be cause I have pronounced taste for simplicity I loose myself in complexity of yours thoughts.
Therefore I'll make only one small comment on the Manga (a simpler part of your explanation).

"do the comics represent projection of a real national self or are they merely reinforcing the perception that foreign audience is comfortable and is able to identify with"

A "real" national self is very deep and very subtle essence not visible to eye and only understandable to heart. Therefore I don't think that imagery of comics ever had ambition or pretension to represent "real national self".

It is simple interaction of national ethos and surrounding world. Japan is fascinated by the world that surrounds it and yet always in the game of the seduction and domination of the same.
Seductor seduced and dominator dominated in endless
game of masculine and feminine principle that represent infinite circle.

.................
 

S.A.T.A

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How eloquent !
I certainly admire your English and style !
But on the other hand, be cause I have pronounced taste for simplicity I loose myself in complexity of yours thoughts.
Therefore I'll make only one small comment on the Manga (a simpler part of your explanation).

"do the comics represent projection of a real national self or are they merely reinforcing the perception that foreign audience is comfortable and is able to identify with"

A "real" national self is very deep and very subtle essence not visible to eye and only understandable to heart. Therefore I don't think that imagery of comics ever had ambition or pretension to represent "real national self".

It is simple interaction of national ethos and surrounding world. Japan is fascinated by the world that surrounds it and yet always in the game of the seduction and domination of the same.
Seductor seduced and dominator dominated in endless
game of masculine and feminine principle that represent infinite circle.

.................
While the comics themselves are not representative of any core national idea,it to an extent illustrates how the perception of self,reflects the perception of perception of the self.Manga characters should ideally be black haired/dark eyed and typically Japanese looking,but the Manga creators chose otherwise,why ?...would they and their millions of patrons preferred Japanese looked Caucasian,or is looking Caucasian a metaphor for something that the manga creators perceive as more 'positive'(or soft)

So is 'Soft power' not a projection of our national self,but merely an act reinforcing perceptions held by 'others'(west primarily)which they consider as positive or desirable,hence we also consider 'positive and 'desirable'.Is all this brouhaha about Taj Mahal,bollywood,shared values, reflecting the same.
 

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Without

1. A clear cut well defined realistic and executable Foreign Policy - (To have a realistic picture of our current position and what all is required for our future dominance)

2. Actual ability to steer the nation in the right direction - (To obtain a strong economic, social development)

3. Not being afraid to use all means at our disposal to carry out what we think is right - (To never deter from what we stand for)

will not help us achieve our aim of being a country which will shape the world's future.

In short India's Soft power needs to be backed up with "Hard" power if she wants to be a global leader.
 

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When it comes to the projection of soft power, India according to me is very unique because of two main reasons: 1) it has always been an open society; 2) because of its sheer complexity, which essentially suffices any point of view anywhere. There is something for everyone to love about India. The loaded bank of its intact historical lineage, mysticism, it's world renowned nonviolent freedom movement, Nehruvian Socialistic principles, modern day rags to riches stories, family values, sensuality, high end literature, music and poetry, and a litany of other things which appeals to a variety of masses and elite alike all over the world.
S.A.T.A said:
what is indigenous and unique about them(or to say what is Indian about them) and how will they transform the 'others' perception of 'us'.
While soft power constitutes a number of entities that portray the influence of a society, neither they nor their perceptions are monolithic. Soft power means different things for different people for varying reasons which in many cases are conflicting.

Let's take India's most commonly known medium of soft power, movies: not all foreign fans like Indian movies for the same reasons. Russians for instance fell in love with Raj Kapoor and Mithun movies because they portrayed stories of social strife and were loaded with socialistic undertones. Today people in Central and South Asia like the new generation of movies for their capitalistic undertones and the material excess which they desire themselves (and which their own societies are unable to provide). The same movies in the West (where there is no real attraction for the opulence, and which is aped from them to begin with) attracts audiences because of their catchy dance numbers where sexuality is withheld in a unique manner (compared to our oversexualized pop culture). Now these very same movies are revered in parts of the Middle East and other places like Afghanistan because of the portrayal of overt sexual liberty which is prohibitive in their culture. Obviously this is a very small example, but my point is that no society can send out a steady stream of soft power to portray a monolithic reflection of its essence.
 

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So the sum total of India's cumulative 'soft power' are motion pictures with unrealistic story lines,catchy and raunchy dance numbers completely irrelevant to the narration(shoddy at best).......These movies,songs or soap operas,do they have any grounding in reality,do they reflect our essence in any manner.Since popular entertainment is itself presented as 'make believe',what does that say about our so called 'soft power',which apparently,what so many opinion appear to indicate,more or less revolves around this 'make believe'.

If power is defined as a force possessing controlling influence,does any of the above come close to indicating such influence(even in its 'Soft' version)

For a people who have shaped entire cultures and civilization without ever intending to do so,we surely have come a long way(sad)
 

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India is already a soft-power superpower (became one millenia ago)albeit not one on the basis of movies or music .

India has already captured the west by the triple whammy of Yoga,Ayurveda and Spirituality.
We pretty much own the far east by the grace of the Buddha
Already have bearing on british day to day life thanks to chicken butter masala and basmati rice.

