The Future of Indian Diplomacy: Exploring Multidisciplinary Lenses

Edited by Eerishika Pankaj • Divya Balan

Modern diplomacy is undergoing fundamental transformations. Multiple non-traditional trends incorporated into the historical practise of statesmanship building between countries can be observed today, from technology-aided diplomatic connects—seen via continuation of discussion mechanisms remotely during COVID-19—to the age of public diplomacy via social media.

The Future of Indian Diplomacy: Exploring Multidisciplinary Lenses examines this changing nature of India’s diplomatic endeavors to highlight how the field of foreign policy and diplomacy requires assessment from all disciplines. At its core, the book elucidates the multifaceted dimensions of India’s diplomatic endeavours and the symbiotic relationship between multidisciplinary research and Indian diplomacy presenting a comprehensive analysis of India’s diplomatic architecture in the 21st century.

The book analyses and recommends a way forward for India’s multi-track diplomatic approaches that blends governmental, non-governmental, and transnational actors to engage in collaborative problem-solving and global outreach. It highlights how this inclusive approach, encompassing cultural diplomacy, diasporic connections, and technologies, has become central to India’s foreign policy, enabling it to address both traditional and non-traditional challenges.

This book explores India’s cultural diplomacy, highlighting how heritage, arts, and sports—especially cricket—enhance its global influence. It examines diaspora diplomacy, showcasing the Indian diaspora as both an asset and a bridge. The analysis extends to strategic foreign policy and leadership, applying political psychology to understand India’s global engagements. Emerging trends in innovative diplomacy are also explored, including the role of big data and AI in decision-making. Additionally, the book introduces unconventional diplomatic tools, such as worship facilities as hubs for sustainability and international engagement.

By integrating empirical case studies and theoretical insights, The Future of Indian Diplomacy paints a picture of how India’s diplomatic architecture mirrors the complexities of globalisation and also provides actionable insights for its future. It argues that a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing political science, psychology, sociology, cultural studies, public policy, and media studies is crucial to understanding and addressing the challenges of modern diplomacy. It is an essential resource for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to understand the intricacies of India’s diplomatic efforts and its role as a leading actor in the global arena.

Edited by Eerishika Pankaj • Divya Balan

Eerishika Pankaj is the Director of the Organisation for Research on China and Asia (ORCA) and Convenor of its Global Conference on New Sinology. A China and East Asia scholar, her research covers Chinese politics, the India-China border, and regional dynamics. She is also a Commissioning Editor for E-International Relations and a member of various global policy circles. In 2023, she was recognized as an Emerging Quad Think Tank Leader by the U.S. State Department.

Divya Balan is an Assistant Professor and the Area Chair of International Studies at FLAME University, Pune, with a doctorate in European Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Divya has also served as an International Visiting Fellow at the Institute for European Global Studies, University of Basel, Switzerland in 2018. She is a Senior Research Fellow at the International Institute of Migration and Development (IIMAD) in Kerala and the Joint Secretary of the Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism (GRFDT) in New Delhi. She consults on migration policy for the UN-IOM and various government and civil society organisations in India. Her research specialises in migration studies, particularly focusing on the India-Gulf corridor and the global Indian diaspora.

Contents

Table and Figures

Acknowledgements

Introduction—Changing Nature of Indian Diplomacy: Non-traditional Statecraft Trends
Divya Balan

I. CULTURAL AND DIASPORIC DIPLOMACY

1. Indian Sports Diplomacy: Lessons from Cricket
Avani Sabade

2. Tracing India’s Diasporic Diplomacy: A Millennial Survey
Pankaj Jain and Anindita Shome

3. The Role of Immigration (Oral) Histories of South Asians and Its Cultural Impact in the United States of America
Noorie Baig

4. Indian Dance: An Effective Contributor to India’s Cultural Diplomacy
Priya Joshi

5. Leveraging Indian Cultural Soft Power in Asia: Opportunities for the Future
Sanjal Shastri

II. STRATEGIC FOREIGN POLICY AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP

6. Unravelling India’s Strategic Foreign Policy in the Global Chessboard
Inamdar Tipusultan Alarsaheb

7. Understanding Political and Diplomatic Leadership and Personality Characteristics in Asia through the Lens of Political Psychology
Shalaka Shah and Sairaj Patki

8. Indian Diplomacy and Its Foreign Policy Approach
Rajendra Abhyankar

III. EMERGING AND INNOVATIVE DIPLOMACY

9. Worship Facilities in India: A Large Twin Gold Mine for Decarbonisation and Diplomacy
Balaji Kalluri? and Pradeep Unni

10. Harnessing Big Data: Enhancing Indian Diplomacy through Artificial Intelligence
Harsh Vasani

Conclusion: Charting the Future of Indian Diplomacy
Eerishika Pankaj and Trishala S

Editors and Contributors

Index