Six forms of Diplomacy
Kautilya elaborates on strategies for not only the strong king and the aggressor but also
explains the strategies a weak king should follow to defend himself and protect the state.
His forms of diplomacy also depends on the type of the king whether the policy is
directed toward the superior, inferior or equal
The six types of foreign policy that he .
advocates are
1. Sandhi
: This means accommodation, which means that kings seek to
accommodate the each other and does not resolve to hostile means. These Sandhis
could be temporary or permanent and it depends on the environment and relative
powers of the kings. The various sub-forms in this sandhi have been practiced by
statesmen later. Bismarck had used Karmasandhi with Austria and now Britain's
foreign policy has been to maintain Anavasitasandhi with the United States.
2. Vigraha: This means hostility shown to neighbor or a state. Kautilya strongly
believed that the states are always at war and seek power hence it is necessary to
have hostile foreign policy towards few states which are either equal in power or
subordinate in power.
3. Asana: This means indifference and he chooses this policy for states which are
neutral in his mandala concept of nations. He also believes that an indifferent
foreign policy works well in the case of equal power. I may not agree on this
point as we have seen in case of equal powers in history, there has been always
tension which either led to a war or an alliance. Germany viewed Britain as an equal power and could not be indifferent neither could US be indifferent to Russia
during the cold war.
4. Dvaidhibhava: This means double policy which was very well practiced by
Bismarck. Kautilya advocates this foreign policy for states which are superior
militarily. Kissinger followed this strategy where he made alliance with China
such that at no time Russia and China could become closer in ties than US and
China. Kautilya advocated the same concept within his Mandala framework.
5. Samsarya: This policy of protection is followed where a stronger state intervenes
and shelters a weak state. Kautilya advocates this policy when a stronger state
needs a shield to protect itself from an equal power it is good to use this policy of
protection for a third state and use this alliance to defend against the potential
enemy. In one sense the colonization was followed where European powers
started controlling weak nations in Africa and Asia and thus strengthening their
position against one another.
6. Yana: This policy is to attack. Kautilya does mention that peace and stability in a
state makes the state even powerful but never shies away from attacking the weak
and unjust king. He thinks that an unjust king keeps the society unhappy which makes that state a potential target as it is weak due to social unrest. Who knows
may George W. Bush read Kautilya before pursuing the Yana policy on Iraq!
Thus Kautilya's foreign policy was formed by his strong belief in King and the state's
continuous thirst for power and wealth. His diplomacy tactics were also influenced by
Hindu religion and the social structure which shaped his thinking in terms of types of
foreign policies and their application.
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
