5564587370_fb077e785f Courtesy: freeedomania/Flickr
29 February 2012

Where is Syria headed?

As the al-Assad regime faces increasing international pressure to step down from power, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad attempted to make political reforms recently. However, Syria has strong relations within West Asia and the denouement will profoundly impact developments in this region.

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29 February 2012

Gateway House Global Minds Essay Competition 2011

Ashoka or Arthashastra: which one can better shape India's foreign policy and future? Gateway House sponsored its second Global Minds Essay Contest, which was open to any student in India aged 15-19 years. A panel comprising Navdeep Suri, Sunil Khilnani, Rajni Bakshi, and Vidya Shah determined the winners.

5455843055_b765d48e40 Courtesy: Al Jazeera English/Flickr
24 February 2012

West and Wahabi vs. Shia

The author outlines the partnership between NATO and Wahhabi extremists, and how the West assisted in an armed Sunni movement, which has spread to many countries in West Asia. Consequently, the Shia population suffers from serious discrimination at the hands of Wahabbi.

China, What Nixon wrought Courtesy: White House Photographer/Wikimedia Commons
23 February 2012

China: What Nixon wrought

Forty years ago, former President of the United States Richard Nixon made a visit to China that has perhaps changed the whole gamut of U.S.-China relations. In the following years, China witnessed the rise of a significant middle class and became the world's second largest economy.

cyber conundrum piece Courtesy: Grj23/WikimediaCommons
22 February 2012

India’s cyber conundrum

India’s national security is heavily dependent on the proper development of its infrastructure, which is currently backed by weak technologies that are susceptible to cyber threats. What can India do to tackle cyber crime and strengthen its technological infrastructure?

2355314992_76470bb8ce Courtesy: Amir Farshad Ebrahimi/Flickr
17 February 2012

What Iran’s election means for India

On March 2, 2012, the Islamic Republic of Iran will hold its ninth parliamentary election. The outcome and state decisions that follow will have significant effects on India, which has strong political relations with Iran and relies on it for a considerable portion of its energy imports.

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17 February 2012

UP: Changing aspirations, at last

Its election time in Uttar Pradesh (UP) – India’s largest state, with a population of more than 200 million. Who will represent this vast land that contributes to 8% of the country’s GDP? Manjeet Kripalani travels through UP, writing about the state's fast-changing political landscape and its hopeful people.