Transnational Legitimacy: Diasporic Hindu Nationalism, Right-Wing Narratives, and Democratic Erosion in the UK and India

Abstract

The paper explores this dynamic through a case study of Hindu
nationalist activism in UK universities, where student organizations and
advocacy groups seek to influence public debates, institutional policies,
and perceptions of India’s political trajectory. These movements not only
reinforce the BJP-led national government’s narratives but also shape
diasporic identity politics, often fostering exclusionary communal
solidarities. The study investigates how such activism erodes democratic
norms in both the UK and India by normalizing hate-spin, amplifying
disinformation, and deepening ideological polarization. Situating
diasporic Hindu nationalism within the broader literature on transnational
authoritarianism and democratic backsliding, the paper highlights how
non-state actors operating across borders contribute to processes of
democratic decline, challenging assumptions that autocratization is
contained within national boundaries.