India's soft power in climate change

Soft power, writes Joseph Nye, is “the ability to shape the preferences of others.” Among other resources of soft power are values, policies and institutions. In the past decade India has deployed these resources on climate matters. In seeking to carve its own niche on climate leadership, India has employed three narratives: The power of example; the power of resistance; and the power of institutional leadership.

Power of example

For long, India had urged developed countries to act more forcefully on climate change, while arguing that it needed technology and finance to adopt more climate-friendly pathways. While the demand remains valid, since