Introduction
Soft power has been an integral concept in the discipline of international politics since the late 1980s, when Joseph Nye first introduced the notion to explain the changing dynamics in American foreign policy. Hard power, as Nye defines it, consists of a state’s ability to shape the perceptions and behavior of other states according to its own preferences through coercion and economic rewards. A country’s ability to sway other states toward its preferences is known as soft power.
Although the term itself is relatively new, India adopted soft power as a tool in its foreign policy approach long before Nye formally conceptualized the term. Many scholars attribute India’s soft power potential to its democratic values, tolerance for diversity, economic growth, and rich cultural values. However, these qualities are not unique to India and, indeed, many Western countries have used soft power more effectively than India.
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