Why nations should pursue "soft" power | Shashi Tharoor

Summary

The speaker, an Indian politician and author, discusses India's rise as a global power, questioning the concept of 'world leadership' and suggesting that India's true strength lies in its 'soft power'. This includes its cultural influence, exemplified by Bollywood, cuisine, and the widespread adoption of Indian practices like yoga and ayurveda. He emphasizes India's unique narrative of political pluralism and democratic resilience, highlighting the nation's ability to embrace diversity and maintain consensus despite internal differences. The speaker argues that India's story is one of an open society and a pluralistic civilization, which is both ancient and contemporary, and one that India should continue to share with the world.

Takeaways

• 🌐 India's rise to potential superpower status is a topic of global interest, but the speaker feels that the concept of 'world leadership' is outdated.
• 📈 India is on track to become the world's most populous country by 2034, has the fourth-largest army, and possesses nuclear capacity.
• 💼 India boasts the fifth-largest economy in the world by purchasing power parity and demonstrated robust economic growth even during global downturns.
• 📱 The speaker emphasizes 'soft power' as a significant contributor to global influence, which India is successfully leveraging through culture, values, and policies.
• 🌟 India's connectivity has exploded, with over 500 million cellphones in use, surpassing the U.S. in the telecommunications market.
• 🎭 Bollywood and Indian entertainment are spreading Indian culture globally, with movies resonating even with non-English speaking audiences.
• 🍲 Indian cuisine's global reach has expanded significantly, with Indian restaurants becoming a common sight in many Western cities.
• 🏛️ India's political pluralism and democratic processes are highlighted as a strong foundation for its global narrative, contrasting with more homogenous national identities.
• 🌍 The speaker argues that in the information age, the country that tells the better story, not the one with the bigger army, tends to prevail.
• 🏆 India's success is rooted in its ability to maintain consensus on survival without consensus, a principle that has helped it endure despite vast diversity.

Q & A

What is the speaker's concern about India being labeled as the next superpower?

The speaker is concerned that the hype about India becoming a world leader or superpower is based on an outdated notion of world leadership, which they find archaic and reminiscent of James Bond movies and Kipling ballads.

What does the speaker believe India's true potential contribution to the world should be?

The speaker suggests that India's true potential lies in its 'soft power', which includes the power of example, the attraction of its culture, and its ability to influence others through its cultural, political, and foreign policy values.

How does the speaker describe the concept of 'soft power'?

Soft power, as defined by Joseph Nye and described by the speaker, is a country's ability to attract others due to its culture, political values, and foreign policies.

What are some examples of 'soft power' mentioned in the script?

Examples of 'soft power' mentioned include the Alliance Francaise, the British Council, the Beijing Olympics, Voice of America, Fulbright scholarships, Hollywood, MTV, and McDonald's.

How does the speaker illustrate India's rapid growth in telecommunications?

The speaker illustrates India's growth by stating that India sells 15 million cellphones a month, has over 509 million cellphones in use, and has become larger than the U.S. as a telephone market.

What impact does the speaker say the proliferation of cellphones has had on India's underclass?

The speaker says that the spread of cellphones has empowered the underclass in India, allowing them to connect, access information, and improve their livelihoods, such as fishermen finding the best market prices and farmers saving labor by making quick calls instead of spending a day traveling to market towns.

How does the speaker view Bollywood's role in India's soft power?

The speaker views Bollywood as a significant part of India's soft power, taking Indian culture and stories to a global audience, including non-Indian diaspora and regions like the Middle East and Africa.

What is the significance of the speaker's anecdote about the Indian television soap opera in Afghanistan?

The anecdote about the soap opera 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' being dubbed into Dari and becoming the most popular show in Afghan history illustrates the power of Indian entertainment to captivate audiences and influence perceptions of India, even in regions with serious security issues.

What is the speaker's view on the importance of storytelling in the information era?

The speaker believes that in today's world, it's not the side with the bigger army that wins, but the country that tells a better story. India, with its rich culture and history, is well-positioned to tell such stories.

How does the speaker describe India's political pluralism?

The speaker describes India's political pluralism as a civilizational story of an open society that has welcomed diverse religions and cultures for millennia, and is sustained by a pluralist democracy that allows for differences while maintaining consensus on the ground rules of disagreement.

What challenges does the speaker acknowledge India still needs to overcome?

The speaker acknowledges that India still needs to overcome poverty, improve infrastructure such as ports, roads, and airports, and enhance human capital by ensuring basic needs are met and providing education and job opportunities.