Education as ‘Soft Power’: Mapping the Role of Education in Strengthening India’s Ties with Afghanistan

This Commentary examines India’s Afghanistan policy, focusing on education as a key instrument of ‘soft power’, situated within the theoretical framework advocated by Joseph S. Nye. Traditionally, grand strategy and International Relations theories have prioritised hard power—defined by military strength, coercion, and material capabilities—as the principal determinant of State influence. However, in the latter half of the 20^th century, especially in the aftermath of the two World Wars (1914–1945) and the prolonged Cold War (1945–1990), the limitations of ‘hard power’ were evident. These conflicts generated unprecedented human suffering, economic devastation, and political instability, creating a global environment marked by hostility, mistrust, and war fatigue. It was within this historical context that the concept of ‘soft power’ emerged as a significant analytical and practical alternative in the study of power politics.