Diasporas and transnational communities have become important political actors in a globalized world. They increasingly influence politics and decision-making not only in their country of residence, but more and more also in their country of origin. Starting with a review of theoretical assumptions by Milton J. Esman and Gabriel Sheffer, a basic scheme of direct and indirect forms of political influence of diasporas in both their host country and their homeland will be introduced. This model is going to be illustrated using the example of the Indian diaspora with particular regard to the Indian American community.

Dr. Pierre Gottschlich was born in 1977 in Wismar, Germany. After studies at the University of Rostock and at the University of Nebraska at Kearney he obtained his M.A. degree in 2004 with a thesis on the role of interest groups in the political system of the United States. From 2006 to 2009, Pierre Gottschlich was a fellow of the graduate school "Cultural Encounters and the Discourses of Scholarship". In 2010, he successfully defended his PhD thesis on the Indian diaspora in the United States. Since 2004, Pierre Gottschlich has been working as assistant professor at the Chair of International Politics at the Department of Political Science at the University of Rostock. His research focuses on South Asia and the political effects of transnational migration. He has published a monograph and numerous research articles on various subjects, ranging from nuclear proliferation to workers’ remittances.

The lecture is hosted by CISCA - Contemporary India Study Centre Aarhus.