Tough Sell: Rising Powers, Domestic Legitimation and Costly International Initiatives
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Authors
Pradhan, Sanjeevan
Issue Date
2025
Type
Dissertation
Language
en_US
Keywords
China , Domestic legitimation , India , National identity , Political narratives , Rising Powers
Alternative Title
Abstract
Rising powers sometimes pursue foreign policy initiatives that are costly and burdensome. While such initiatives may serve strategic or ideational purposes on the global stage, they must also be legitimized, specifically by receiving sufficient political support at home. This dissertation examines why some of these costly international initiatives succeed in garnering domestic support, while others struggle or fail. It focuses on “tough sell” initiatives that offer limited short-term material benefits to justify to domestic audiences.Building on theories of domestic legitimation, this study advances a framework of ideational legitimation strategies, emphasizing the central role of national narratives. It argues that leaders use culturally resonant narratives—rooted in national identity, historical memory, and ethical norms—to justify costly initiatives to their domestic publics. These narratives shape how such policies are received by elites, the public, and the media. The success of legitimation, however, depends how well the narrative resonates with the target audience, especially under conditions of crisis, ambiguity, or uncertainty.
To explain variation in outcomes, this dissertation disaggregates domestic legitimation into three ideal types: approval, quiescent acceptance, and disapproval. It proposes that resonance with dominant identity narratives, emotional alignment, and timing—particularly during crises—can lead to greater acceptance or even support for costly initiatives that might otherwise provoke opposition.
The study employs a comparative case study method, analyzing four costly international initiatives across two rising powers—China and India—through extensive content analysis of political speeches and media coverage, as well as elite interviews. The cases include: (1) China’s stance at the Copenhagen and Paris climate summits, (2) India’s Vaccine Maitri initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, and (3) the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. These cases vary in outcomes and regime types but are united by their high-cost nature.
This project contributes to the study of rising powers, foreign policy legitimation, and the role of narratives in world politics. It challenges the notion that regime type alone explains domestic support for costly policies and instead highlights how narrative construction, especially when tied to identity, can overcome the barriers of domestic skepticism. It offers both theoretical and empirical insights for scholars of international relations and practitioners interested in the domestic foundations of global initiatives.