siachen pic Courtesy: Guilhem Vellut/WikimediaCommons
16 October 2012

Siachen: To hold or to fold?

There have been many discussions on the need to de-militarise the Siachen Glacier. Why have India and Pakistan suddenly begun to believe that they were mistaken in holding on to the region all this while? What are the possible ramifications of de-militarising this strategic location?

The message from the Venezuelan elections
11 October 2012

The message from the Venezuelan elections

Ambassador Viswanathan, an expert on Latin America, blogs about the Venezuelan elections, which saw a high turnout, free and fair elections, and Hugo Chavez re-elected as President. It is evident though, that Chavez’s model has reached its peak and is steadily and irreversibly losing appeal in the region.

UNGA piece Courtesy: Patrick Gruban/WikimediaCommons
5 October 2012

UN General Assembly, partial attention

Is a focus on a nuclear Iran in international forums such as the UN General Assembly necessary and appropriate? At a time when other crises – including Syria and Palestine – require the world’s undivided attention, this inordinate focus raises major concerns.

obama romney debate Courtesy: Rusty Darbonne/Austen Hufford
4 October 2012

Romney wins round one

The biggest change in the first U.S. presidential debate for 2012 was the way both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney moderated differences about government and the private sector. Foreign policy came up only briefly, but it will be a theme during the next round of debates later this month.

green africa Courtesy: trendscout::/Flickr
4 October 2012

A Green Agenda for Africa

All the major economic forces in the world have come together in Africa in a new version of the Great Game. The competition for the continent’s resources will ultimately harm Africa unless Africa uses this opportunity to its advantage and to address its own serious problems.

bhojwani_0 Courtesy: SamirB37/WikimediaCommons
4 October 2012

Interview: India’s prospects in Latin America

As India looks to diversify its sources for energy imports and grapples with food security issues, it is looking more towards Latin America. Gateway House interviews Ambassador Deepak Bhojwani to discuss India’s prospects with this increasingly significant region.

Gandhi spinning Courtesy: gandhiserve.org
2 October 2012

Replacing Keynes with Gandhi

Gandhi’s little-known work on what it means to be truly civilized may be crucial to the future of our species. There seems to be an absence of a moral framework that serves as the basis of our pursuit of wealth & pleasure. Can such a framework guide us through contemporary economic and identity-related conflicts?