Soft Power Diplomacy in India’s Look East Policy

Buddhism has begun to acquire an unprecedented weight in India’s Asian policy.

Religion is a sensitive issue and its use in the recent days by politicians and statesmen seems to be creating an impact on the overall global scenario. Religion based diplomacy can prove to be a lethal weapon if its use exceeds the safety norms.

It is a fast escalating global trend as per global diplomacy is concerned in abating religion based conflicts as the former employs the tool of assimilating religion to arrive at meaningful solutions. India not being oblivious to the emerging trend is making the best use of it to regulate its soft power diplomacy. India being the birth place of Buddhism aims to create an impact on the Buddhist community in Asia acting the torch-bearer in the global arena thereby spreading the message  of peaceful existence and sustainable living.

What should be kept in mind while dealing with such sensitive issue as religion? It should not be merely treated as a means to an end. It should not drive India to religion based association thus losing focus on interest based diplomacy. The path of Buddhist diplomacy need a calculated move. India must avoid creating an impression that its new interest in Buddhism is directed against any particular religion. On the contrary. it should uphold this move in fostering international relations with other religious groups pertaining to different nationalities as well thereby keeping terrorist activities at bay.