The role of ‘lobbying’ in transforming Indo-US relations: Lessons for India-NZ relations
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United States (US) is generating tremendous interest all over the world for many different reasons.
For international security experts, this fast growing bilateral relationship is one of the most defining security partnerships of the twenty-first century that would possibly enhance the overall security environment of the larger Indo-Pacific region, which is a major concern for everyone in New Zealand.
For many, Modi’s visit to the US attracts attention every time for his personal ingenuity in sidestepping the fact that the US has denied him a visa before and continue to deepen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
For many others, this visit was of interest for being the first meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump, two hugely popular and equally divisive leaders as some may argue, of the oldest and the largest democratic societies of the world.
However, from a Kiwi-Indian perspective, the most significant point of interest, and an undeniable opportunity of learning about this visit will be the role of ‘lobbying’ and ‘diaspora’ in transcending bilateral relationship between these two countries.
The India-US relationship has not always been as warm and courteous as it seems now in present times. In fact, historically during the Cold War era, these two nations have always been at loggerheads and harboured a deep-rooted mistrust and apprehension about each other.
This has changed since the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s when India and the US increasingly found themselves strategically aligned on several geopolitical and geo-economics issues.
The economic relationship between the two countries has seen a tenfold increase in the past 15 years – from US$5.6 billion in 1990 to $103 billion in 2015.
Similarly, in defence cooperation, the US has displaced Russia as the biggest supplier of arms to India.
However, this transformation of bilateral relationship has not happened on its own by mere changing realities of a new world order. Instead, these changes have happened or have been consciously driven by the unwavering work of lobbying by the Indo-Americans. While recognising the role of the diaspora in Indian government’s strategic worldview can largely be credited to Prime Minister Modi.
The acceptance of lobbying as an instrument of Indian foreign policy for improving relations with the US predates Prime Minister Modi, though it has reached an unprecedented level under Mr Modi, concurs Dr Ashok Sharma, deputy chair of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Auckland, and adjunct faculty member at the Australian Defence Force Academy, University of New South Wales.
Dr Sharma is an expert on India-US relations and has recently authored a book ‘Indian Lobbying and its Influence in US Decision Making: Post-Cold War,’ where he passionately argues about India’s lobbying efforts in transforming Indo-US bilateral relationship.
In 1993, India’s lobbying efforts got a substantial boost with the formation of the India caucus in the US House of Representatives.
“It is this India caucus along with wealthy and professionally successful three million-strong Indian-American community, that is transforming Indo-US relations,” Dr Sharma asserts.
This caucus actively discusses, debates and refines the collective attitude toward India in the Congress that is consequently reflected in the US policies towards India.
India caucus in American Congress
It is a formal group of lawmakers in American Congress which actively delves into all matters related to India.
What is important to understand is the fact that the lawmakers of Indian-descent do not essentially constitute this India caucus in American Congress. In fact, the caucus overwhelmingly consists of members of other ethnicities who are primarily responding to the expectations set by the influential members of the Indo-American community and community leaders to actively join this India caucus.
It is only when a person of Indian descent is elected as a lawmaker and reaches US Congress that they join this caucus. The current co-chair and the only Hindu ever elected to the US Congress, Tulsi Gabbard, is such a prominent face of Indian descent who eventually gets a chance to bring a ring of Indian ethnicity in this caucus; otherwise, this is largely represented by people of ethnicities in America.
The key is the drive and the zeal of the Indo-American community who have been proactive in laying out their expectations to the lawmakers and the administration.
During the heyday of US-India civil nuclear deal, when activism of Indo-American community reached its peak and expectations rolled out clearly to their respective representatives, the membership of this India caucus reached 185.
Over the past two decades, this Indian lobby group has emerged as one of the most influential minority lobby groups, arguably second only to the Jewish lobby.
The results of this activism are obvious, most recently in the manner, Mr Modi and the Trump administration have side-tracked the thorny issues of H-1B visa and in reconciling Mr Modi’s ‘Make in India’ and President Trump’s ‘making America great again’ rhetoric.
Lessons for India-NZ relations
Active lobbying can do wonders in bilateral relationships and there is a lesson to be learned in Indo-New Zealand relationship.
With tricky issues like the elusive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) currently looming large on the India-NZ bilateral relationship there is ample scope for learning and replication.
Although there is an India friendship group in the NZ parliament already, there is need to reinvigorate and induce more passion in its work.
Similarly, there is nothing that stops more boisterous expression of expectations by the Kiwi-Indian community and their leaders to every lawmaker in the NZ parliament.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United States (US) is generating tremendous interest all over the world for many different reasons.
