Shashi Tharoor: Soft power can make us a global leader

[KS]

Not necessarily, post WWII pacifist Japan exerted a lot of soft power and the South Koreans seem to be headed that way now. .

Well I differ.

Japan was the beneficiary of a sympathy wave from the western world for the use of nuclear weapons and they capitalized well on that. Just like Israel was from Germany

And what soft power are we talking about ? It was the Japanese industry and economy that gave it the sheen...something I said in my previous post.

People did not care for the Shinto idealogy nor do they care about it now...they cared for Toyota or Mitsubishi and the cars they rolled out in an efficient manner.

I repeat without the gun power and economy power, soft power in itself is useless. It will be co-opted/assimilated into the local culture with no credit to the original owner.

 

[civfanatic]

You did not get my point. I said just soft power without any hard power to back it up is akin to a cripple. Just like you need hard gold to back up soft paper money.

No, I understood what you said. I was just pointing out the other side of the equation.

An ideal world leader would have ample amounts of both hard and soft power, but since hard power is ultimately based on tangible, limited resources, not all countries (especially smaller ones) are able to exercise sufficient hard power. Soft power, on the other hand, is intangible and has no physical limits, and can be exercised even my small nations. The Vatican City, despite being just half a square kilometer in size, has enormous soft power. It does not need hard power to "back" it up, because there are plenty of others willing to provide it instead.

Moreover just like quantity itself has some quality, hard power itself has an innate soft power.

No, it doesn't. First understand the meaning of "hard" and "soft" power.

I assume you mean that a country with a large military will naturally dissuade others from acting against it and persuade them to seek friendly relations instead (the "carrot-and-big-stick" phenomenon"). However, this would still be considered an application of hard power, since it is fundamentally based on coercion and intimidation, and not voluntary co-option.

 

[Energon]

Well I differ.

Japan was the beneficiary of a sympathy wave from the western world for the use of nuclear weapons and they capitalized well on that. Just like Israel was from Germany

And what soft power are we talking about ? It was the Japanese industry and economy that gave it the sheen...something I said in my previous post.

People did not care for the Shinto idealogy nor do they care about it now...they cared for Toyota or Mitsubishi and the cars they rolled out in an efficient manner.

I repeat without the gun power and economy power, soft power in itself is useless. It will be co-opted/assimilated into the local culture with no credit to the original owner.

Not at all!!!

I don't know if you lived abroad prior to the economic liberalization in India, but if you did then you'd surely realize the massive impact of the Japanese in most aspects of daily life.

Japan's rise as an economic, industrial, technological and pop cultural behemoth had very little to do with what sympathy they may have had in light of WWII and everything to do with their industriousness and magnificent work ethic, which up until then was wasted.


Toyota, Mitsubishi and their ilk did way, way more than just produce cars, they revolutionized industrial production and concepts of management all over the world just as Henry Ford had once done. Virtually any credible organization even today conducts RIE and six sigma reviews. Furthermore, the whole concept of modern appliances and how they were designed, manufactured and integrated into society came from Japan. India sorely missed out on this phase due to the economic policies of the 70s and 80s

Also, I don't know why you think Japanese ideology isn't popular.... look around, Japanese influence is everywhere, they left a big mark on everything from day to day integration of electronics to karaoke to manga porn. A study on the sociological impact of the Sony Walkman still features in graduate schools here. The 80s ushered in a new era of high end animation watched by every child around the world, adolescents and even adults got hooked on to various graphic novels... where did that all come from? The Transformers movies have become very popular, but I guess not too many people are aware of the Japanese contribution to that franchise. Today the entire youth is submerged in the parallel world of gaming, revolutionized by the likes of nintendo and sega, which needless to say are Japanese. Even Hollywood owes immense homage to Japanese pop culture, especially the Wachowskis. After the US, Japan has had by far the most influence upon modern culture.

Ironically, the influence they exerted over global culture became far greater after they abandoned their lethal weapons.

 

[The Messiah]

I agree with karthic sri.

 

[LurkerBaba]

Japan's influence is also limited to Pop culture (thought its substantial). Anime and manga lovers may respect Japan, but they're not gonna fight for its interests

 

[The Messiah]

Since when are cartoons recognized as soft power ? :shocked:

 

[LurkerBaba]

Since when are cartoons recognized as soft power ? :shocked:

Cultural influence of Anime/Manga is much more than Bollywood could ever hope to achieve

 

[Razor]

I don't think soft power alone can make us a global leader, that's just a lazy dream.
A proper mixture of soft power and hard power is required. If I were given one choice and asked which I would prefer, it would be hard power.

 

[KS]

No, I understood what you said. I was just pointing out the other side of the equation.

An ideal world leader would have ample amounts of both hard and soft power, but since hard power is ultimately based on tangible, limited resources, not all countries (especially smaller ones) are able to exercise sufficient hard power. Soft power, on the other hand, is intangible and has no physical limits, and can be exercised even my small nations. The Vatican City, despite being just half a square kilometer in size, has enormous soft power. It does not need hard power to "back" it up, because there are plenty of others willing to provide it instead.

