The PSAARC declaration
The People's SAARC (PSAARC) declaration,which called for the governments to address a number of issues from food security to climate justice, established the network as advocates for a progressive humanitarian agenda
People’s SAARC: a valid agenda
Rajni Bakshi, Senior Gandhi Fellow, Gateway House reports from People’s SAARC, a motley gathering of NGO workers and members of the village communities they work with. PSAARC will compile a memorandum – a wish-list of demands and aspirations – on November 24 and present it to the heads of SAARC nations
Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
The UN and sustainability
The UN and the global finance industry are making gradual but concerted efforts to align business interests and ecological sustainability. A growing number of companies are combining profit-making with social responsibility. There is still a long way to go, but the UN system has created useful mechanisms of change
Courtesy: U.S. Staff Sergeant Aaron Allmon
Modi, Obama and the Islamic State
Obama’s strategy to target the IS in Syria within the framework of a U.S.-led international coalition has met with a tepid response. There are reports that the U.S may offer India a non-NATO ally status during Modi’s upcoming visit in a bid to seek greater support – a gesture that India will do well to disregard.
Courtesy: wikimedia\commons
Fraud, power sharing and Afghan elections
An Afghan electoral official recently announced that the UN-supervised vote auditing in Afghanistan’s presidential election has been finished. In an election marred by fraud, can a power sharing agreement enabling the formation of a government be reached?
Courtesy: wikimedia\commons
Rethinking history
Textbooks in India and Pakistan offer vastly differing views of events related to the freedom struggle. The History Project is an attempts to introduce students from both sides to an alternative and more balanced account of a shared past
Courtesy: arabia.msn.com
The dilemmas of civil disobedience
The right to be heard and to dissent is crucial in a democracy but they come with responsibilities. The current anti-government protests are being mobilised by partisan-players with a political stake and could jeopardise Pakistan’s hard-won democracy
Courtesy: Synthesio.com
Federalism for the Arab Republics?
Many Arab Republics are mired in political discord after the departure of the old tyrannical regimes opened up spaces for new struggles. In Iraq, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan, attempts to address the turmoil through constitutional reform are facing challenges. Will a democratic federalism be attained when the battles are done?
Courtesy: Wikimedia\commons
Afghanistan: who blinks first?
Squabbling over Afghan election results still continues but the collapse of the process has been averted for now. More than 700 international election observers are in Kabul ready to conduct the 100% audit of the Afghan runoff election. India has always supported a peaceful transition but the situation in Kabul remains as unpredictable as ever
Courtesy: MEA
Gross regional happiness
Economic security needs to be defined holistically through an open and democratic discourse. A plurality of perspectives on what constitutes development is essential to democracy across the world. Grass roots protests are driven by a longing for a truly inclusive and fair model of growth.