Indian Religious Populism and Catachresis

Indian official politics exhibits a populist approach, emphasizing people-centrism and creating clear enemy images, reflective of the pluralistic nature of Indian politics. This populism, influenced by global trends, operates within the framework of conservative nationalism, with a nuanced relationship to the theme of nationalism due to potential ethnic tensions and migrant integration. Analyzing Indian populism from an international relations perspective is crucial, considering its evolution in the context of globalization. Ernesto Laclau’s concept of discursive populism serves as the analytical framework, highlighting the symbolic deficit in Indian political language. Indian populism is characterized by a lack of political signifiers and an abundance of consumption imagery, leading to discursive creativity challenges. The rise of populism globally is driven by neoliberal policies, trade liberalization, and the decline of mainstream political parties. In postcolonial India, socio-political transformations often lag behind discursive shifts, causing a disconnect. The BJP’s use of the term “Hindutva” exemplifies catachresis, showcasing semantic limitations and blurred political identifications. The internal political discourse in India is marked by a scarcity of political signifiers, creating an ideal environment for the formation of an equivalential chain. Globalization and mediatization contribute to culturalized disagreements, with a culture war between cosmopolitan liberals and homogeneous groups. References to the West construct the Indian identity within a globalized framework, reflecting India’s desire for global participation while preserving its unique identity. This ideological construction, termed catachresis, signifies a conscious displacement in post/de-coloniality, rejecting normative enunciations and appropriating the oppressor’s metaphors to redefine India’s role in the international order.