It also cant be denied that not all nations can exhibit soft power. The example you gave will work only for countries that are an authority on some organized religion that are spread all over the world. Vatican city check. Saudi Arabia check. Iran check. Then ?

No, it doesn't. First understand the meaning of "hard" and "soft" power.

I assume you mean that a country with a large military will naturally dissuade others from acting against it and persuade them to seek friendly relations instead (the "carrot-and-big-stick" phenomenon"). However, this would still be considered an application of hard power, since it is fundamentally based on coercion and intimidation, and not voluntary co-option.

Fair enough.

One of the most important prerequisites for becoming a major soft power is to have "native ownership" of an ideology that can be used as a means of influence; that is, the ideology should be recognizable as a distinct and unique attribute of that particular country.

Do you honestly think we have the native ownership rights, as of now, on Buddhism or we can ever get than in the future ? I think Lanka has more chances of getting the franchise to the Theravada strain than India.

Hinduism - yes that is possible, but not useful as not any influential country around the world is Hindu majority

Jains - Ooooops No.

Sikhs - their idealogical affliation is with Punjab. I personally classify them as more of an ethno-religious group.

So what is left ?

 

[KS]

I don't think soft power alone can make us a global leader, that's just a lazy dream. .

Exactly. .

I would rather increase my hard power and money power first than think about soft power, atleast at the moment.

I agree with karthic sri.

That must be a cold day in hell...:shocked:

 

[The Messiah]

Soft power is useless from India's point of view. No one will stick there neck out for India.

And the reason for that is because we dont have another country with the same "ethnicity" or "ideology" as us.

Saudis are not lackeys of the west because of soft power. Infact western soft power is only effective on deluded desis. The middle east chaps would burn entire west given half a chance. The west is only together because of sharing a same ethnicity.

 

[LurkerBaba]

It also cant be denied that not all nations can exhibit soft power. The example you gave will work only for countries that are an authority on some organized religion that are spread all over the world. Vatican city check. Saudi Arabia check. Iran check. Then ?

Organized religion is one example of a powerful ideology. (btw USA is also included since it's the thekedar of Protestant Christianity)

There exist non-religious ideologies too....like Communism

 

[KS]

@Energon

Dont you think that all you listed - nintendo, walkman, six sigma come into the economic/industrial practises and not the culture part?

What LB and Civ gave were true examples of soft power - Iran, Saudi or Vatican or even Israel. They dont need economy, insustrial innovations, nothing to exercise it. But tomorrow if they give a call you will see lakhs rallying around their cause.

 

[KS]

Organized religion is one example of a powerful ideology. (btw USA is also included since it's the thekedar of Protestant Christianity)

There exist non-religious ideologies too....like Communism

Sorry I meant to say organized idealogies. Yes Communism too makes the cut.

And no I dont think America can be considered the thekedaar of Protestant Christianity. Many immigrants to US were catholics too.

 

[Jim Street]

India's soft power is Indians' Brain which is appreciated everywhere. This is what will make a difference. This is what driving India ahead, the innovative and intelligent mind of Indians. India will be the major supplier of Engineers and Technicians to the world in future.

These Ideologies, Animation doesn't do anything when you are in state of war or stand off with a nation. Indian movies, tv channels etc. have influenced Pakistani people but in time of war, Patriotism takes over all the emotions.

No country will care for Japan if it attacks them, even if the people drive Japanese car or read Manga or love Wachoawskis' Matrix.

 

[The Messiah]

India's soft power is Indians' Brain which is appreciated everywhere. This is what will make a difference. This is what driving India ahead, the innovative and intelligent mind of Indians. India will be the major supplier of Engineers and Technicians to the world in future.

We shouldn't be suppliers. Because that reduces hard power.

Unless were supplying "brains" that we've rejected and picked the best ones for the job in India itself.

 

[LurkerBaba]

Sorry I meant to say organized idealogies. Yes Communism too makes the cut.

And no I dont think America can be considered the thekedaar of Protestant Christianity. Many immigrants to US were catholics too.

No, I'm not equating Iran and USA.

All I'm saying is that the US and UK (to some extent) can use Protestant Christianity to further their interests

 

[The Messiah]

No, I'm not equating Iran and USA.

All I'm saying is that the US and UK (to some extent) can use Protestant Christianity to further their interests

Religion can no longer be used to rally the masses in the west. Let alone sects within the religion.

 

[KS]

Religion can no longer be used to rally the masses in the west. Let alone sects within the religion.

You will be surprised how much of that is untrue.

 

[Jim Street]

We shouldn't be suppliers. Because that reduces hard power.

Unless were supplying "brains" that we've rejected and picked the best ones for the job in India itself.

For few years, we should. As I said earlier in Post #17, we need to send these brains to study in world's best universities, work at advanced research centers and companies, meanwhile increasing level of our universities and research facilities (can be achieved by circular path). And keep attracting them to come back to India with all the know-how and professionalism with comparable pay and other facilities.

When we have reached the level both technically and economically in retaining these brains, we should then try not to let them leave the country. Many Indians wants to live in India rather than living in US and will happily comeback if the have environment that they have become used to, just to be with their rest of the family, in their country.

This is what China did.