Year : 2023, Volume : 27, Issue : 4
First page : ( 82) Last page : ( 95)
Print ISSN : 0971-8052. Online ISSN : 0974-0937. Published online : 2023  13.

Indian diaspora as soft power in South Asia

Kriti

Online Published on 13 February, 2024.

Abstract

The Indian diaspora is one of the largest, richest, oldest, and most dynamic in the world. It has emerged as an influential source of India’s soft power. The Indian diaspora has shown the ability to strengthen India’s global relations and to rebuild India’s image beyond the borders. It disseminates Indian traditions and civilisation that generate the feeling of “Indianness”. Though, during the pre-liberalisation period, the diaspora had no adequate space in India’s foreign policy, after realising its worth the Government of India is now cultivating them. The Indian diaspora is contributing to spread India’s cultural and technical/knowledge strength, especially in the United States of America (information technology & software skills), United Arab Emirates (culture), and Saudi Arabia (entrepreneurship or managerial assistance). However, in South Asia, the Indian diaspora is not a real factor in support of India’s foreign policy. The objective of this research paper is to explore the significance of the Indian diaspora as India’s soft power in South Asia and its impact on India’s bilateral relations with the countries in the region.

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