The origins of Indian strategic thought : insights from a strategic culture approach

Abstract

For the purpose of this thesis, strategic culture refers to a set of dominant ideational symbols which exists as a cultural force within a state, influencing the consciousness of the dominant socio-political class in the making of strategy.

The study seeks to give a contextual analysis of Kautilyan and Gandhian thoughts as the two key ideational sources which facilitate an understanding of the foundation of Indian strategic rationale.  Furthermore, the study involves an examination of the role of the two ideational sources in the study of strategic culture.  The study begins by giving an analysis of the context of Indian strategic culture, followed by a detailed analysis of Kautilyan and Gandhian strategic thought in relation to the notions of state, power, anarchy and identity.  The last key analysis in the concluding chapter focuses on the nexus between the two lines of thoughts.

The modern Indian strategic rationale is often considered as one that corresponds with neorealism which provides rationalist structural explanations for India’s strategic behaviour.  The argument this thesis presents is three fold.  First, it highlights the relevance of the domestic strategic context of the dominant ideational source of Indian strategic thought.  Secondly, it draws attention to the Brahmanical ideology as the main ideational source of the Indian case.  Thirdly, it argues that Indian strategic rationale derives from the particular aspects of the ideology, Kautilyan and Gandhian strategic thought.

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