The ancient Indian period saw numerous religious norms exercised within the purview of international relations. There were elaborate rituals for diplomacy. The birth of the idea of diplomatic envoys goes back to the times of the Rig Veda; however, the existence of diplomatic missions, in reality, emerged much later.
The conduct of the state in war and at times of diplomacy emerged during the times of the scholar Kautilya. His Arthashastra especially talks about diplomacy. It is only in Arthashastra that we get an in-depth idea of ancient Indian diplomacy.
Arthashastra advocated that self-interest is the driving force of diplomacy and that the state is the primary actor in politics. All states act to maximize their self-interest. Arthashastra says that State A may make State B its ally, but this alliance between them will be based upon some kind of self-interest A may achieve an alliance with B and vice-versa. More so, even if a state may behave in an altruistic fashion, it certainly would be having a touch of self-interest in some subtextual context or other.
Alliances were deemed important for various reasons. Self-interest is the driving force of an alliance but alliances could be made for the acquisition of territory, acquisition of uninhabited areas, and joining forces together to crush rivals or as a defense against other powers. In any case, alliances were to be formed by elaborate treaties to be signed by the king in good mutual faith. Apart from the emphasis on self-interest in diplomacy and alliance formation, Arthashastra advanced the Mandala theory of foreign policy.
This theory states that a state’s immediate neighbor will be an enemy state and the neighbor of the enemy state is an ally. The most interesting aspect of Arthashastra is its linkage between diplomacy and war. It advocates that diplomacy is a subtle act of aggression done with the intention to weaken the enemy and gain an advantage for oneself with the ultimate aim of conquest.
The role of ambassadors finds a special mention in the Arthashastra. Ambassadors are potential spies with diplomatic immunity. They play an important role in apprising the ruler with all inside information about the kingdom they reside in.
At the level of foreign policy, the advice of Kautilya is that in foreign policy matters, one either conquers or suffers conquest depending upon the role of the diplomats and the kings. To explain this, in Arthashastra, he advanced an idea of foreign policy based on expediency. He argued that if the domestic state’s king is weaker than the neighboring king, then the domestic king needs to maintain peace, and if the domestic king is stronger than the neighbor then foreign policy should be driven by war with an ultimate aim towards conquest.
Thus, we can see that when it comes to Arthashastra, it clearly asserts the self-interest of a state as the core guiding tool for foreign policy. It also talks about alliances, treaties, and diplomacies as were undertaken in Greece or in China.
MCQ
What was the driving force of diplomacy according to Arthashastra?
a. Altruism
b. Self-interest
c. Ethics
d. Religion
Answer: b. Self-interest
What is the Mandala theory of foreign policy?
a. A theory that states a state’s immediate neighbor is an ally state
b. A theory that states a state’s immediate neighbor is an enemy state
c. A theory that advocates for diplomacy without the use of force
d. A theory that emphasizes alliances for the acquisition of territory
Answer: b. A theory that states a state’s immediate neighbor is an enemy state
What role did ambassadors play according to Arthashastra?
a. Diplomatic envoys
b. Spies with diplomatic immunity
c. Warriors
d. Peace negotiators
Answer: b. Spies with diplomatic immunity
What was the advice of Kautilya in foreign policy matters?
a. To always maintain peace
b. To always go to war
c. To base foreign policy on expediency
d. To rely on alliances for protection
Answer: c. To base foreign policy on expediency
According to Arthashastra, what is the ultimate aim of diplomacy?
a. To maintain peace
b. To weaken the enemy
c. To form alliances
d. To spread religion
Answer: b. To weaken the enemy