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Strategizing Warfare and Diplomacy
Lecture 4 Syed Muhammad Ali NDU 2011
Kautilya: Key advisor to the Indian King Chandragupta Maurya (317-293 B.C.)
Authored Arthashastra, which dealt with science of Politics, intended to teach a wise king how to rule. .
Recognition ad relevance
Academic recognition: Max Weber, recognized as the principal architect of modern social science by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, described Arthashastra as one the greatest political books of the ancient world, calling it as truly radical Machiavellianism.
Arthasastra
A leaders Manual in Realist Statecraft
Contents
Warfare Types of warfare World Conquest Diplomacy Alliances and adversaries Who and why? Treaties and international Agreements Role of Intelligence and Secret services Propaganda, Strategic Communications and Psychological warfare
Historical Background
Kautilya, key advisor to Indian King Chandragupta Maurya (c. 317293 B.C.E.), who defeated the Nanda kings, stopped the advance of Alexanders successors, and the rst to unite most of the Indian subcontinent in an empire. Kautilyasometimes called chancellor or prime minister to Chandragupta, composed his Artha s- astra, or science of politics, to show a wise king how to defeat his enemies and rule on behalf of the general good.
Secularization of society
Essential instrument for Social-restructuring
Step1:Secularization Step 2: Nationalism Step 3: Ideology Step 4: Religion. Caste system: A political system defining ideology rather than vice versa.
Arthasastra
R. P. Kangle translates the word Arthasastra as science of politics, a treatise to help a king in the acquisition and protection of the earth. A. L. Basham says it is a treatise on polity, Kosambi emphasizes the economic importance of the word in calling it a science of material gain, G. P. Singh labels it a science of polity. Kautilya claimed to be putting forth what Heinrich Zimmer rightly calls as the timeless laws of politics, economy, diplomacy, and war. Source: Heinrich Zimmer, Philosophies of India(Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1967), 36.
Psychological Warfare
Like Thomas Hobbes, Kautilya believed the goal of science was power. His statements Power is (possession of) strength and strength changes the mind show that Kautilya sought the power to control not only outward behavior, but also the thoughts of ones subjects and enemies.
Source: Narasingha Prosad Sil, Political Morality vs. Political Necessity: Kautilya and Machiavelli Revisited, Journal of Asian History, 10142
Foreign Policy: Conquer or be conquered Diplomacy: War by non-violent means. A non-violent strategy used in the prolonged warfare that was either always occurring or being planned for. Alliance Strategy: All allies are future conquests, when the time is ripe.
Blending both Soft & Hard power to target the will of the adversary
A neighboring prince possessed of the excellences of an enemy is the foe; one in calamity is vulnerable; one without support or with weak support is t to be exterminated; in the reverse case, t to be harassed or weakened. These are the different types of enemies. When Kautilya wrote of exterminating an enemy, he meant killing only the leaders. As we will see in more detail later, he thought the best policy toward ordinary soldiers and subjects was to treat them well.
War is the natural phenomenon among states, only difference is in types and dimensions due to differences in capabilities
Weaken the powerful Conquer the weak If weaker yourself, make treaty Once stronger, breach treaty and destroy your enemy If equal in strength, avoid war and instead use diplomacy, psychological warfare, propaganda, agents, women to create disunity and moral weaknesses among the adversary to make it weaker than yourself, then destroy it.
Military Affairs
Leader should keep a close watch on his own military Counter-Intelligence Monitoring loyalty of soldiers and officers to prevent coups Generosity towards the defeated armies Assassination, a better strategy than War Role of religion in Disinformation campaigns
Types of War
Open War Conventional War Concealed War LIC/ Civil War Silent War -Silent war is a kind of warfare with another kingdom in which the king and his ministersand unknowingly, the peopleall act publicly as if they were at peace with the opposing kingdom, but all the while secret agents and spies are assassinating important leaders in the other kingdom, creating divisions among key ministers and classes, and spreading propaganda and disinformation.
Conclusion
Intelligence and covert means of statecraft Chemical weapons programme Political Assassinations Psychological Warfare, propaganda, public diplomacy and rumors Diplomacy Coercive and defensive Foreign Assistance Geo-politics Guerrilla Warfare Regime changes, revolts and political instability