COMMENTARIES
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Big Picture
Forecast 2016: Cardinal Transitions
Varun Sahni · 21 Mar, 2016 · #5003 · Commentary · Column
In 2016, India is likely to hit a ‘sweet spot’ and come to be seen – despite a host of domestic debilities and external vulnerabilities – as an island of growth and stability. This year, several countries whose internal d...
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Strategic Space
Nuclear Security Summit Process: Progress and Prognosis
Manpreet Sethi · 21 Mar, 2016 · #5002 · Commentary · Column
In less than two weeks from now, the Heads of Governments of over 50 countries will once again gather to discuss the knotty issues of nuclear security. Having met three times earlier in the last six years, this congregation in Washington will br...
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Forecast 2016: Opportunities and Challenges for Southeast Asia
Preet Malik · 18 Mar, 2016 · #5001 · Commentary
Southeast Asia has always been of considerable geo-strategic importance with its sea frontiers straddling important sea-lanes connecting the oil rich Indian Ocean region to the strategically important Asia Pacific region. Of considerable signi...
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The Strategist
To Steer the Stream of Time: The Crisis of Verge Powers
Vijay Shankar · 18 Mar, 2016 · #5000 · Commentary · Column
The Crisis of Verge Powers
A quarter of a century after the demise of the Soviet Union brought an end to the bi-polar confrontation of the Cold War, what is emerging today is a fluctuating plurality of on-the-verge-great powers. These...
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East Asia Compass
What is the Efficacy of Sanctions on North Korea?
Dr Sandip Kumar Mishra · 15 Mar, 2016 · #4999 · Commentary · Column
The United Nations Security Council decided to impose more sanctions on North Korea on 2 March 2016. This time, it took around two months for the UN to agree on ‘tougher sanctions’ on North Korea after Pyongyang conducted its fourth ...
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2016 EU-India Summit: Platform for Change?
Mirjan Schulz · 15 Mar, 2016 · #4998 · Commentary
On 30 March 2016, India and the European Union (EU) will meet for a 13th summit. The negotiations about a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will presumably be on top of the agenda. It will be the first summit since 2012, which was previously on an annu...
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Spotlight West Asia
Current Syrian Peace Processes Sterile: A New Approach Needed
Ranjit Gupta · 14 Mar, 2016 · #4997 · Commentary · Column
Several initiatives have been taken to try to end the war in Syria. The first was by the Arab League, then Geneva I and Geneva II by Russia and other countries, and finally, the Vienna Process, where even a calendar of steps for bringing peace t...
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Dateline Colombo
Conflict to Co-existence: Debating Heritage and Homogenisation
Asanga Abeyagoonasekera · 08 Mar, 2016 · #4996 · Commentary · Column
“From amidst the Samanola’s montane rings
And sprawling glades there serenely springs
The Lotus-the Buddha’s Sacred Feet,
Ushering Loving-kindness wide, in surfeit
This is our heritage and birth-right
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Pakistan: Kamal’s Dramatic Return and the Fate of MQM-A
Rana Banerji · 04 Mar, 2016 · #4995 · Commentary
On 03 March 2016, the former Mayor of Karachi, Mustafa Kamal, held a press conference to announce the formation of a new insofar unnamed political party. His castigation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Altaf's (MQM-A) leader Altaf Hussain as...
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Tibetan Parliamentary Elections in Exile: Glitches and Prospects
Apa Lhamo · 04 Mar, 2016 · #4994 · Commentary
The preliminary round of the direct election to elect the 'Sikyong' (prime minister) and 'Chithue' (members) of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile was held on 18 October 2015. The final round is scheduled for 20 March 2016. How much...
