SMARTPOWER

China uses a term known as CMP or Comprehensive Military Power. It implies totality of war waging resources including non military. In fact, its more relevant when it comes to deciding outcome of war.

Indian military hierarchy is thinking of two to two and half front war. Should that fructify, this would be horrible scenario and indicate disaster on all fronts of CMP. Nations must ensure if there is war, we fight as alliance against the adversary rather than adversaries combining to fight against us.

Indian thinkers, on the other hand, focus on quantities. Numbers of men and equipment. Its small part of the whole and would be decisive only in minor skirmishes or isolated, locally confined battles.

In terms of defence budget and quantity of military equipment Chinese have huge advantage, however, in terms of quality India does have an advantage to large extent. Border infrastructure and cutting edge technology like Cyber; AI, Space, stealth etc. India is a laggard.

There is this little understood or calculable factor called the SOFT POWER & SMART POWER. This is non aggressive invasion attacking the mind in a manner that victim doesn’t even comes to know he is under attack. In fact he is a willing partner as its WIN-WIN situation. Influence of US brands- foods; clothing; healthcare; movies computer games etc is worldwide. Apart from willing usage it brings with the concept of materialism; cultural, democracy,free society, dissent, crtisicing/challenging state policies. A thought which is alien to most cultures, thereby it threatens the cohesiveness of society. For Communists or other closed/dictatorial societies this posed biggest threat with high probability of implosion/ coup de tat for powers controlling the destiny of the nation.

India has massive edge in soft power sector. India’s cultural heritage; yog birthplace of major religions, foods, diaspora, cinema, IT might ,freedom of citizen and press; cricket and latest being ISA with HQ in India are pillars of soft power. Even Chinese pro government paper, Global Time, accepted the fact that India has been able to better exploit its soft power. Strengthening of diaspora and furthering our soft power is a strategy capable of delivering huge. Goodwill amongst masses even where state may be pro China but masses more comfortable with India. Even China has huge following for Yog/Bollywood.

Every democratic government and autocratic to some extent are sensitive to people’s sentiments. This where soft power plays crucial role of influencing minds of hostile power. Its lie terrorists sleeper cell getting activated just at the right time. Very potent weapon of future and few nations have yet harnessed or orchestrated this dimension. With cyber power almost exploding, capability of soft power gets further influenced. In fact, very interestingly, where autocratic governments try to block free information flow this offers credible option.

This force to be powerful must be invested as long term measure. Diaspora being focal point, our win-win ideas should slowly creep into minds of youth and others in the country of interest. This can be called SMART POWER, i.e., converting soft power through proper planning and prolonged implementation focussing on PEOPLE to be capable of influencing their governments.