Mains Practice Questions

Introduction:

Sun Tzu’s dictum from The Art of War emphasizes strategy, diplomacy, and influence over direct confrontation. 

• In contemporary international relations, where full-scale wars are costly and destabilizing, the principle of achieving objectives without direct military engagement has become increasingly relevant. 

Body: 

Applicability of Sun Tzu’s remark on Art of War in Modern International Relations: 

• Strategic Diplomacy for Conflict Management: 
  • Multilateral Institutions: United Nations, WTO, and G20 forums enable states to shape global norms without war.
  • Coalition Building: Alliances such as NATO, Quad, or SCO allow countries to project power collectively, deterring conflict.
  • Strategic Signaling: India’s outreach after the Pahalgam attack (All Party delegation led by Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor), leading to formal condemnation in the Tianjin Declaration, reflects effective diplomatic signaling over military retaliation.
  • Water Diplomacy: India has strategically used the Indus Waters Treaty as leverage, announcing it would be held “in abeyance” until Pakistan takes verifiable action against cross-border terrorism. 
    • This demonstrates non-military pressure through transboundary water agreements.
• Economic Leverage as a Non-Military Tool
  • Sanctions and Trade Measures: Economic sanctions against countries like Russia (post-Ukraine invasion) and Iran demonstrate pressure without direct combat.
  • Trade and Aid Diplomacy: Countries use trade agreements, development aid, and infrastructure investments (e.g., China’s Belt and Road Initiative) to expand influence. 
  • Investment & Supply Chains: Control over strategic sectors (like semiconductors, rare earths) enables influence without force.
• Strategic Deterrence
  • Nuclear and Advanced Military Capabilities: The threat of retaliation prevents wars from escalating, countries achieve objectives indirectly through deterrence rather than direct fighting.
  • Precision in Applying Force: Recent airstrikes in Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack, exemplified a calibrated use of force-targeting non-state actors to punish terrorism while signaling India’s resolve, without triggering a full-scale war.
• Information and Cyber Strategies
  • Cyber Warfare & Disinformation: Nations increasingly use cyberattacks, surveillance, and disinformation campaigns to weaken adversaries without conventional warfare.
    • Russia's alleged use of cyber-attacks and disinformation during the 2016 US election is a prime example.

Conclusion: 

While direct wars still occur, nations achieve objectives through economic, technological, and soft power instruments, reflecting the art of subduing the opponent without fighting. As in Sun Tzu’s vision, “To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.”