| Publication |
2014.
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| Summary/Abstract |
Soft power-based on intangible indicators such as culture, civilization, literature, philosophy, involvement in global institutions, diplomacy, political organization, and state capacity-has emerged as an important factor in the globalizing world for nations seeking higher status and influence. But an appraisal of India's present and putative soft power assets underscores the need for greater hard power resources in order to harness soft power more effectively. Indeed, soft power without hard power is a chimera, and they should not be seen in oppositional terms, especially for an aspiring global power. Hard power sources include military, economic, demographic, and technological assets. As defined by Harvard's Joseph S. Nye Jr. in his 2004 book Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics, soft power "is the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion or payments. It arises from the attractiveness of a country's culture, political ideals, and policies. When our policies are seen as legitimate in the eyes of others, our soft power is enhanced." Yet a country relying solely on soft power without hard power assets can find its weaknesses exposed easily. This happened to India in 1962, when China inflicted a humiliating military defeat on it, tarnishing New Delhi's hard-won soft power position in the world, especially among other de.
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