The Original Gurukul of Strategic Analyses in Modern India: My Reminiscences of IDSA Established to fill a gap between policy research and policy innovation, the IDSA is the original gurukul of strategic analyses in modern India. My reminiscences of IDSA in the seventies are a décollage selected to share in a sense of national pride for witnessing some momentous events that became bench marks in shaping India’s defense posture. It (décollage) also expresses professional gratification for being a part of the IDSA faculty with K Subrahmanyam as its Director. Swadesh Rana | September 2015 | Strategic Analysis
Interaction of Foreign and Domestic Factors in the International Political Process: The Case of Russia The foreign policy of a state is determined by its domestic policy, the internal balance of power. The domestic political configuration of any state has a predominant role in understanding its foreign political moves. Therefore, an attempt to analyse the orientation of a state’s foreign policy without considering such key factors as its political system, interest groups, intra-elite competition and personal ambitions of its leader and others is not feasible. Nargiza T. Bektemirova | September 2015 | Strategic Analysis
An East German Perspective on Korean Reunification While we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the reunification of Germany and remember more than 25 years of the Peaceful Revolution towards the end that took place in Leipzig and across the German Democratic Republic (GDR), it is also important to turn our attention to the still divided Korean Peninsula, and to maintain the vision of ‘One Korea’. The emphasis should really be on the word ‘vision’. More than 60 years after the devastating Korean War, the Peninsula remains divided and families separated. Conrad Rein | September 2015 | Strategic Analysis
The Problem of Expertise in Strategic Studies Strategic geniuses are natural strategic thinkers even without much guidance. While the complexity of strategy makes it extremely difficult to formulate and execute, geniuses like Prussian General Carl von Clausewitz or Chinese General Sun Tzu were successful in developing strategies that are still relevant today. However, as strategic history suggests, military strategists do not need to be geniuses to succeed in creating decisive strategies.1 Strategists only need sufficient expertise to be able to outthink and outmanoeuvre their adversaries. Francis C. Domingo | September 2015 | Strategic Analysis
India–Africa: Perspectives on Development in Africa—Trade and Investment The realisation that trade and investment are key to development is backed up by development theories and empirical studies. This article identifies existing patterns of trade and investments between India and Africa, whereby Africa has a trade surplus through exports of mostly unprocessed commodities and importing processed merchandise from India. Hoseana Bohela Lunogelo | September 2015 | Strategic Analysis
Implementing the Peace, Security and Development Nexus in Africa Peace, security and development are inextricably linked. Peaceful, democratic and well-governed societies are believed to promote levels of growth, employment and prosperity. This article first defines the terms peace, security and development and then situates this within a current debate—that of the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals. It looks at the African Union Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (AU PCRD) framework and how it addresses issues of peace, security and development. Amanda Lucey | September 2015 | Strategic Analysis
Global Governance and the Need for ‘Pragmatic Activism’ in India’s Multilateralism While global governance is all about creating an international order that addresses the interests of the big and small nations and people, non-government and corporate entities, the foreign policy of a state, including its multilateralism, aims at achieving its national interest. Tension between the two therefore is only natural. Often this is depicted as a hiatus between the greater good associated with idealism and self-interest associated with pragmatism. Arpita Anant | September 2015 | Strategic Analysis
India’s Economic Opportunities and Energy Security: Analysing Prospects Within SAARC and Beyond It has been extensively debated whether India should prioritise relations with its immediate or extended neighbourhood. Put into the framework of energy security and competition with China, it will be argued that the recently signed South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) framework agreement can provide the basis and open up new opportunities for inter- and sub-regional energy co-operation in Asia. Anna Juhos | September 2015 | Strategic Analysis
Radicalisation of Muslim Converts At the moment, the radical Muslim convert threat does appear to be limited to Europe and America where the converts are ‘less visible’. Surya Valliappan Krishna | August 31, 2015 | IDSA Comments
GSAT-6: India’s Second Military Satellite Launched India’s increasing investments in space for strategic purposes clearly indicates the rising relevance of space assets for the armed forces. Ajey Lele | August 31, 2015 | IDSA Comments
