Time for India to Show Soft Power

Strategic objectives need not be promoted through projection of hard military power alone, as the 'realist' school would have it. Exercise of soft power could be more effective. The liberal institutional approach emphasises culture, ideology and institutions. Soft power strategies rely on common political values, peaceful means of conflict management and economic cooperation to achieve common solutions. India's objectives in its Look East policy and visibility in South East Asia can be furthered through areas education (human resources development), democracy and culture where it has a comparative advantage over other Asian countries.

India's democracy may be messy. But it has shown a lot of creativity in managing a multiracial, multicultural society and, in the process, promoting people's empowerment. India can make an abiding contribution to the process of democratisation and nation-building in the region by helping countries in democratic capacity-building. South East Asian countries are not only multiracial and multicultural, some are also in the process of democratic transformation. The western model is not of much relevance, as their societal and historical circumstances are quite different.

India's experience in nation-building and democracy is much more relevant. Organising elections involving around 670 million voters is an incredible undertaking India is proud of. Helping South East Asian countries in similar transformations can further its interests. Countries like Indonesia, Thailand and even Cambodia could learn from the speed and transparency with which votes are tallied and the extensive powers accorded the Election Commission.