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Identity is more important than Policy

Creating an identity for yourself takes years and years, whereas policies change according to the demand of the situation. Our policies are the response to the current situation but it always imbibes our identity. Identity building is a long process, result of a lot of conscious policy making to create that identity. Even a very good policy might not result in any significant gains if you don't have the right identity.

India has created for itself a role in world diplomacy as a peaceful nation. This identity has been built as a result of the 1000 years in which we haven't attacked any nation. This identity has been built over the years and gives it certain credibility on the world stage. The symbolisms are of great importance in global diplomacy.

To show the impact of Identity, look at the United States, it has created an identity for itself as an economic superpower, that's why even the poor policies that caused recession were never noticed. If you create an identity it has a more lasting affect than policy making. In India as well, our identity as a promising emerging market has helped us bringing in FDIs even though certain policies like the market caps on FDI in retail and defence, the bureaucracy are discouraging.

The people find it easier to alter policies than identities which are intrinsic to an entity. This is why our neighbouring Pakistan finds it difficult to attract financing for some of it's policies that are actually good. People stop at the outset judging it from the identity it has built whereas a country like Turkey which has established an identity of being tolerant, is growing at high rates.

All this is not to state that policy is not important. A good policy making is a requisite for success but no one will judge you beyond your identity if thats not promising. It takes some good consistent policy making to build an identity. It must be kept in mind that not being consistent with your policies eventually impacts your identity.

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