Changing Political Contours in India : A Rising Convergence between Public Diplomacy and Constructivism

The Constructivists in the contemporary times are focusing on the global normative shifts wherein countries especially those in the south Asia are emphasizing on issues such as Democracy and Human Rights as integral to their diplomatic endeavors. On the other hand, Public Diplomacy (PD) has become a most relevant instrument of India’s foreign policy since the conduct of international relations has become more public, and the public in India has become more involved. Public Diplomacy challenges the very primacy of material power in achieving outcomes, and offers an alternative model of practice that understands the normative or ideational structures underpinning state identities and gains influence by engaging through the shared understandings of this inter subjective dimension, including through social interaction and interplay. The convergence between public diplomacy and social constructivism hence gets reflected through the creation of favorable images and reputation around the world, achieved mainly through attraction and persuasion rather than acquiring power and territory through military and economic measures.