Public Diplomacy and International Trust Deficit: The India-China Experience

Abstract

As a matter of intellectual discourse, nation-states struggle to find ways to be perceived as trustworthy by people around the world simply because diplomacy and trust, no doubt, are linked to efficiency, business opportunities and political influence. This is perhaps, the logic behind the explanation by scholars and pundits of diplomacy that social trust is also a significant tool for democracy to function. The study centers on the vital role Public Diplomacy plays in reducing international trust deficit using the India-China’s experience as a case-study. As a qualitative discourse that relies on secondary data, it also adopts political idealism as a useful theoretical construct in analyzing the India-China experience of Public Diplomacy as a useful tool in building international trust, increased cooperation in the areas of trade and other bilateral activities as well as reduction in suspicions that hitherto characterized India-China’s relations since 1962. It was discovered that awareness, understanding and respect for peoples in other countries despite differences in culture, history and national policies are fundamental for a Public Diplomacy initiative to succeed. In other words, Public Diplomacy has taken the centre-stage in reducing the level of suspicions as it builds better understanding and friendship as shown in the India-China’s experience. It concludes that the positive public diplomatic steps taken by both countries’ leaders and the willingness to discuss controversial issues in order to increase cooperation in the areas of trade and commerce, science and technology, and other bilateral activities has promoted and strengthened trust between both countries. It recommends that nations should embark more on public diplomacy for better global understanding in a world of cultural, social, economic and political differences and discontinuities.