Q.20) ‘Indian diaspora has a decisive role to play in the politics and economy of America and European Countries’. Comment with examples. (UPSC CSE 2020) (Answer in 150 words,10-marks)

INTRODUCTION: Generally, the Indian diaspora is looked at as a “model minority” and comprises many accomplished individuals. This is especially true of Indians in more developed countries like the UK, US and Canada. As they gain prominence, both in terms of their sheer size and through their economic contributions, the host country finds that it must pay more attention to the Indian expatriate communities. They are becoming increasingly visible in electoral politics, though still in relatively small numbers.

The role of the Indian Americans in strengthening India-U.S. relations after the Cold War was very significant and has gained more significance as culture and people to people ties play a key role in enhancing soft power diplomacy amongst nations. Eg Howdy Modi, Namaste Trump.

India’s economic liberalization that fitted well with global preferences for market oriented economy after the Cold War enhanced India’s position in international politics and economy. The Indian Diaspora in the USA through its growing economic and political clout became a representative of this changed Indian policies, culture and values.

From the early 1990s the diaspora’s ability to influence bilateral relations between India and U.S. can be witnessed as below:

1. Indian Americans had more to gain instrumentally from mobilizing due to liberalization of economy.

2. The size and economic power of the community increased tremendously during this period. E.g. In this fraction, 76 % is in the working age group of 25-64 being educated and wealthy.

 1960         –       13000

   1980         –       206087

2010         –       2 mn

  2020         –       3.5 mn

3. The diaspora’s influence in the United States has grown as its skills, education ,income have increased. It is now comprising of physicians, computer technicians has remarkably changed not only its image but also the perceptions of its home country in the United States. In the time span of a single generation the image of Indians in the United states and the subcontinent has transformed.

4. The Congressional Caucus on India established in 1993 has been an important mechanism of influence due to its access to points in power structure. It played an active role in shaping the American response to the terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament in 2001.E.g. In the wake of the attack, Indian Americans lobbied law makers for an amendment to the US Congress’s $3 billion aid package to Pakistan that pressured the country to stop Islamic militants from crossing into India. The newly formed U.S.-India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) led the effort to sponsor an amendment to the aid package which obligated the U.S. President to annually report on the Pakistani Government’s anti-terrorism initiatives.

5. It enjoys a considerable degree of network power through informal and personalized channels as well as through formal institutional mechanisms due to sizeable representation in key power areas like business, media and politics. E.g Nikki Haley was the 29^th United States ambassador to the United Nations, Kamala Harris was the first Indian American elected to the United States Senate.

CANADA

Indians have become one of the fastest growing communities in Canada due to record number of students and newcomers. The nearly 2 million strong Indian diaspora comprises over 5% of the Canadian population. It is also one of Canada’s most prominent and well-integrated communities.

POLITICS: Canada has had several ministers of Indian origin. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet currently includes four of them – Anita Anand, Navdeep Bains, Bardish Chagger and Harjit Sajjan. In the past Ujjal Dosanj had served as the 33^rd Premier of British Columbia (BC).

ECONOMY: As Canada’s birth rate declines Sectors such as healthcare, IT and farming cannot survive without new immigrants. Since nearly 60 per cent immigrants come under the economic category, they support the economy by starting new businesses.Canada is also benefiting from a diversion of young Indian tech workers. There are many successful Indo-Canadian businessmen, such as Deepak Chopra, the president and CEO of Canada Post.

EUROPE

Indian emigration to 24entra has been limited due to strict immigration policies Indian community in Europe is mostly concentrated in UK (2/3rds).

UK

POLITICS: For the first time in British politics, four persons of Indian origin were appointed to the cabinet – Rishi Sunak, Priti Patel, Alok Sharma and Suella Braverman – in the Boris Johnson government formed after the December 2019 election. Rishi Sunak who became chancellor is referred to as a “possible Britain’s future prime minister” by many.The elevation of persons of Indian origin in the British politics reflected success of the 1.5 million-strong Indian diaspora. Goan-origin Keith Vaz has been the longest serving MP of Asian descent in the British Parliament.

ECONOMY: A new report has highlighted the multi-billion-pound ‘diaspora effect’ in British business: over 65,000 companied are owned by British citizens of Indian origin.Karan Bilimoria was elected president of the Confederation of British Industry, the representative body of 1.9 lakh UK companies employing nearly 7 million people. Other prominent British industrialists of Indian origin are Lakshmi Mittal, Hinduja Brothers and Swaraj Paul.

OTHERS

After the UK, it is Italy, which houses the biggest Indian diaspora in Europe. The small and medium scale industries in Italy have attracted Indian entrepreneurs. There are over 2 lakh Indians in Italy playing a part in dairy, agricultural and domestic service sectors.

Indian diaspora is instrumental in public healthcare delivery in the EU. Recently, in Ireland, there has been substantial demand for skilled healthcare workers.Ireland also witnessed the rise of Leo Varadkar and Portugal has Antonio Costa, both of whom serve as prime ministers in their respective countries.

CONCLUSION:

While the diaspora certainly do not determine policy, they can effectively shape it and act as “bridge-builders” between their home and host countries.Diasporas in the recent times have emerged as powerful entities in the realm of ‘soft power’ foreign policy strategy and as an agent or catalyst of economic development in the countries of origin apart from their active role in the host countries They have started acting as an ‘inevitable link’ between their home and host lands resulting in major political and economic implications for both.