Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Cooperation Problems on Human Rights Though the original focus of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was primarily economic cooperation, the adoption of the ASEAN charter in November 2007 officially included cooperation on human rights. This article examines three hypotheses to determine the causes of cooperation problems: regime type, non-interference policy, and absence of an enforcement mechanism in the ASEAN charter. Nehginpao Kipgen | January 2012 | Strategic Analysis
Changing Media, Changing China by Susan L. Shirk (ed.) The opening up of the Chinese economy in 1978 was a watershed event in Chinese history. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) decided to open up certain sections of the economy in order to maintain good economic growth. Gunjan Singh | January 2012 | Strategic Analysis
The Emerging Nuclear Security Regime: Challenges Ahead everal measures are being initiated by the international community to secure sensitive materials. Al Qaeda's open interest in acquiring nuclear weapons and the rise of terrorist activity in nuclear-armed Pakistan have triggered a global interest in the need to secure nuclear weapons and materials. In April 2010 President Obama invited some key countries and international organisations in Washington to frame a new regime for nuclear security. The emerging regime includes some older initiatives as well as some new mechanisms, and it must address a number of issues. Rajiv Nayan | January 2012 | Strategic Analysis
China’s Rising Global Profile: The Great Power Tradition by Harsh V. Pant China's global presence is indisputable, yet for most of the Cold War, China shied away from an international role. However, as China's economic profile has risen, so too has its interest in engaging with regions further afield. Victoria Tuke | January 2012 | Strategic Analysis
Managing India’s Land Borders: Lessons from the US Experience India has been grappling with the problem of devising an efficient border management strategy that would prevent the entry of dangerous elements while at the same time allowing the legitimate flow of goods, services and people. Given that it has always been vulnerable to cross-border threats and challenges such as illegal migration, drug and human trafficking, gunrunning, smuggling of commodities and cross-border terrorism, India has taken a largely unilateral approach towards border management whereby security of the borders is accorded primacy over the free movement of people and goods. Pushpita Das | January 2012 | Strategic Analysis
Out of the Frame: The Struggle for Academic Freedom in Israel by Ilan Pappe Ilan Pappe's Out of the Frame is a personal narrative about Jewish society in Israel and an intellectual commentary by a historian on the state of Israel. Khinvraj Jangid | January 2012 | Strategic Analysis
Bhutan’s Foreign Policy Determinants: An Assessment This article assesses the shifting preferences of Bhutan towards the foreign policy determinants. Three determinants (national security, political culture and economic engagement) have been studied as they play a significant role in shaping Bhutan's policy behaviour. These determinants have been analysed with respect to India, Nepal and China, three countries that have been of critical interest to Bhutan's foreign policy. Medha Bisht | January 2012 | Strategic Analysis
Negotiating for India (Lessons of Diplomacy) by Jagat Mehta Jagat Mehta joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in March 1947 before India became independent. In 1976, at the age of 53, he became India's first foreign secretary without an Indian civil service background. He retired in 1979. In the present book, the author discusses six negotiating assignments that he handled during his diplomatic career, pertaining to Bhutan, China, Uganda, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. The book is a must read for those interested in India's diplomacy and diplomatic practices of the past. Arvind Gupta | January 2012 | Strategic Analysis
Examining China’s Hydro-Behaviour: Peaceful or Assertive? China is a thirsty country desperately in need of water—a lot of it. In order to meet its water and energy requirements in the densely populated and fertile northern plains, it is successively making interventions in the Tibetan rivers in the southern part through dams and diversions. While China is well within its riparian rights to do so, a set of externalities involving the principles of water-sharing and lower riparian needs—stretching from Afghanistan to Vietnam—raise concerns. Uttam Kumar Sinha | January 2012 | Strategic Analysis
Sino-Indian relations 2011: A Mixed Bag of Highs and Lows The year gone by witnessed India’s firm responses to bilateral issues and China’s appreciation of the Indian position, thus providing a positive momentum to India-China relations. R N Das | December 30, 2011 | IDSA Comments
