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Paraspara, encounters and confluences: India’s soft power objective in the Indo - Pacific region

Singh, A. and Sarwal, Amit (2017) Paraspara, encounters and confluences: India’s soft power objective in the Indo - Pacific region. Politics and Policy, 45 (5). pp. 733-761. ISSN 1555-5623

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Abstract

The ties between India and the countries in the Indo-Pacific region go back to the pre-Christian era. Even today, Indian influence on the language, customs, and rituals is visible in Southeast Asia. The Hindu concepts of kingship, administrative institutions, and ceremonies that became deeply embedded in the royal culture of Southeast Asia were disrupted with the arrival of the colonial powers. These traditional linkages have become the key element of India’s diplomacy—the “Look East” and the “Act East” policies. This article studies the background of India’s sustained public and cultural diplomacy policy in bridging the gap between India, East Asia, and the Indo-Pacific countries in the context of the Act East policy. Using examples from Modi’s yoga diplomacy, Bollywood, and Indian cultural festivals, the authors propose that these initiatives should be seen as part of a historical and traditional concept of “paraspara”—mutually sustainable and reciprocal diplomacy that taps into the opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region.

Item Type: Journal Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: India, Australia, Public Diplomacy, Indo-Pacific, ASEAN, East Asia, Modi’s Yoga Diplomacy, Bollywood, Look East, Act East Policy, Narendra Modi, Confluences, Soft Power
Subjects: D History General and Old World > DS Asia
H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
J Political Science > JQ Political institutions Asia
J Political Science > JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration
J Political Science > JZ International relations
Divisions: Faculty of Arts, Law and Education (FALE) > School of Language, Arts and Media
Depositing User: Amit Sarwal
Date Deposited: 21 May 2018 03:33
Last Modified: 21 May 2018 03:33
URI: http://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/10697
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