Inter-state Relations in Kautilya’s Arthashastra

Abstract

The western world has been plagued with a wilful misconception that ancient India was uninformed or rather oblivious of elements such as statecraft, strategy, or administration. They intended to colour India’s past as one having no historical sense even though the ancient Indian treatises and epics spoke volumes about vast kingdoms, their war strategies and administrative skills and about major battles that were fought. Such vast treasures on ancient skills in strategizing warfare and defining inter-state relations could not have been possible without a fine sense of policy-making and application. They, in fact, further the very idea of ancient Indian wisdom in statecraft and related aspects. Some 2300 years ago, Kautilya described the principles of statecraft, diplomacy and interstate relations. He described the principles of inter-state relations as Mandala theory. The strategic thinking in Kautilyan grand strategic design becomes evident through the six measures of foreign policy, also known as Shadagunya theory, which was closely related to the strength and weakness of the state. The present study will make an effort to interpret the Kautilyan ideas and concepts with respect to inter-state relations and will try to explore Kautilya’s significance and relevance in the present Indian and global context.