Johannes Plagemann: Populism and Foreign Policy: Evidence from India

Why do populist governments produce uneven foreign policy change, transforming some issue areas while leaving others intact? Drawing on the speaker’s recent book co-authored with Sandra Destradi (Populism and Foreign Policy, Oxford University Press, 2025), this talk presents a theory centered on two mechanisms: the use of foreign policy for domestic political mobilization, and the personalization of decision-making. The greatest foreign policy change occurs when both mechanisms are strong; moderate change follows when only one is present; and continuity prevails where neither operates. India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi serves as the primary empirical case, illustrating how a populist government can simultaneously pursue change and continuity across different bilateral relations and issue areas. The analysis also draws on comparative evidence from other populist governments in the Global South.​​​

Dr. Johannes Plagemann is a Senior Research Fellow at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) and a member of its Institute for Asian Studies. He also serves as editor of the GIGA Focus Global briefing paper series. His research lies at the intersection of Comparative Politics and International Relations, with a focus on foreign policy in the Global South and power shifts in international politics. Since 2021, he has led a DFG-funded project on Populism and Foreign Policy with Sandra Destradi, with the latest book publication: Populism and Foreign Policy (2025), Oxford University Press.​​​