Soft

Pak Media: India Is A Soft & Economical Superpower We Can't Compete With Our Bad Image & Economy

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• published: 24 Oct 2016
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India’s latest globetrotting Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, visited just under 20 countries in his first year in office, for which he drew severe criticism at home. His critics claimed the prime minister was vacationing abroad while domestic problems continued to explode exponentially every day. India, which remained non-aligned for much of its independent history and struggled with its position regionally, has been reluctant to accept the ambitious goals of its newest statesman leader. A foreign trip provides ample opportunity to scrutinize a leader’s foreign policy goals and directions. Speeches abroad are not aimed for the consumption of the domestic audience, but are primarily targeted at an international audience. Naturally, there is a lot of posturing, pretending and photo-ops involved; Narendra’s Modi’s selfie photograph with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was hailed as the most powerful selfie on the planet. Modi has acquired ‘rockstar’ status among politicians; Modi’s Twitter following is second only to the US President Barrack Obama. Scholars and foreign policy pundits are passionately debating whether Modi has instituted a new doctrine that will guide India’s foreign policy during its rise. The term doctrine has been used to describe the perspective or ideology of leaders rather than a strict path adopted by a state that guides all its foreign policy behaviour. Whether or not we use the label doctrine, it is worth considering the focus and scope of Modi’s approach to foreign policy. Modi has used a surprising element in his foreign policy approach: leveraging India’s abundance of soft power regionally as well as globally. Modi’s current foreign policy strategy can be termed ‘universal engagement’. Being the astute politician and champion of commerce that he is, Modi realizes that India can advance only by selectively engaging foreign powers that hold the key to its future. Rising to power on a mandate of economic growth and development, he understands that India cannot grow without acquiring requisite raw materials and energy resources that remain in limited supply but high demand by other fast growing economies, such as neighbouring China as well as other BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) economies. His foreign trips are as much about securing access to crucial sources of energy and raw materials as about cementing India’s long-ignored diplomatic and political ties within the region and beyond. If India hopes to be treated as a major power, then its outlook cannot be inward looking; it must embrace the responsibilities of its role as a major power state. Belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party and holding the image of a Hindu nationalist hardliner, Modi was expected to be realpolitik in his approach to international relations. Instead, he is using smart power, which is a blend of hard and soft powers, to pursue India’s foreign policy goals. Much to the surprise of his supporters and the chagrin of his critics, Modi has taken a mixed approach to handling India’s international business. The word business is purposeful and key in the preceding sentence, for above all Modi is an astute businessman turned politician. He hopes to revive India’s economy and return it to a double-digit growth rate, thus alleviating poverty, unemployment and other social evils that plague the country. The iconography generated by terms in the title is fitting (Chaulia, 2011). The elephant, though unbound, is hardly as scary and threatening as the Hulk can be (especially when infuriated). However, in spite of his vices, the Hulk remains a lovable character worldwide. As India starts to amass unprecedented military strength and power, it is this image of the lovable icon that its leaders must continue to preserve. Failing to do so would invite counterbalancing strategies by threatened neighbours and major powers alike. Modi’s several international visits help to reassure friendly states and economic partners of India’s intentions to rise peacefully. India does intend to challenge the status quo, but it plans to do so incrementally, without causing a major disturbance to the current international order. Like and Subscribe :) Please share this video HEY GUYS AND GIRLS,SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL, THIS WAY I CAN GIVE MORE TIME TO THIS CHANNEL AND BRING NEW VIDEOS FOR YOU GUYS AND GIRLS :) PLEASE GIVE YOUR FEEDBACK'S ABOUT WHAT YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THIS CHANNEL.THANK YOU FOR WATCHING MY CHANNEL AND SUBSCRIBING TO IT :)