Cosmopolitan elites: Indian diplomats and the social hierarchies of global order.

Kira Huju's book, "Cosmopolitan elites: Indian diplomats and the social hierarchies of global order," examines the complexities of elite belonging in international society. Huju argues that cosmopolitanism is a performance of elite aesthetics that perpetuates exclusion and dominance. Through a case-study of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Huju explores how class, caste, gender, and religion shape the composition of the IFS and influence participation in international society. The book also highlights the neglect of caste as a factor in International Relations and discusses the impact of Hindutva nationalism on the IFS. Despite some repetition, the book's focus on caste and its reflexive approach make it a valuable contribution to the field of IR. [Extracted from the article]