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
China’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves: A Reality Check While maintaining a reserve of 100 days worth of imported petroleum consumption at present consumption rates may be the stated policy of the Chinese government, an analysis of the existing capacities seems to suggest that China may be in a position to store much larger strategic oil reserves should it so desire. Mandip Singh | May 21, 2012 | Issue Brief
Sectarian Strife in Gilgit Baltistan The spate of killings has unleashed fear and uncertainty among the people and there is an open outcry about the government’s inaction and inability to control the situation. Priyanka Singh | May 21, 2012 | Issue Brief
Russia’s Destiny is now in Putin’s Hands Although Russia plays a weak hand due to structural problems in the economy and several deficiencies in the political and social order, Putin will try and leverage Russia’ substantial advantages—energy being one of them—to Russia’s advantage. Arvind Gupta | May 21, 2012 | IDSA Comments
