Indian Lobbying and its Influence in US Decision Making

Ashok Sharma is a Fellow at the Australia India Institute (AII), the University of Melbourne. Prior to joining the AII in May 2015, Dr Sharma was a lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland, where he taught “Great Power Relations” and “International Security and Conflict.” He was a Visiting Academic at the University of Waikato and an Endeavour Post-Doctoral Fellow at Australian National University.He is currently the Adjunct Faculty at University of New South Wales, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra; Deputy Chair of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Auckland Branch; and a Fellow at the New Zealand–India Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington.Dr Sharma has taught Political Science at Delhi University College and worked with strategic and foreign policy think tanks based in New Delhi, namely the Observer Research Foundation, Centre for Air Power Studies and Centre for Land Warfare Studies. He did his BA (Hons) in Political Science from Ramjas College, Delhi University and MA in Political Science, MPhil, and PhD in American Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.His broad research is in international relations and security studies with a focus on ethnic lobbying in US foreign policy, US–India relations, Indian foreign and security policy, India’s domestic politics, great power relations, Asia-Pacific security, international security with an emphasis on terrorism, nuclear issues, and energy security. He has extensively published chapters in edited collections,think tank papers and articles in peer reviewed journals such as Asian Affairs, SAIS Review of International Affairs, Israel Affairs, South Asian Survey, and for wider dissemination in the periodicals and reviews such as The Conversation, New Zealand International Review, Georgetown Journal of International Affairs and Australian Outlook.

"Dr Ashok Sharma has given us a fascinating account of Indian lobbying in the US, a first in the history of this subject and a captivating story with drama and rich details.The book tells of the Indian American community’s efforts to consolidate its position and identity as it seeks to influence the lawmakers. And the joint lobbying with the Indian Mission in Washington that culminates in India’s strategic partnership with the US.A serious political study for scholars and the ordinary reader—to be treasured by Indian Americans."

• PrefaceAcknowledgementsLobbying, Pressure Groups, and Ethnic Lobbying in the US Foreign Policy Making: Theoretical OverviewIndian Americans: Immigration and Professional Advancement in the USIndian Americans and Political Participation: Growing Political Activism and Lobbying in the American Political ProcessIndia Caucus: Lobbying for a Robust US–India RelationThe American Perception about India: The US–India Relations and Indian Lobbying during the Cold War PeriodAchievements and Actions of Indian Lobbying towards a Transformed and Robust US–India RelationConclusionBibliographyIndex