The year 2017 has brought new foreign policy and security challenges for the region of South Asia, including the domestic incursion of terrorist groups and the growing role of China in the Indian Ocean and beyond. We take a look at the top security and foreign policy articles of the year.
Pakistan in the eyes of the world: a new perspective on a blemished international image
As part of a research project exploring perceptions of Pakistan, Farzana Shaikh discussed how its image is compromised by a disconnect between the stated position of the elected authorities and the reality of the way power is exercised. Here Nadir Cheema offers an overview of his conversation with Dr Sheikh, in which she argues that in order to start to address the lack of credibility in the eyes of the international community, the military needs to take a step back.
Paradiplomacy and India: The growing role of states in foreign policy
Globalisation and trends towards federalism have created increasing scope for paradiplomacy. In this article, Harsh V. Pant and Falguni Tewari discuss the opportunities that sub-national international relations could create for a number of Indian states and the challenges that paradiplomacy poses for the central government.
India @ 70: Constraints and opportunities for an emerging superpower
Panel 3 at India @ 70: LSE India Summit 2017 explored India’s evolving foreign policy and the challenges that could disrupt its emergence as a superpower in the medium term. In this post, Arjun Bhatia presents an overview of the key arguments presented by the panellists.
LSE South Asia Centre and LSE SU Pakistan Development Society recently hosted Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, Senior Fellow for South Asia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), for the event titled “Can Intelligence Services Do Good?”. Roy-Chaudhury talks to Mahima A. Jain on India’s foreign policy, its involvement in Afghanistan, the difference in the operational styles of R&AW and ISI, and India’s approach in the Indian Ocean region.
Diplomacity in the 21st century: Why Sri Lanka’s mayors must become global players
Rapti Ratnayake makes the case for why Sri Lanka should pursue ‘diplomacity’, where mayors and municipal leaders take a more active role in foreign policy by forging collaborative partnerships with other cities. She writes that if Colombo is to achieve its aspiration of becoming a globally competitive metropolis, embracing the opportunities afforded by paradiplomacy will be essential.
The fall of ISIS and the return of South Asian jihadists
With the liberation of Mosul, the dream of IS to build an actual ‘Islamic state’ is being decimated. However, the remnants of the group, for seeking time and space to reorganise themselves, may flee to remote areas. The chances of a return should not be ruled out, writes Muhammad Suleman
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Cover image: US and Indian navy ships participate in an exercise. Credit: US Navy, Attribution License.
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