Upayas (diplomacy)

Upāya (Sanskrit: उपाय) is a Sanskrit word that means "approaches" or "ideas", "to come into any state or condition" and "to come near or towards".[1] It also refers to methods of diplomacy found in Hindu and Jain texts.[2][3][4]

Descriptions

Avoid War

One can lose a war as easily as one can win.
War is inherently unpredictable.
War is also expensive. Avoid war.
Try Upaya (four strategies).
Then Sadgunya (six forms of non-war pressure).
Understand the opponent and seek to outwit him.
When everything fails, resort to military force.

—Arthashastra

Kautilya mentioned four Upayas - Sama, Dana or Dama, Danda and Bheda as ways to reach a solution in state politics to avoid conflicts and war situations (Arthashastra 2.10.47).[5] This phrase is also commonly used when you need to find a solution to a problem anyhow.

  1. Sama, the first step, means conciliation or alliances. When conflict arises between states, the first step is to talk.[2] There are five types of conciliations: praising the person, referring to a relationship (for example, marriage), pointing out common benefits, telling what might happen in future if something is done in a specific way, and lastly putting oneself at the other's disposal (Arthashastra 2.10.48-53).[5]
  2. Dana, the second, means gifts or compensation (Arthashastra 2.10.54).[5] Sometimes it is referred to as Dama, price, which means to pay the value.[2]
  3. Bheda, refers to the usage of logic or trickery, influencing the mind.[2] Creating dissension and discord in the enemy (Arthashastra 2.10.55).[5]
  4. Danda refers to force or armaments. To take up war with the opposite state.[2] This is the last resort - using military force. There are three types of Dandas: killing, tormenting and plundering (Arthashastra 2.10.56).[5]

All of the above four Upayas are generally spoken together in a single colloquial phrase - "Sama Dana Bheda Dandopaya". This is a very common quote that is used all over India as a suggestion to resolve any conflict.

An article on Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses website states that the 20th-century power-politics theoretician Hans J. Morgenthau suggests four similar methods in a struggle for the balance of power: Divide and Rule; Compensation; Armaments; and Alliances.[2]

These four approaches are found in the Hindu Itihasa (epics) and the Dharmasastras, as well as the Jain text Nitivakyamitra.[2]

See also

References
  1. Monier Monier-Williams (1899), Sanskrit English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, Reprinted by Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120831056, Article on Upaya
  2. Understanding Kautilya’s Four Upayas
  3. The Eastern Journal of International Law: Quarterly Organ of the Eastern Centre of International Studies. Publication Department. 1978-01-01.
  4. Goswami, Namrata (2014-11-27). Indian National Security and Counter-Insurgency: The Use of Force Vs Non-violent Response. Routledge. ISBN 9781134514311.
  5. King, Governance, and Law in Ancient India: Kautilya's Arthasastra - a New Annotated Translation by Patrick Olivelle, Oxford University Press, 2013


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