Kautilya’s Mandala Theory

The presented project is analysis of the one of the most important theories given by Kautilya, which is the Mandala theory, which deals with the interstate relations and the foreign policies of that period. Kautilya always remained with a viewpoint that there could be any harmonious relationship between two neighboring states. Kautilya wanted the expansion of the empire with harsh measures. When one explores over the Kautilya's discussion over his domestic policies, he will find that Kautilya's discussions are of war and diplomacy. His Diplomacy was just another weapon used in the prolonged warfare that was always either occurring or being planned for. But yet, his analyses are fascinating and far-reaching, such as his wish to have his king become a world conqueror (here, one needs to understand that by Kautilya's world, he meant to conquer that land which the ancient Indians believed were the natural borders of India. In other words, the land bordered in the north by the Himalayas down to the Indian Ocean, and from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal.) His evaluation of which kingdoms are natural allies and which are inevitable enemies, his willingness to make treaties that he knew he would break, his doctrine of silent war or a war of assassination and contrived revolt against an unsuspecting king, his approval of secret agents who killed enemy leaders and sowed discord among them, his view of women as weapons of war, his use of religion and superstition to bolster his troops and demoralize enemy soldiers, his employment of the spread of disinformation, and his humane treatment of conquered soldiers and subjects.