About 90 years ago, in the wake of the Great Depression and the rise of fascism in Europe, the Italian politician-philosopher Antonio Gramsci wrote of the crisis in world affairs: “The old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a
It is well known that intelligence agencies of major countries have harboured dissident and insurgent groups from around the world. Values, scruples and morality are not words in the lexicon of intelligence and security agencies. Their role is to
The pervasive mood in much of the developing world is not to let geopolitical confrontation stymie progress on the issues of major consequence for them. The issue of the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, on day one of the two-day Summit, is no
Recent interactions with strategic communities in Europe brought into focus how different the world looks from their vantage points and how geography – in its broader definition of location, physical features, natural resources, historical experien
Non-alignment was a Cold War effort to retain the autonomy of policy between two hostile politico-military blocs. Foreign media covering Prime Minister Modi’s recent landmark visit to the United States frequently mentioned non-alignment as inhib
The frenetic bilateral exchanges of recent months have imparted a new stimulus to the India-US relationship, somewhat similar to that imparted by the nuclear deal of 2008. These giant strides stem from a convergence of strategic interests. But the ob
While wanting US technological and security support to facilitate its rise, India does not acknowledge reciprocal obligations, even on a common challenge like China. Writing in the US journal Foreign Affairs (‘America’s bad bet on India’), A
Sanctions do not have a place in international law, except with UN approval. But they have become commonplace weapons in the diplomatic armoury of countries. The social media age craves competition, comparison and instant verdicts on trends within
Developments in Afghanistan have always aroused Russian minds. In the words of Amb Raghavan, since the eighteenth century, Russia's strategic planning has been driven by the search for secure borders, buffer zones and warm waters. To further understa
The episode raises serious questions about how the Pentagon deals with classified documents. Meanwhile, the US will be relieved that bilateral relationships didn’t take a hit and that the leaks don’t alter the fundamental reality of the Ukraine w