Event description
Kautilya’s Arthashastra, one of the world’s oldest and most comprehensive treatises on the science of statecraft, offers profound insights into the administration of justice, management of security, and strategies for state protection and expansion, including the nuanced concept of governance by stealth.
On Thursday, September 5th, Prof. Dr. Subrata K. Mitra, Emeritus Professor of Political Science at Heidelberg University, will give an online lecture highlighting how the Arthashastra remains crucial for understanding the modern Indian state, its democratic political system, and its foreign policy in a multipolar world.
Although written over two millennia ago, Kautilya’s teachings continue to influence contemporary India and beyond. This lecture will explore how India’s post-independence state and its leaders’ strategic thinking draw on the Arthashastra‘s intellectual legacy and deep political culture.
It will also examine the resilience of the Indian state, its ability to adapt and modernize institutions, and the broader relevance of these lessons for state-formation, governance, and diplomacy in the Global South and North.
To deepen your understanding of Kautilya’s enduring legacy and its impact on modern governance and diplomacy, join us for an interactive online discussion on September 5th at 8am EDT (12:00 UTC).