Diaspora and Soft Power: Influence of Indian American Elites in US Foreign Policy

This book, based on in-depth field interviews, takes a fresh look at the phenomenon of diaspora communities exercising ‘soft power’ in the context of the Indian American diaspora in the US. By using an interdisciplinary approach, it marks a departure from the traditional study that measures the effectiveness of soft power sources by their popularity. Instead, it acknowledges the matrix of socio-economic and political factors, both internationally and domestically, which contribute towards the evolution of diaspora as a source of soft power. It focuses on how demography, policies and structural changes led to the evolution of an Indian American networking/strategic elite class. Exploring their participation in political fundraising and subsequent penetration into US foreign policymaking circles, this book analyses the foreign policy-related advocacy campaigns carried out by them and contributes to diaspora studies, foreign policy, international relations and political science.

• Publication date: 29 July 2025
• Page count: 172
• Dimensions: Height 210 mm; Width 148 mm
• Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG
• Format: Hardback
• ISBN-13: 9783031917691