Diaspora As A Foreign Policy Tool: A Case Study Of Indian Diaspora In Southeast Asia

Human resource mobility is an essential feature of today’s globalized world where integrated world markets, networks and technologies are all contributing to the increasing movement of labor, students, professionals, and families. Governments on both sides of the migration chain increasingly recognize the value of the diaspora’s voluntary engagement with their countries of origin and are seeking ways to optimize this engagement. The question facing policy-makers is not so much whether the diaspora can benefit their countries of origin, but what kind of government policies and programmes’ can foster and promote these relationships. Diasporas are not only key drivers in development efforts but also in strengthening bilateral relations between host and home nations. In the contemporary globalized world, the diasporas have emerged as a powerful factor in developing relations between the nation-states. Notably, the Indian diaspora has acted as a catalyst in strengthening bilateral relations between India and the host nations. The India-US Civil Nuclear Deal is a case in point, as Indian diasporas in the United States successfully lobbied for clinching of the nuclear deal. Indian Diaspora is one of the largest in the world and it has considerable soft power credentials for the Indian Foreign Policy effecting trade and business relations. The South East Asian region has a plethora of economic avenues for investors from across the globe. It has become vital for India to build a favorable rapport with this region. The Indian presence in Southeast Asia is set deep down in history. There are innumerable accounts of traders, preachers and adventures who ventured into the high seas and influenced the eastern part of the world, to the extent of ‘Indianising’ it socially, culturally, religiously, and in many other ways. However, it was during the colonial period that government sponsored migrations in the form of labourers, officials and service providers started, which later resulted into permanent settlements. The diasporic consciousness emerged as the settlers became integral part of economic and political lives of receiving societies, while continuing to be connected with the motherland. More recently, the migration of skilled and highly skilled professionals and entrepreneurs and India’s opening towards Southeast Asia has given a new face and identity to the Indian communities in the region. Hence, this paper is an attempt to analyze the impact of India’s diaspora policy with regard to Indian diaspora in Southeast Asia. It seeks to examine how effectively India can utilize its diaspora as a foreign policy tool to exert its influence in the South East Asia. Key Words:diaspora, Indian diaspora, foreign policy, south east asia Policy