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Hindu Nationalism in America: Assessing the Influence of Hindutva Ideology in the U.S.

PUBLICATION DATE
Published October 17, 2024
Author

Sabreena Ghaffar-Siddiqui, PhD, Nicole Steward-Streng, Zayd El Kahlah, Saher Selod, PhD, and Erum Ikramullah

A new report by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) examines the extent to which Hindu nationalism, or Hindutva, resonates among U.S. Hindus in our sample by surveying their views on identity, politics, and social issues and comparing them to the general public. Previous ISPU polls have not included large enough sample sizes of Hindus in the U.S. to analyze.

 

Understanding the influence of Hindutva ideology among U.S.-based Hindus in our sample on attitudes toward American Muslims adds an important perspective to ISPU’s body of work on Islamophobia and discrimination. By analyzing perceptions of religious and political identity and democratic values, the report presents the ways in which Hindutva ideology intersects with American values and institutions, potentially influencing public discourse and policymaking processes.

 

Download the Full Report

Download the Executive Summary

Explore Supplementary Documents:

Appendix I. Methodology

Appendix II. Questionnaire

Appendix III. Data Tables

The Research Team

Sabreena Ghaffar-Siddiqui, PhD
Primary Investigator, Report Co-Author

Nicole Steward-Streng
Analyst, Report Co-Author

Zayd El Kahlah
Research Assistant

Saher Selod, PhD
Director of Research

Erum Ikramullah
Senior Research Project Manager

The Advisory Team

Hatem Bazian, PhD
Executive Director, Islamophobia Studies Center, Lecturer in Middle Eastern Languages & Cultures & Asian American Studies, University of California – Berkeley

Sunita Viswanath
Executive Director, Hindus for Human Rights

Tariq Modood, PhD
Professor of Sociology, Politics, and Public Policy, University of Bristol

Sonia Sikka, PhD
Professor of Philosophy, University of Ottawa Kavneet Singh, American Sikh Council

Infographics

Infographic titled Hindu Nationalism in America: Assessing the Influence of Hindutva Ideology in the U.S. with text describing a survey on Hindutva views among U.S. Hindus, over a purple background with a globe illustration.
Hindu Nationalism in America: Assessing the Influence of Hindutva Ideology in the U.S. Infographic

Webinar: Hindu Nationalism in America:Assessing the Influence ofHindutva Ideology in the U.S.

In this webinar, ISPU researchers and a panel of guests discuss the results of the survey, illuminating the prevalence, perceptions, and implications of Hindutva within the American context.

Panel of Experts:
• Nicole Steward-Streng, analyst and report co-author
• Saher Selod, PhD, ISPU’s Director of Research
• Sabreena Ghaffar-Siddiqui, PhD, primary investigator and report co-author
Harman Singh, Executive Director, Sikh Coalition
• Pranay Somayajula, Director of Organizing and Advocacy, Hindus for Human Rights
• Safa Ahmed, Associate Director of Media and Communications for the Indian American Muslim Council