VIF Papers
Russian, Chinese and American interplay in Central Asia and Afghanistan

India’s Interest in Central Asia In the evolving dynamics of the global order in the twenty first century there has been a fundamental shift in International Politics from Europe to Asia, and particularly to the huge Eurasian landmass. In this changing dynamics, British geographer Halford Mackinder’s theory of geopolitics has regained a new and a powerful currency. According to Mackinder, Central Asia is the ‘pivot of history’, and the huge swathe of landmass is the “Heartlands of Eurasia”. In his view whosoever ‘controls the heartlands of Eurasia, controls the world’.

Missing Factors in India’s Policy towards Pakistan

Many in India often wonder why don’t we have better relations with Pakistan and how long will we keep on bickering and fighting. Many also point to the perils of a miscalculation given that the two countries are nuclear weapons states. The most famous articulation has, of course, been that the bilateral dialogue should be ‘uninterrupted and uninterruptible.

China’s Geography: A Boon or Bane?

Strategic thinkers have maintained that geography play a key role in determining a nation's aspirations, goals and behaviour. Taking cue, the author in this paper has delved on China's geography and the courses that this factor might play in China's march towards big power goals in the coming days. Click here to read full paper

Revisiting India's Disaster Response Mechanism: Challenges and Way Forward

One Day Round Table Conference (May 6, 2016) organised jointly by Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) & Policy Perspectives Foundation (PPF)

ISIS and Radicalization in the Central Asian Republics

The pristine Hanafi school of Islam that prevails in the Central Asia is under severe threat of being displaced by a highly intolerant and violent version of Islam adopted by the likes of the IS. Increasingly marked by poverty and radicalization, the region has thus become a growing source of exported ‘jihadists’. While the damage is still limited, unless controlled with a heavy hand, the societal destruction in the name of Islam may reach a point of no return. This paper reviews this issue from various perspectives.

Internal Security and Police Reforms

Policing in contemporary India has turned into a major challenge, This challenge requires the evolution of new policing culture, better training, comprehensive modernisation and astute personnel management. However, efforts made towards that direction has not succeeded to the extent desirable. Click here to read full paper

Freebies and Good Governance

Background and Argument I have chosen to speak on a subject of contemporary interest and importance: ‘Freebies and Good Governance’. I deliberately withheld the umbrella in suggesting the title of the talk that provides both inspiration and legitimacy to ‘freebies and good governance in India’ and this is the concept of ‘welfare state’. Click here to read full paper

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