How Nepal might see relations with India During an interaction in March this year, Baburam Bhattarai, now prime minister of Nepal, made some points that should interest observers of international relations. (These were made before he became prime minister and might indicate his personal thoughts and inclinations.) - Nepal sees itself as being located in ...
The accelerating treadmill of radicalisation There are three distinct grand narratives of Pakistan by Pakistanis: the first is an establishment narrative of victimisation, defensiveness and denial. The second is the narrative of the liberal elite, focusing on the need for socio-economic development of a vast country of 180 million people. The third, radical Islamist narrative, ...
Geoeconomics is the key to the seas East of Singapore This was published in yesterday’s Business Standard. The Asian Balance turns one today. It had promised to “devote itself to chronicling and interpreting the unfolding geopolitics of East Asia. It will be an unabashed advocate of Looking East far beyond the Straits of Malacca”. If ...
Why the Annawalas must endorse individual candidates in the coming elections This is the original draft of today’s DNA column. Anna’s candidates It’s the season for game-changers. Everyone is proposing one. Here’s mine. After ending his fast at New Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan last month, Anna Hazare announced that “electoral reforms would be next on his ...
Where do we go from here? Here’s a piece that I wrote for The Atlantic online last week: India’s Great Middle-Class Moment After decades on the sidelines, the growing ranks of Middle India are starting to find their voice. But can the political system respond? NEW DELHI, India — What should the world make of ...
A crossroads, not a victory (You can also view it on NDTV’s website) The points I made (or wanted to): 1. The conclusion of Anna Hazare’s fast after a compromise is not a victory for anyone. It’s a crossroads. In fact, there are two crossroads here. First, whether we will pursue political agenda by restoring ...