ISDP Voices

Pakistan hosted the twenty-third meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation on October 15-16, 2024 in Islamabad. The meeting was held at a time when Pakistan was going through political instability and security threats. Despite these concerns, Islamabad held the SCO summit and hosted leaders from the SCO member-states–—–China, Russia, India, Belarus, Iran, […]

By 2050, Japan’s current population of 122 million is projected to decline to 100 million, while South Korea’s population is expected to decrease from 51.6 million to 46 million. The demographic shifts in both countries are characterized by declining birth rates, rapidly aging populations, and significant gender imbalances in the workforce. These trends have already […]

In the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, religious tensions boiled over this past September. In response to what Hindus claim was an attack on a local businessman by Muslims in the northern city of Shimla, protesters marched in the streets demanding the demolition of a mosque in the Sanjauli area of the city they […]

In looking at external state behavior, the trajectory of a given country’s domestic socio-economic status is a useful barometer in explaining outward vacillations in foreign policy shifts. A notable example in current memory is that of the U.S. and the 2016 election of Donald Trump. As Isabella Rudberg points out, Trump was not averse to […]

The breakaway Georgian territory of Abkhazia has faced political turmoil throughout the summer. The separatist parliament blocked the “Apartment Law,” which would have allowed Russian and foreign citizens to purchase real estate in Abkhazia. This decision, motivated by the fear of Abkhazians becoming a minority, sparked a response from Russia. The Kremlin summoned Abkhazian leader […]

In August 2024, India and Japan held a 2+2 foreign and defense ministers’ meeting in Delhi. The main topic was security and defense issues. Although this was merely the third 2+2 after one that took place in September 2022, there are three reasons why this latest meeting was a historical development. Japan’s Participation in Tarang […]

India and the EU enjoy close ties across diversified areas like trade, investments, defense cooperation, climate change, sustainable development and technological cooperation. The Global Gateway, an initiative that the EU launched in 2021 with an aim to participate in infrastructure development across the world, is likely to become one of the defining factors in India-EU […]

In this time of increased intra-state conflict, methods of power-sharing as a form of conflict resolution have increased in importance. Therefore, examining the tools in the belt of those engaging in conflict resolution is relevant. Consociationalism, a particular form of power-sharing, is one such tool. As consociationalism is a form of governance for divided societies […]

After former United States (U.S.) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s August 2022 visit to Taiwan, China responded by conducting unprecedented drills around the self-governing island. Unlike previous instances of Chinese military incursions and ‘grayzone’ tactics against Taiwan, these drills showcased China’s latest military assets, including the J-20 stealth fighter. The drills also demonstrated the launching and […]

Sheikh Hasina’s demise in power after 15 years of ruling Bangladesh with an iron fist has raised several speculations on the country’s future reformation plans in various sectors. The aftermath of the student movement, which later turned into a popular uprising known widely amongst Bangladeshi youths as the July Revolution, has now concentrated on efforts […]