Publication Filter

Stabilising Afghanistan: Role of Key Regional Players

Unless the Central Asian states, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and Russia jointly contribute towards ensuring stability, Afghanistan is likely to fall to the Taliban again or even break up.

Beyond the Maoist Split: The political impasse to continue

Genuine negotiation efforts, timely discussions, and broader participation of groups asserting rights based on identity are necessary to help break the impasse in Nepali politics on the issue of federalism.

Where China Meets India: Burma and the New Crossroads of Asia by Thant Myint-U

Thant Myint-U has written a book that weaves together travel anecdotes, historical narratives, strategic discourse and an optimistic future for Burma, the country he originally belongs to. The book is neatly divided into three sections: Burma, China and India. Drawing attention to the critical significance of Burma as the connecting edge between two rising giants of Asia, Myint-U elegantly argues that the future geopolitical map of Asia will be drawn in this, until now, ‘backwater’ state (p. 6).

Investigative Journalism in China: Journalism, Power and Society by Jingrong Tong

There have been a number of transformations within China since the opening of the Chinese economy in 1978. The changes are not confined to economy only but have had effects on other aspects as well. One of the major areas witnessing unprecedented changes is the state–society dynamic. The media has played an important role in managing the state–society relations in China. The Chinese media has traditionally played the role of the ‘mouth piece’ of the party, as is expected in any authoritarian communist system.

Regional Powers and Security Orders: A Theoretical Framework by Robert Stewart-Ingersoll and Derrick Frazier

Following the retreat of the global powers after the end of the Cold War, with the possible exception of the United States, the regional power structure has become increasingly important for understanding the international security dynamics of today. The present book provides a new theoretical framework for identifying and understanding the role of the regional powers in creating, maintaining and possibly breaking down the regional security orders as well as the regions' relationship with the broader global system.

Deterrence during Disarmament: Deep Reductions and International Security by James M. Acton

In the current nuclear age, the concept of deterrence has assumed great significance, especially in the strategic community. As the use of nuclear weapons could have a greater adverse impact than any other man-made event, such weapons have been instrumental in deterring a nuclear war so far.

Water: Asia’s New Battleground by Brahma Chellaney

There is an ongoing debate about the nature of changing power equations (economic, political and military) among countries, with many scholars arguing that the power shift from the West to the East is inevitable in the coming years. While the debate is animated by scholars such as Kishore Mehbubani, G.

China and India: Great Power Rivals by Mohan Malik

Professor Mohan Malik teaches at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu and comes across as a typical academic and scholar—earnest, animated and absolutely convinced of the accuracy and authenticity of his research. When one adds the years of domain knowledge of what is turning out to be amongst the most discussed rivalries of the early 21st century—the India–China contest for strategic space in Asia—what you have is a sure recipe for a scholarly masterpiece.

Xinjiang and Chinese Rise in Central Asia—A History by Michael E. Clarke

The ethnic unrest in Xinjiang has been in the news for several years now. In 2009, nearly 200 people were killed in Han–Uighur ethnic clashes. Since then Uighur unrest has drawn international attention. The Chinese authorities have handled the Uighur unrest with an iron fist. The local media is suppressed, outsiders do not have free access and the security forces have free rein. The local communist party chief is the de facto ruler.

A Perspective on Defence Planning in India

The available literature on defence planning in India does not make for very encouraging reading. A few things stand out. Firstly, there is an acute dearth, if not almost complete absence, of authentic official accounts and analysis of what has gone on in the name of defence planning over the last six decades. Secondly, narratives based either on personal recollection or on opinions and views of those who have directly or indirectly been associated with defence planning at different points of time have filled this void. Others have chipped in too.