The Personal Factor as a “Soft Power” in the History of the British East India Company

The article examines the use of “soft power” against the British East India Company, the largest commercial association in world history, which, by resorting to “soft” and “hard” forces, was able to turn into a powerful and influential ruler of Hindustan. In the context of the industrial revolution, its monopoly privileges and rights turned into a factor that hindered the further development of the Indian market and the adaptation of the Indian economy to the interests of the commercial, industrial and financial capital of the metropolis, which caused discontent among entrepreneurs. Objectively, radicals and part of the Whigs were reflected their interests in the political arena. They became the “soft power” whose targeted actions accelerated the process of gradually depriving the Company of its monopoly rights and privileges. The Company itself was liquidated of the influence of “hard power” — the Sepoy rebellion, which resulted in the uprising of the Indian people.