dedoll Courtesy: CNBC
1 March 2024

Unfolding Geopolitics | Episode 7, De-dollarisation: economic or political?

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The imposition of sanctions, continuing wars and the rise of new geopolitical blocs seeking to move away from western economic dependence, have prompted talk of ‘de-dollarisation,’ switching from the U.S. dollar as a currency of trade and reserves. Surjit Bhalla, well-known economist and India’s former representative at the International Monetary Fund, discusses the logic behind de-dollarisation and the key indicators of its sustainability or demise.

BhatiaBRICSSpeech Courtesy: Indian Council of World Affairs
29 February 2024

BRICS as a Global Alternative

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On 22 February, Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies delivered the keynote address to participants at the national seminar on “BRICS as a Global Alternative—Prospects and Concern for India.” He argued that an examination of BRICS and the geopolitical context in which it is functioning provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the India's perspective of this important organisation.

LDC_Infographic-02 Courtesy: United Nations
29 February 2024

Least developed to developing

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The transition from least developed country (LDC) to developing country marks a major milestone for the world’s most vulnerable and structurally disadvantaged countries. The recent graduation of Bhutan into the 'developing' realm reflects the trend of accelerating development among least developed countries. Fifteen more LDCs are due to move up in the coming years, a clear improvement from the past.

MauricioPiece2 Courtesy: India Today
29 February 2024

Middle East demands new frontiers of diplomacy

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Just as September 11, 2001 unfolded a new chapter of the world order, as December 17, 2010 awakened the "Arab Spring," so October 7, 2023, has become a date that has unforgettably changed the Middle East's foreign policy and geopolitical dynamics. The existential paradigm of Israel and Palestine has adopted a war axis without turning back but has necessitated reevaluating diplomacy and recalibrating priorities.

WTOMC13 Courtesy: World Trade Organisation
27 February 2024

WTO’s MC13 must leap forward

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The ongoing WTO 13th Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi is a critical one. Apart from reform of the existing system, negotiations on e-commerce and digital trade should be finalized, as it represents the human capital of growing digital services economies in developing and developed countries. Cooperation will demonstrate that members can produce results and chart a constructive path for the WTO system.

peak china Courtesy: Financial Express
23 February 2024

Unfolding Geopolitics | Episode 6, Peak China—or not

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Has China peaked? India's leading China expert and Adjunct Distinguished Fellow for National Security and China Studies at Gateway House, Lt. Gen. S.L. Narasimhan discusses China's economy, the sustainability of Chinese global influence, the future of U.S.-China relations, and what this means for India. China, he says, will continue to be a shaping force in geopolitics, and the India-China relationship will continue to be one of interdependence.

Ameen Sayani Obit Courtesy: India Today
22 February 2024

Obituary: Ameen Sayani (1932-2024)

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Ameen Sayani was India’s most favourite and recognised voice on the radio. He upturned post-Partition Indian bureaucratic orthodoxy with his shows on Hindi film songs, delighting his listeners for decades. His was also a mission in nation-building. To Gateway House, he was a fellow traveller, friend and loved neighbour.

Anger mgmt Courtesy: Amazon India
22 February 2024

Anger Management: The Troubled Diplomatic Relationship between India and Pakistan

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A new book on India-Pakistan relations by former High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria, brings his practitioners’ knowledge to the fraught bilateral. He reiterates that the determining factor is still Pakistan’s quest for identity based on territory and security, and the paranoia of the Pakistani army. The book contains fascinating insights about his predecessors’ suggested solutions and lays out three scenarios for the future.

GSI Cover IMage Courtesy: Global Times
22 February 2024

China’s many initiatives for dominance

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China’s world vision has entered its next phase. After the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), come the Global Initiative on Data Security (GIDS) so Chinese tech standards can lead, Global Development Initiative (GDI) so China leads the development dialogue, and Global Security Initiative (GSI), so China’s security is ‘indivisible’ from other countries – all in time for China’s 2049 goal of becoming a global power.