1 August 2024, NIICE Commentary 9386
Sharon Bhattarai
The concept of soft power is especially relevant for the 21st century, at a time when the world is becoming increasingly connected and inter-dependent. In the era of complex problems cutting across borders and a time of rising climate change, terrorism, and pandemics—traditional hard power tools may prove either inadequate or even counterproductive to the very goals being pursued. According to Joseph Nye, with the enhanced role of non-state performers, international civil society, and the role of new communication technologies, a greater number of actors are available to influence global affairs with a successful strategy for shaping global affairs and influencing people, and cooperative solutions are soft power. In this scenario, the ability of the country to attract and persuade has become more vital than to command and control. Any country that manages to invest in its cultural appeal, democratic values, and principled foreign policies can establish itself as a leader respected and influential all over the world, simultaneously being able to rally support and cooperation on interests and goals shared by all.
Nepal has genuinely tried to implement explicit means of using soft power against its influence in foreign policy, particularly with India and China. Enormously challenged by its geographical positioning between these two giant nations, Nepal has put in its best effort toward enhancing its soft power. This will, hopefully, increase international presence and thereby the influence through means such as cultural diplomacy and promotion of rich heritage, including Buddhism, Hinduism, traditional arts, and crafts; the establishment of cultural centres; and organization of events to showcase Nepali culture abroad. In this sphere, the natural beauty and biodiversity of the country have also been utilized to treat them as sources of soft power to attract tourists by designing a stage reflecting better environmental stewardship.
In terms of religious diplomacy, Nepal has tried to represent Buddhist spirituality and pilgrimage with much participation in conducting large Buddhist conferences and other events in the country to draw further religious soft power. Besides, Nepal has got to project itself as a secular, tolerant society. The land has enhanced its reputation and credibility internationally as one of the highest contributors to the UN peacekeeping missions, whereby the Nepali peacekeepers have gained respect and are known for their discipline, professionalism, and capacity to operate in diverse environments where others are reluctant.
Nepal has also tried to draw in more foreign students and academics through scholarships and academic partnerships, while Nepali universities collaborated with international ones in ideas and knowledge exchange. Furthermore, Nepal has looked to leverage the vast sections of the diaspora residing in countries like India, the US, and the Gulf for its soft power and economic interests. But it is constrained in exercising soft power by the political instability, economic challenges, and asymmetric power dynamics with its big neighbours—most importantly, India and China. Soft power remains, however, an important component in the foreign policy toolkit of Nepal while it navigates through these complexities in the global landscape.
The Gurkha legacy is a complex soft power for Nepal. It commands respect and admiration, but it is something that Nepal should be very careful about being associated with a case where they have less control of the narrative and where ethics could be in play. By promoting a more complete understanding of the Gurkhas, establishing a strong national military, and exploring new avenues for their expertise, Nepal can maximize the soft power potential that this unique legacy affords. The collective name for all the battalions in the British Army that are composed of Gurkha soldiers from Nepal is the Brigade of Gurkhas. The forebears of the brigade can be found in the Gurkha regiments that served with the East India Company, and later with the British Indian Army, before independence. The Infantry, Engineering, Signal, Logistical, and Training and Support Units compose the brigade. They are known as the brave and strong warriors, with their famous khukuri—a heavy knife with its curved blade.
Traditionally, Nepal has spent little of its soft power resources on the global stage alone, as compared to its immediate neighbors India and China. It is due to a combination of factors, which includes the lack of global cultural influence because Nepal lacks major cultural exports that could help project its culture internationally; due to limited diplomatic power because it is a small and landlocked country; economic limitations due to a very small and underdeveloped economy; political instability due to a history of turmoil; and Nepal’s geopolitical position as a buffer state between the regional powers of India and China has compelled it too often to play a balancing act rather than assert independent influence. Although Nepal possesses a few potential soft power assets through natural beauty, Himalayan culture, and contributions to international organizations, it still has a long way to go in order to grow its global soft power influence closer to that of larger neighbors in the years ahead.
Hence, the Gurkha legacy becomes a two-edged soft power sword for Nepal. Successive generations of Gurkha soldiers have served as an effective source of soft power for Nepal, raising international prestige and clout due to their legendary bravery, martial prowess, and loyal service in the British and Indian armies. It has thus been able to project part of its cultural identity and traditions onto the international plane. The challenges of the Gurkha legacy to Nepal can be understood in that while winning Nepal some respect due to their unbroken combat record and an infusion of much-needed remittances into the economy, the Orientalist framing and paternalistic attitude in British military discourse has invalidated the agency and autonomy of Nepal when trying to use the Gurkhas as an independent soft power resource. The state of Nepal has also struggled to maintain control of the Gurkhas discourse, which has narrowed down to almost exclusively their fighting skills and seldom their cultural heritage.
Furthermore, Nepal has to trade the dangers of ethical dilemmas with regard to controversial conflicts that Gurkhas have been inducted into and developing their own independent national defense outside of the tangle of foreign recruitment. As such, if Nepal is to harness all that soft power potential from this Gurkha legacy, it will need to find a way to work with recruiting nations in espousing a more holistic narrative, fostering a strong domestic military, and utilizing Gurkha expertise outside the traditional combat role. Careful analysis of the historical, socio- economic, and cultural factors shaping this legacy will be crucial for Nepal to navigate this double- edged sword of soft-power.
Sharon Bhattarai is a Research Intern at NIICE and pursuing her M.A. in International Relations, at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