India's true soft power lies not in shah rukh but in people like Amartya sen & Mr Tharoor himself people who by their words alone can change the world does things , in the common india farmer whose basmati is revered as the king of rice the world over,in our ancient medicinal texts that have changed the way the world looked at traditional medicine, in the millions of buddhists the world over who want to vist bodhgaya once.
 

jakojako777

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India is already a soft-power superpower (became one millenia ago)albeit not one on the basis of movies or music .

India has already captured the west by the triple whammy of Yoga,Ayurveda and Spirituality.
We pretty much own the far east by the grace of the Buddha
Already have bearing on british day to day life thanks to chicken butter masala and basmati rice.

India's true soft power lies not in shah rukh but in people like Amartya sen & Mr Tharoor himself people who by their words alone can change the world does things , in the common india farmer whose basmati is revered as the king of rice the world over,in our ancient medicinal texts that have changed the way the world looked at traditional medicine, in the millions of buddhists the world over who want to vist bodhgaya once.

I'm not typical Westerner cause from Eastern Europe but I live on the west already 14 years so I have some insight....
As you know Indian food is present in Europe specially in West and in particular in UK.
Of course that we in Europe all know about Basmati, curry etc. that is wide spread ...
I'm not sure if it is so good for one to go so much in details though...
Sort of not to see the forest be cause of the trees afterward...

I want to underline that this trio "Yoga,Ayurveda and Spirituality" was very much linked with 1960-ies and hippie movement.
They've brought from India all those things which made huge impact on all Western cultures (including USA)
One must be honest and say that it is not any longer the case and that of those tree still quite big influence has Yoga only perhaps...
When other two to the much lesser extent today, perhaps among older (ex - Hippies) generation and some esoteric circles, specialists...

But I agree that those tree elements had made huge impact on Western culture in general at the time together perhaps with Zen Buddhism.

I don't pretend to have answer but sincerely I think that saying "India is already a soft-power superpower" is little bit premature and therefore even negative be cause giving wrong impression.
There is still plenty of things which India still can do and impose herself to the place that rightfully belongs her.

Also when you put some names forward I'm surprised that nobody has not yet mentioned the most emblematic Indian personality of all times - Mahatma Gandhi.
I think that there is literally nobody in Europe who wouldn't know who he is.
(USA is another story, some of them are very strong in ignorance...)
And for me he not only inspires enormous respect but also incarnates and radiates light of humanism.That noble image as true pacifist power acts as "soft" power and turns into symbol of the Indian subcontinent.

He is definitely somebody who by his sheer presence personifies incarnation of many things in India if not all...He was calm meditative and above all vise humanist. One of the greatest humans who ever lived on this planet.

And all that by simple magic of him incarnating country becomes part of larger picture of India as ancient, infinity complex, rich and full of wisdom.
 

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So the sum total of India's cumulative 'soft power' are motion pictures with unrealistic story lines,catchy and raunchy dance numbers completely irrelevant to the narration(shoddy at best).......These movies,songs or soap operas,do they have any grounding in reality,do they reflect our essence in any manner.Since popular entertainment is itself presented as 'make believe',what does that say about our so called 'soft power',which apparently,what so many opinion appear to indicate,more or less revolves around this 'make believe'.

If power is defined as a force possessing controlling influence,does any of the above come close to indicating such influence(even in its 'Soft' version)

For a people who have shaped entire cultures and civilization without ever intending to do so,we surely have come a long way(sad)
SATA, I don't think Bollywood cinema represents Indian reality (except for maybe ABCDs who think its real). Indian movies are designed to portray mindless, cheesy, corny- fantasy escapism, which they apparently do very well. This medium is meant to be an over the top fiction, but it does nonetheless come from India and influences many people all over the world.

Mind you, this is only one example of soft power, and by no means is it the cumulative total. If anything, I think India's biggest soft power is the strong work ethic of its massive diaspora. Indians have always been excellent immigrants who add value to the host society without leaving a huge foot print or stirring up trouble. Bollywood itself is a secondary effect from an Indian diaspora.

As a side note: I f**king hate bollywood movies; in fact I don't really watch main stream Indian movies at all.
 

Energon

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If power is defined as a force possessing controlling influence,does any of the above come close to indicating such influence(even in its 'Soft' version)
For a people who have shaped entire cultures and civilization without ever intending to do so,we surely have come a long way(sad)
I see soft power projection being either active or passive. What you're pointing out here (and rightly so) is that India is merely relying upon tangential skills of fantasy creation and other cliched factors which aren't necessarily representative of its true essence. Also it seems that of these factors are things which others (primarily in the west) have come to find amusing and hence associated them positively with India. I call this passive soft power projection.

Only societies that are successful and dominating project their cultural essence actively. And by actively I mean they convey their true essence mostly for others to marvel and emulate. Currently everything from political philosophy to popular culture worldwide is influenced by the Western derived system. Of course the West colonized the world and disseminated many ideas that were superior to those of other civilizations, but IMO the biggest factor at play is that since the renaissance, the West has become synonymous with modernity. Any civilization that aspires to look ahead, takes its inspiration from the West.

Great pre-industrial civilizations like India and China have basically relied on passive soft power in one form or another (usually at the pleasure/discretion of the dominant West) to stay afloat. Needless to say this is because neither one of these societies has been both strong/stable and successful/prosperous for quite some time. Also, non industrial cultures tend to look backward into the richness of their past, not ahead.

Now this may change, at least the Chinese seem to be on a path that will enable them to solidify a position of genuine power and prosperity (primarily through a Western style industrial revolution), with India it remains to be seen.
 

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