Paradiplomacy in Action: Examining the Role of Subnational Actors in India–Israel Relations

Abstract

That India–Israel bilateral relations have strengthened in the past 30 years is beyond doubt. Much of the scholarly discussion explaining the bilateral relations has centered on defense, security, intelligence, counter-terrorism, and trade issues. This article draws attention to a less publicized dimension of this relationship, in which various Indian state governments have entered into agreements with Israel and its various entities in the agriculture and water-technology sectors. The cumulative effect of this engagement is that 30 Indo-Israeli Centers of Excellence (IICoE) are operating across 14 states in India, addressing the challenges emerging from these sectors. The article employs the conceptual framework of paradiplomacy to examine the external outreach of Indian state governments with Israel and how this process has opened up the possibilities for decentralization and rationalization of India’s foreign policy with Israel. This research aims to reframe the discourse on India–Israel bilateral relations by examining a less explored dimension driven by subnational actors, grounded in development and governance.