Recent Updates

Sino-Indian Border Infrastructure: An Update
International Affairs | Neighbourhood | Indian Foreign Policy | China Military Aug 11, 2023

Sino-Indian Border Infrastructure: An Update

Improved infrastructure has a critical role in enabling a nation to apply military power. On the India-China border, there is a clear military imbalance-not just in terms of equipment and forces on the border but also in terms of the physical infrastructure. This paper will ...

Community Driven Development in Developing Countries
Domestic Politics and Governance | Development | Economics and Finance Aug 11, 2023

Community Driven Development in Developing Countries

This paper highlights the increasing importance of Community Driven Development (CDD) in the delivery of public services to the poorest sections and enhancing access, voice and accountability in developing countries. Community participation in the delivery of ‘public services’ to the poorest sections of the population in ...

Risk or Reward? – The Impact of Private Security Contractors and Militias in Afghanistan
International Affairs | Neighbourhood | Indian Foreign Policy | Defence and Security | US Foreign Policy | Terrorism Aug 11, 2023

Risk or Reward? – The Impact of Private Security Contractors and Militias in Afghanistan

To supplement the still lagging Afghan and ISAF security capabilities, alternative structures have been used or created, especially in rural or hard-to-reach areas. Two important groups among these are private security contractors (PSCs) and 'community defence' organisations or local militias. This paper assesses the impact ...

Securing Afghanistan: Historic Sources of India’s Contemporary Challenge
Neighbourhood | Defence and Security | Internal Security | Indian Defence Aug 11, 2023

Securing Afghanistan: Historic Sources of India’s Contemporary Challenge

This paper looks at debates from the days of the British Raj until now that have shaped India's strategic thought on Afghanistan. It highlights the impact of India's territorial construct on its strategic imagination and argues that India's Afghan policy is determined by its political ...

Nepal’s Continuing Quest for Federalism and Peace
Neighbourhood | Domestic Politics and Governance Aug 11, 2023

Nepal’s Continuing Quest for Federalism and Peace

This paper analyses the debate surrounding federal restructuring in Nepal and the position taken by various political stakeholders. It argues that an early political consensus on federalism is imperative; otherwise, the country may slip into greater ethnic conflict. Nepal is currently experiencing perhaps one of the ...

Waiting to Explode: Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea
Terrorism | Multilateralism | Internal Security Aug 11, 2023

Waiting to Explode: Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea

This paper aims to analyse the reasons for the rise of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, its characteristics, the primary drivers for the growing menace and international responses; it also compares the differences in modus operandi between Gulf of Guinea and Somalian piracy. Till the ...

India at the United Nations: An analysis of Indian multilateral strategies on international security and development
Development | United Nations | Multilateralism | Sustainable Development Aug 10, 2023

India at the United Nations: An analysis of Indian multilateral strategies on international security and development

This paper explores how India has been able to achieve cooperation in the sphere of international development, but has been unable to replicate such success on issues of international security. It maps out India’s engagement on these two issues through four case studies and places ...

India as a partner in triangular development cooperation: Prospects for the India-UK partnership for global development
International Affairs | Development | Developing and Emerging Economies Aug 10, 2023

India as a partner in triangular development cooperation: Prospects for the India-UK partnership for global development

riangular cooperation is a growing trend in India’s global engagement. The term refers to development cooperation in which traditional aid donors work together with Southern partners to address challenges in developing countries. Largely absent from this type of cooperation in the past, India has gradually ...

Decoding India’s Priorities at the SCO: Connectivity, Counterterrorism, and Afghanistan
International Affairs Aug 09, 2023

Decoding India’s Priorities at the SCO: Connectivity, Counterterrorism, and Afghanistan

As an emerging power in the current multipolar global order, India can use the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to protect, promote, and project its geostrategic and geoeconomic interests. The SCO is also a platform for India to reaffirm its commitment to revive and deepen its ...

Contributors

Soumya Bhowmick

Soumya Bhowmick

Soumya Bhowmick is an Associate Fellow at the Centre for New Economic Diplomacy at the Observer Research Foundation. His research focuses on sustainable development and globalisation economics. He is pursuing his PhD and holds a double master’s degree in economics ...

Read More + Sreeparna Banerjee

Sreeparna Banerjee

Sreeparna Banerjee is a Junior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation Kolkata with the Strategic Studies Programme.

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