Africa, Latin America, Caribbean & UN

No posts of Books and Monograph.

Too Early to Celebrate! The Decline of Somali Piracy off the East Coast of Africa

The pirates of Somalia constitute one one of the greatest threats to maritime security in modern time.Their operations started amidst the political instability, economic crisis and state collapse that characterised the fall of the Siad Barre regime in Somalia in 1991.

Framing South Africa’s Soft Power through Non-State Sources

South Africa arguably stands well above its regional counterparts in terms of soft power resources. This is not entirely unconnected with the uncalculated attempts by non-state actors to extend the reach of the country’s soft power status across the world. This article probes the contributions of the informal drivers of South Africa’s soft power. These ‘soft powered’ institutions and individuals (with no definite state affiliation) are critical contributors to South Africa’s soft power diplomacy.

India’s Stance and Renewed Commitment to UN Peacekeeping

The United Nations (UN) adopted UN Peacekeeping, during its initial years, to restore international peace and security. As the world body celebrated 70 years of its existence in 2015, UN Peacekeeping continues to play an important role in maintaining peace and security, by protecting civilians and preventing human rights violations arising from violence and conflict. India has emerged as one of the frontrunners in the shared responsibility of ushering in peace and stability in the world, under the umbrella of the UN.

Globalization of the Jihadist Threat: Case Study of Trinidad and Tobago

Despite a well-integrated Muslim population, and an environment where there is no tangible discrimination or lack of opportunity, the Jihadist ideology has succeeded in taking root in Trinidad. Links with organized crime have helped fuel the movement and strong links have been forged with ISIS and Al-Qaeda with the result that at least 89 Trinidadians are now in Syria. It is also argued that some Trinidadian Muslims have succumbed to the messages broadcast by ISIS and that the lure of fighting for an Islamic Caliphate has found resonance.

Subsystemic Unipolarities? Power Distribution and State Behaviour in South America and Southern Africa

This article explores the possibility of conceiving South America and Southern Africa as subsystemic unipolarities under Brazilian and South African primacy, respectively. It argues that this concept, when applied to these regions, sheds light not only on the long-term strategies behind the Brazilian and South African foreign policies towards their neighbourhood, but also on the behaviour of secondary regional powers and small states. This hypothesis questions the maxim that considerations related to polarity affect great powers only.

Has Nigeria Defeated Boko Haram? An Appraisal of the Counter-Terrorism Approach under the Buhari Administration

One of the campaign promises of President Muhammadu Buhari was that he would eliminate Boko Haram six months after assumption of office. By December 2015, the Buhari-led government gave itself a pass mark for countering the terrorists. The government declared that the group had been ‘technically defeated’. This declaration has led to debates in the public space as to the veracity of this claim. This article aims to critically appraise the on-going attempt to eliminate the Boko Haram threat under the Buhari administration.

Advantage: How American Innovation Can Overcome the Asian Challenge by Adam Segal

Advantage: How American Innovation Can Overcome the Asian Challenge follows a long line of books that tap into America's preoccupation with retaining its pole position as the repository of cutting edge technology, and the resultant dominance this offers it across the political, economic and military spectrum. These books are a subset within the wider pre-occupation of responding to the rise of the Asian powers, and a shift of the geopolitical centre of gravity from the Euro-Atlantic to the Asian landmass.

India–US Strategic Dialogue: An Assessment

India–US strategic dialogue was initiated in 2009, and is organised annually in different capitals. The first round of dialogue took place against the backdrop of pessimism in the bilateral relationship. For about six months after the new Obama administration was formed, strategists in Delhi were suspicious about the durability of an India–US strategic partnership that had been painstakingly nurtured by President George W. Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

IBSA at 10: South–South development assistance and the challenge to build international legitimacy in a changing global order

This commentary engages with the IBSA model of South–South development assistance. It focuses on the IBSA Trust Fund to demonstrate the growing political relevance of the partnership in development assistance initiatives. This is followed by an analysis of Brazil's increasing participation in South–South development assistance in many developing countries around the world.

IBSA: Avoiding Being BRICked Up

In his opening address at the 2011 India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) summit held in Pretoria/Tshwane, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa said the essence of the grouping was ‘Back to Basics: When Democracy and Development Work Together for a Better Life’.

Claudia Sheinbaum as First Woman President of Mexico: Promises and Challenges

The euphoria following Claudia Sheinbaum’s swearing in as the first woman president of Mexico is reflective of the people’s expectations from her.

Saurabh Mishra
October 17, 2024
IDSA Comments

Mozambique’s Presidential Elections and Implications for India’s Energy Security

The results of Mozambique’s presidential elections have key implications not only for regional security in southern Africa but also for India’s quest for energy security.

Abhishek Mishra
October 16, 2024
IDSA Comments

The ‘X’ Episode in Brazil: Between Sovereignty and Freedom of Speech

The recent ‘X’ episode with the Brazilian Supreme Court has renewed the debate over sovereignty of nation-states and freedom of speech in the international domain.

Saurabh Mishra
October 11, 2024
Issue Brief

Ukraine’s Strategic Push in Africa

Ukraine's renewed focus on Africa starkly contrasts with Russia's entrenched relationships across the continent.

Bolivia between Military Coup and Democracy

The coup attempt by Zúñiga highlights the fragility of the Bolivian state and democracy due to the impact of a regressive history and political culture.

Saurabh Mishra
August 14, 2024
Issue Brief

Hits and Misses of United States’ Africa Policy under Biden

The Biden administration’s Africa policy had to contend with military interventions, complex electoral transitions, fragile peace agreements and humanitarian crises.

Abhishek Mishra
August 08, 2024
Issue Brief

Africa and the United Nations Summit of the Future

The upcoming United Nations Summit of the Future presents a critical opportunity for Africa to advocate for more inclusive and equitable global governance.

Rajeesh Kumar
July 09, 2024
Issue Brief

Sudan’s Civil War: Community Resilience and Role of Women

In the complex dynamics of Sudan's civil war, women are critical players in promoting peace and stability.

Anusha Khurana
June 20, 2024
Issue Brief

The Multi-Faceted Trajectory of the India–Oman Strategic Partnership

India and Oman's growing and multifaceted strategic partnership displays a shared commitment to regional peace and economic development.

Farhan Khan
May 01, 2024
Backgrounder

Emerging Security Competition and Challenges in the Horn of Africa

The Horn of Africa is experiencing a wave of geopolitical realignment even as territorial disputes, competition for scarce resources, among other challenges continue to remain dominant.