For international security experts, this fast growing bilateral relationship is one of the most defining security partnerships of the...
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United States (US) is generating tremendous interest all over the world for many different reasons.
For international security experts, this fast growing bilateral relationship is one of the most defining security partnerships of the twenty-first century that would possibly enhance the overall security environment of the larger Indo-Pacific region, which is a major concern for everyone in New Zealand.
For many, Modi’s visit to the US attracts attention every time for his personal ingenuity in sidestepping the fact that the US has denied him a visa before and continue to deepen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
For many others, this visit was of interest for being the first meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump, two hugely popular and equally divisive leaders as some may argue, of the oldest and the largest democratic societies of the world.
However, from a Kiwi-Indian perspective, the most significant point of interest, and an undeniable opportunity of learning about this visit will be the role of ‘lobbying’ and ‘diaspora’ in transcending bilateral relationship between these two countries.
The India-US relationship has not always been as warm and courteous as it seems now in present times. In fact, historically during the Cold War era, these two nations have always been at loggerheads and harboured a deep-rooted mistrust and apprehension about each other.
This has changed since the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s when India and the US increasingly found themselves strategically aligned on several geopolitical and geo-economics issues.
The economic relationship between the two countries has seen a tenfold increase in the past 15 years – from US$5.6 billion in 1990 to $103 billion in 2015.
Similarly, in defence cooperation, the US has displaced Russia as the biggest supplier of arms to India.
However, this transformation of bilateral relationship has not happened on its own by mere changing realities of a new world order. Instead, these changes have happened or have been consciously driven by the unwavering work of lobbying by the Indo-Americans. While recognising the role of the diaspora in Indian government’s strategic worldview can largely be credited to Prime Minister Modi.
The acceptance of lobbying as an instrument of Indian foreign policy for improving relations with the US predates Prime Minister Modi, though it has reached an unprecedented level under Mr Modi, concurs Dr Ashok Sharma, deputy chair of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Auckland, and adjunct faculty member at the Australian Defence Force Academy, University of New South Wales.
Dr Sharma is an expert on India-US relations and has recently authored a book ‘Indian Lobbying and its Influence in US Decision Making: Post-Cold War,’ where he passionately argues about India’s lobbying efforts in transforming Indo-US bilateral relationship.
In 1993, India’s lobbying efforts got a substantial boost with the formation of the India caucus in the US House of Representatives.
“It is this India caucus along with wealthy and professionally successful three million-strong Indian-American community, that is transforming Indo-US relations,” Dr Sharma asserts.
This caucus actively discusses, debates and refines the collective attitude toward India in the Congress that is consequently reflected in the US policies towards India.
India caucus in American Congress
It is a formal group of lawmakers in American Congress which actively delves into all matters related to India.
What is important to understand is the fact that the lawmakers of Indian-descent do not essentially constitute this India caucus in American Congress. In fact, the caucus overwhelmingly consists of members of other ethnicities who are primarily responding to the expectations set by the influential members of the Indo-American community and community leaders to actively join this India caucus.
It is only when a person of Indian descent is elected as a lawmaker and reaches US Congress that they join this caucus. The current co-chair and the only Hindu ever elected to the US Congress, Tulsi Gabbard, is such a prominent face of Indian descent who eventually gets a chance to bring a ring of Indian ethnicity in this caucus; otherwise, this is largely represented by people of ethnicities in America.
The key is the drive and the zeal of the Indo-American community who have been proactive in laying out their expectations to the lawmakers and the administration.
During the heyday of US-India civil nuclear deal, when activism of Indo-American community reached its peak and expectations rolled out clearly to their respective representatives, the membership of this India caucus reached 185.
Over the past two decades, this Indian lobby group has emerged as one of the most influential minority lobby groups, arguably second only to the Jewish lobby.
The results of this activism are obvious, most recently in the manner, Mr Modi and the Trump administration have side-tracked the thorny issues of H-1B visa and in reconciling Mr Modi’s ‘Make in India’ and President Trump’s ‘making America great again’ rhetoric.
Lessons for India-NZ relations
Active lobbying can do wonders in bilateral relationships and there is a lesson to be learned in Indo-New Zealand relationship.
With tricky issues like the elusive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) currently looming large on the India-NZ bilateral relationship there is ample scope for learning and replication.
Although there is an India friendship group in the NZ parliament already, there is need to reinvigorate and induce more passion in its work.
Similarly, there is nothing that stops more boisterous expression of expectations by the Kiwi-Indian community and their leaders to every lawmaker in the NZ parliament.
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