ISDP Voices

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 […]

The International Day of Democracy is celebrated on September 15 each year, encouraging governments to strengthen and consolidate democracy. But, ‘democracy’ is a word that can have various meanings depending on which country or person you ask. For instance, in his book The End of History published after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Francis […]

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was on a three-day visit to India from July 30 to August 1, 2024. It was after a decade that a prime ministerial-level visit from Vietnam to India took place. The visit marks a significant event in the bilateral ties, underscoring the increasing importance of both nations in the […]