GIGA Researchers Examine the Parliamentary Elections in India

At a GIGA Talk on 25 April, GIGA researchers discussed the democratic mega-project with the Chairman of the Indo-German Parliamentary Group, Ralph Brinkhaus (CDU), and the former India correspondent of Deutsche Welle, Nimisha Jaiswal. Dr. Sangeeta Mahapatra brought her expertise on digital practices of political influence to the discussion, while Dr. Johannes Plagemann shared insights into the foreign policy challenges facing India. The discussion also focused on bilateral relations with Germany.   

Together with Mahima Duggal, Adhiraaj Anand, Prof. Dr. Joachim Betz, and Dr. Miriam Prys-Hansen, Mahapatra and Plagemann analysed the election campaign and the both domestic and foreign policy consequences of the possible results in a GIGA Focus contribution. The course of the elections will show how India's democracy is faring. Over the last 10 years, power has steadily consolidated in the hands of the national government, supported by the cult of personality forming around Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the process, civil liberties have been increasingly curtailed.   

Although India is being heavily courted in terms of foreign policy alignment, according to Plagemann's analysis in his guest article in Zeit Online, it remains somewhat on the sidelines. For Western countries, it is becoming increasingly clear that India is no longer a partner of shared values due to Hindu nationalism and the personality cult surrounding Modi. The election results could herald either a reversal or perpetuation of these dynamics.  

India's geopolitical and economic position in the competition over the Indo-Pacific or in global supply chains were considered in Deutsche Welle panel discussions. The guests were Christian Wagner, former ambassador Walter Lindner, Joeal Sandu, and Prys-Hansen, who is head of the Research Programme “Global Orders and Foreign Policies” at the GIGA. Prys-Hansen also contributed her expertise on international climate policy to the discussion. Although the climate crisis is more of a side issue in India’s current elections, the outcome of these polls is likely to have a decisive impact on the global climate agenda.  

GIGA experts have a deep understanding of India’s (geo)political and social situation. Our analyses provide valuable insights into current developments and help to make sense of their implications for the global order. The detailed analyses can be found here: