Description
The recent assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar raises questions on transnational repression and the forces influencing such an action. Transnational repression takes a peculiar dimension for India-Canada relations, considering their long-standing partnership, migration flow, and peaceful bilateral ties. Transnational repression in academic literature is particularly understood through lenses of authoritarianism, dissent, and migration, marking a dearth of scholarship from the standpoint of international relations and reputation, especially in non-authoritarian contexts. We ask the critical question: why do nations engage in transnational repression despite the seismic diplomatic repercussions and global fallout it causes? Through this essay, we explore the international and reputational dimensions of transnational repression and the underlying forces that drive this behaviour. As authoritarianism and dissident control explain little about transnational repression, we argue that allegations and the politics of transnational repression are firmly grounded in considerations of reputation costs and international bargaining. India's escalating geopolitical influence and Canada's historical adherence to peaceful and rule-based governance render this case particularly compelling, underscoring the significant costs of such actions and allegations.
