Somalia Area1 Total 637,657 sq km Population2 10,085,638 (July 2012 estimate) Saurabh Mishra June 2012 Africa Trends
South Sudan: A Year Old and ‘A Global Problem Child’ The Sudan of the last century was a land ridden by inter-tribal conflicts and civil wars, divided on religious lines and its politics was embroiled in a constant struggle for control over the country’s resources. Today, nothing much has changed except for the secession of South Sudan from Sudan and the discord continues across the border. After decades of civil war what is now observable is that the two Sudans are at the tipping point of an international armed conflict. Keerthi Sampath Kumar June 2012 Africa Trends
Disrupting Life and Economy: The Maoist way Repeated acts of targeting infrastructure speak of Maoist intentions: paralyse normal life, sabotage economic activity, dictate terms and allow life and economic activity only on their “terms and conditions.” P. V. Ramana May 31, 2012 IDSA Comments
The Beijing SCO Summit: Not a Routine One for China While expanding the SCO mandate and reviewing the membership criteria are some of the issues that make the Beijing summit a vital one, contentious global issues like Iran also lend the summit greater importance. Jagannath P. Panda May 29, 2012 IDSA Comments
Constitutional and Political Evolution in Nepal: Dangers of Federalism A modus vivendi that accepts the concept of federalism in principle as well as the devolution of administrative and financial powers in key functional areas is the need of the hour. Gautam Sen May 29, 2012 IDSA Comments
The China Bull in the Ring The Chinese decision to send warships to the Scarborough shoals was intended to send a message not only to the Philippines but also to the United States as well as other Asian countries in dispute with China over the South China Sea. R. S. Kalha May 28, 2012 IDSA Comments
Libya And R2P: A Year After UNSCR 1973 The resolution was responsible for sparking off debates in the UN General Assembly and the Security Council which, in turn, has led to the emergence of viable alternatives to military intervention or the use of force. Keerthi Sampath Kumar May 23, 2012 Issue Brief
Syrian Turmoil: A Test for the US Position The absence of a credible secular substitute for Assad, a divided opposition, and deadlock in the Security Council, are all acting as stumbling blocks for the US wish to unseat Assad from power. Saurabh Mishra May 23, 2012 IDSA Comments
Environmental and Cultural Degradation The current growth trajectory is leading to serious environmental and cultural degradation—an issue that needs to be placed on priority and a holistic environmental impact assessment needs to be made public. P. K. Gautam May 22, 2012 IDSA Comments
Will Karzai Survive 2014? In times of back door diplomacy and brokerage of deals, Karzai’s political skill and experience in balancing the divergent interests of various stakeholders may assure him a role in fashioning Afghanistan’s new political arrangement. Vishal Chandra May 22, 2012 IDSA Comments
