COMMENTARIES
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Self-Immolations in Tibet-III: Altruism, Fatalism or Anomie?
Bhavna Singh · 23 Aug, 2012 · #3709 · Commentary
In its Annual International Religious Freedom Report released on 30 July 2012, the US held the Chinese government responsible for the wave of self-immolations amongst Tibetans over the recent years (45 deaths so far). It identified that ‘t...
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The g7+’s ‘New Deal’: A New Approach to State Fragility?
Lidia Leoni · 23 Aug, 2012 · #3708 · Commentary
2011 saw a new development in the international community's discourse on state fragility. Nineteen countries ranking high in the Fund for Peace's Failed States Index formed a voluntary diplomatic group, called the g7+, with the aim of im...
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Indo-Iran Cooperation in Afghanistan: Potential and Problems
Aryaman Bhatnagar · 22 Aug, 2012 · #3707 · Commentary
India and Iran have contributed substantially to the development of Afghanistan post-2001 and have committed to further increase their involvement in the country in the future. Both countries have also collaborated with each other on a number of...
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Afghanistan: Operation Enduring ‘Fiefdom’
J Jeganaathan · 22 Aug, 2012 · #3706 · Commentary
The US recently appointed James Cunningham and Richard Olson as ambassadors to Afghanistan and Pakistan respectively. Speculations are now rife about how are they going to shape the US end-game in the Af-Pak region. The appointments occurred in ...
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Kudankulum: Questioning India’s Capability to Guarantee Nuclear Safety
Shubhra Chaturvedi · 22 Aug, 2012 · #3705 · Commentary
The sudden re-emergence of a hue and cry (http://bit.ly/O3FwOM) in the Sri Lankan media regarding radiation emitted by the India nuclear plant at Kudankulam could not capture much attention around the world. The news however did raise certain is...
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Christianity in China: Changing Domestic Attitudes?
Namrata Hasija · 22 Aug, 2012 · #3704 · Commentary
Although, Daoism and Buddhism are the two religions usually identified with China, Christianity also dates back to the Tang dynasty when the Nestorians came to spread it. This article looks at the reasons for the rise of Christianity in China du...
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Sansha: Understanding China’s Increasing Foothold
Teshu Singh · 22 Aug, 2012 · #3703 · Commentary
In the latest development in the South China Sea (SCS) region, China, in a move of unilateral aggression, established the new city of Sansha on Yongxing Island/Woody Island a few miles away from Hainan Province. Besides being a pivot point of th...
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Kayani's Independence Day Address: Signs of Introspection?
Rana Banerji · 22 Aug, 2012 · #3702 · Commentary
General Kayani’s annual Independence Day address to Pakistan Military Academy cadets at Kakul (14 August 2012) was remarkable in more ways than one. It reminded in painstaking monotone of Jinnah’s objective to create Pakistan ‘...
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Maoist Organisational Upheaval in Odisha: Some Implications
Rajat Kumar Kujur · 17 Aug, 2012 · #3701 · Commentary
Recent developments within the Communist Party of India (Maoist), which led to the expulsion of senior Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda, is being seen as something which could significantly affect the future course of the Maoist movement, not only...
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Can the Empire Strike Back?: US, China and U-Tapao
Narayani Basu · 17 Aug, 2012 · #3700 · Commentary
Details of a recently unveiled strategic review by the Pentagon have revealed the direction of the Obama administration’s rebalancing in the Asia-Pacific. While some have taken the news fairly positively, it is certainly raising concerns f...
