The Instrumentalisation of Civilisational Populism in India’s Migration Policy

Amid rapid global transformations, a distinct political wave rooted in cultural and national identities has re-emerged, marked by the resurgence of civilizational discourse in international politics. This phenomenon, commonly referred to as ‘civilisational populism’, reflects political movements that increasingly polarise societies along lines defined by civilisational ethos and cultural boundaries. In the 21st century, such events posed a challenge to traditional politics and reshaped state public policy, thereby restructuring the understanding of culture and national identities in international relations. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014, similar changes have also been observed in India, particularly in the realm of Hindutva politics, by academia, the media, opposition leaders, and new media. Based on these arguments, this study analyses the impact of civilisation populism in India’s migration policymaking and its instrumentalisation (1) while policies are conducted and (2) the societal level response. For the supporting arguments, the study mainly includes two cases: (1) new citizenship law amendments and (2) New Delhi’s response to Rohingya migration.