Carnegie study says Modi’s populism reshapes India foreign policy

A new paper from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace argues that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's right-wing populism has reshaped the processes of Indian foreign policy, though its effects vary by issue. The study, part of a series on populism and middle-power diplomacy, finds that where foreign policy issues resonate with domestically powerful identity narratives, such as with Pakistan, mobilization and personalization have driven escalation. Where such narratives are weaker or power asymmetries greater, as with China, populism has been restrained, producing less dramatic change.

The paper describes Modi as a prototypical populist leader who has styled himself as an outsider to the corrupt political establishment. It notes that the BJP's 'thick' ideology of Hindu nationalism defines India's 'true people' as the Hindu majority, excluding religious and ethnic minorities. The study identifies two key mechanisms: continuous domestic political mobilization and the personalization of decision-making. It argues that populist leaders blur boundaries between domestic politics and international affairs, reshaping how foreign policy is made and justified.