Skip to main content

Why nations should pursue "soft" power - Shashi Tharoor

8,023 Views

5,241 Questions Answered

TED Talk

Let’s Begin…

India is fast becoming a superpower, says Shashi Tharoor -- not just through trade and politics, but through "soft" power, its ability to share its culture with the world through food, music, technology, Bollywood. He argues that in the long run it's not the size of the army that matters as much as a country's ability to influence the world's hearts and minds. After a long career at the UN, and a parallel life as a novelist, Shashi Tharoor became a member of India's Parliament. He spent 10 months as India's Minister for External Affairs, building connections between India and the world.

According to Tharoor, what’s the most significant example of India’s influence in Afghanistan?

About TED Talk Lessons

TED Talk Lessons are created by TED-Ed using phenomenal TED Talks. Do you have an idea for a lesson? Create it now using any video from YouTube »

Meet The Creators

  • Speaker Shashi Tharoor

More from Ingenuity in the Developing World