Are you thinking what I am thinking? Certainly a lot of people are. For instance, I mentioned the Modi Doctrine – that the peoples of the world of Indian origin and their treatment anywhere outside of India should be a factor in consideration in the foreign relations between India and that country. It seems to be a policy of the Government of India. Am sure you thought of it. And if I did, then the Government of India certainly did.
Here then is another. From my days studying US politics at University and working in Congress, I learnt the most powerful lobby was AIPAC. It was up there with the gun lobby, but more powerful.
AIPAC was the America Israel lobby and it’s an unstated rule of politics that whichever party you are leader of in America, if you want to President, then you stand in front of the AIPAC convention and you swear to support the State of Israel.
AIPAC has certainly ensured close security and defence ties with Israel. It has also been instrumental in ensuring a robust dialogue with the PM of Israel too. Lobbying works both ways of course.
So successful was AIPAC in the 1980s that the Saudis created and copied the idea with much success in procurement of arms.
It’s goal is simple, “We are a bipartisan American organization that advocates for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship. The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.”
They say leadership is having purpose and vision. Change those words of AIPAC to this: “We are a bipartisan UK organization that advocates for a strong U.K.-India relationship. The mission of our organisation is to encourage and persuade the U.K. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally India.”
AIPAC goes on to state, “The U.S.-Israel relationship is a mutually beneficial partnership that reinforces America’s moral values and strategic interests. Israel is a reliable, stable, democratic ally that advances American interests in a highly volatile and strategically important region of the world. American support for Israel promotes peace —including a negotiated two-state agreement with the Palestinians—and helps deter regional conflict by making clear to potential foes that they cannot defeat the Jewish state.”
Well that would be changed to “The UK India relationship is a mutually beneficial partnership that reinforces UK’s moral values and strategic interests. India is a reliable, stable, democratic ally that advances UK interests in a highly volatile and strategically important region of the world. UK support for India promotes peace and helps deter regional conflict by making clear to potential foes that they cannot defeat the Hindustani state.”
I have long admired AIPAC. Not merely as a student of politics but as a role model for the powerful use of a diaspora. I have advocated this model since 1994 when working in the US Congress.
As President of the India League, founded in 1928, (www.theindialeague.org) I feel we have a vehicle to put thoughts into action, and to encourage the plethora of other bodies to do the same.
