COMMENTARIES
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East Asia Compass
South Korea's Foreign Policy: More Rhetoric, Less Content?
Dr Sandip Kumar Mishra · 03 Nov, 2014 · #4723 · Commentary · Column
South Korea’s foreign relations especially in East Asia are in a state of impasse under the current President Park Geun-hye. During the last President Lee Myung-bak, it was clear that South Korea gave priority to its alliance with the US a...
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Muslims in Sri Lanka: Four Reasons for their Marginalisation
Roomana Hukil · 31 Oct, 2014 · #4722 · Commentary
With the defeat of the Tamil Tigers after 26 years in 2009 in Sri Lanka, it was hoped that the Sri Lankan political space would see a new opening for a peaceful co-existence, and attempts were made to address the long standing grievances between...
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Rouhani and Iran’s Foreign Policy: Charting the Change
Majid Izadpanahi · 31 Oct, 2014 · #4721 · Commentary
After the presidential elections of 14 June 2013, Iran’s Hassan Rouhani has proved that he is introducing changes in the country’s foreign policy based on cooperation and moderation as he did when he was nuclear negotiator. Iranians ...
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Myanmar: Violence in Rakhine State and a Way Forward
Aparupa Bhattacherjee · 31 Oct, 2014 · #4720 · Commentary
The International Crisis Group (ICG) published a comprehensive report on the ongoing ethno-political and communal violence in the Rakhine state of Myanmar in October 2014, titled, “Myanmar: The Politics of Rakhine State.”
There a...
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China and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: A New Regional Order?
Teshu Singh · 31 Oct, 2014 · #4719 · Commentary
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) was recently launched in Beijing and will be operational by 2015. China’s proactive role in the matter has alarmed other world powers, begging the question: what are China’s objectives ...
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“Britain Belongs to Allah”: Anjem Choudary and His Supporters
Tuva Julie Engebrethsen Smith · 31 Oct, 2014 · #4718 · Commentary
“We don’t abide by British rule.” “Sharia is the law of God, and should be implemented in the whole world.” “The ‘flag of Sharia’ will eventually fly over Downing Street.” These are statement...
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Myanmar's Ashin Wirathu: Five Reasons for His Rise
Aparupa Bhattacherjee · 29 Oct, 2014 · #4717 · Commentary
U Ashin Wirathu, the Buddhist monk, is seen as the face of Buddhist extremism in Myanmar by the world. The 969 movement led by him aims to save Myanmar from the perceived threat of the rising number of Muslims within the country. Both Wirathu an...
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IPCS Discussion
India, Australia and Indo-Pacific: Regional Interpretations
Report · 29 Oct, 2014 · #4716 · Commentary
The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) in collaboration with the Centre for Indo-Pacific Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, organised a panel discussion on “India, Australia and Indo-Pacific: Regional Interpretations” ...
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Islamic State and Foreign Fighters: Jihadists from Central Asia
Rajeshwari Krishnamurthy · 27 Oct, 2014 · #4715 · Commentary
As violent jihadist activities in Syria and Iraq intensify, the number of foreign nationals enrolling to fight for the Islamic State (IS) is witnessing an exponential growth. The case of Central Asian jihadists - fighters who are nationals of Ta...
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Sri Lanka, Myanmar and the Buddhist Radical Groups: New Alignments?
Roomana Hukil · 22 Oct, 2014 · #4714 · Commentary
Recently, hard-line Buddhist clerics in Myanmar and Sri Lanka stated that Buddhist associations from both countries will work together to protect Buddhism against the threat from the Muslim extremists around the globe. Last month, Myanmar’...
