Arvind Gupta

China’s Defence White Paper 2013: Lessons for India

Struggling to deal with a rigid China on the intractable border issue, India would do well to digest the core assertions of the white paper, including the growing reach of the PLA, its professionalisation, keenness to protect overseas interests, modernisation of the nuclear arsenal, and growing role in foreign policy making.

• Arvind Gupta |
• April 25, 2013 |
• IDSA Comments

BRICS comes of age at Durban

BRICS is not challenging the existing world order. It is seeking a place in the sun for developing countries. It is looking at alternative approaches but there is no desire to seek confrontation with the West.

• Arvind Gupta |
• April 01, 2013 |
• IDSA Comments

America’s Asia Strategy in Obama’s Second Term

Indian planners would be cautious about an open US embrace as India does not want to be drawn into a US containment policy, which is how China perceives US rebalancing.

• Arvind Gupta |
• March 21, 2013 |
• IDSA Comments

India’s Foreign Policy: Coping with the Changing World by Muchkund Dubey

Muchkund Dubey's book on India's foreign policy is quite different from similar books written in recent times. Most books either reveal a nostalgia for the Nehruvian past or reject it altogether. The author of this book adopts a different approach. He links foreign policy to domestic factors at every step of his analysis and reminds the policy makers that there are limits to what diplomacy can achieve. He also points out that an uncertain domestic situation handicaps India's foreign policy.

• Arvind Gupta |
• March 2013 |
• Strategic Analysis

China’s Discursive Nationalism: Contending in Softer Realms by Bhavna Singh

Chinese foreign and domestic policies cannot be understood without understanding the evolving nature of Chinese nationalism. Bhavna Singh's book on Chinese nationalism deals with this issue in a detailed manner. The Communist Party of China (CCP) has relied heavily on the notion of patriotism, which overlaps that of nationalism, for domestic and international legitimacy. All eyes are on the leadership transition in China and its implications for the world. It will be interesting to see how the new leadership deals with the growing nationalistic sentiment in the country.

• Arvind Gupta |
• January 2013 |
• Strategic Analysis

Dr. Arvind Gupta, DG, IDSA paper presented on “Careers Beyond Academia: Role of Think Tanks” at IAIS

December 10, 2012 Event: Annual Convention of Indian Association of International Studies Think tanks are natural allies of the academic world. Think tank culture in India is growing. Many new think tanks are coming up. Think thanks are of various kinds. Some are focus on strategic issues of foreign policy and international relations, other focus on national issues, some are focus on socio economic issues, some promote some specific causes, some play advocacy role. For efficient running of think tanks four things are necessary: an idea, human resources, funding and transmission of idea. Think tanks also need to communicate their ideas in an effective manner. They run websites publish books, monographs and papers, hold seminars and conferences promote discussion groups, do advocacy and so on. Think thanks provide forums and platforms for discussion and debate. Therefore, they are excellent vehicle for getting people together on a common platform. Thinks tanks also develop strong out reach programmes. They become part of expert community both at the national and international level. Eventually, think tanks must grapple with policy issues. That is their principal role. Think tanks provide a bridge between academia and policy makers. Thus think tanks bring together variety of skills together. These include: 1. Area experts. 2. Domain expertise. 3. Linguistic skills. 4. Statistics and data base management, 5. Scenario building and net assessment 6. Risk analysis 7. Organisational skills like event management, administration, human resource management etc. 8. Miscellaneous skills - IT including web, social media etc, communication, cartographic, book publishing etc. 9. Fund raising, project management and delivery.

IDSA

IDSA is a premier think tank on strategic affairs. Set up in 1965, the think tank has contributed over years to debates on national security, defence and foreign policy. IDSA has a system of members. There are three kinds of members – Life Members, Members and Associate Members. Members can the institute’s various facilities and get its publications. They can also use the institute’s rich library and information resources. Many students become associate members on payment of a nominal fee and can use its library. Being a research institution, the IDSA has about 70 scholars engaged research on a variety of issues. About half of them have PhDs and M. Phils . The institute has 12 research centres focusing on area studies and other themes. Our researchers have been drawn from Indian universities. But, we also have experts from government departments. The institute also takes interns and visiting fellows on short term programmes. The vacancies are advertised, academic record scrutinised and interviews are held while selecting fellows. The institute’s fellowships are usually for two years during which fellows are required to write academic papers monographs and books. Research fellowships are extendable. IDSA seminars and conferences are usually open. The institute also organises by eminent persons and visiting dignitaries. There is a close link between IDSA and academia. While many of our scholars have strong academic background, many have gone on to take up senior academic positions in universities and other think tanks. The institute plays a role in the growth of strategic community in the country. To conclude, thus, think tanks provide a variety of openings for young students leaving university.

Brajesh Mishra’s Legacy to National Security and Diplomacy

As the first national security adviser of India, Brajesh Mishra’s contribution towards building a viable national security management system will always be remembered.

• Arvind Gupta |
• September 30, 2012 |
• IDSA Comments

A Resurgent China: South Asian Perspective

AResurgent China: South Asian Perspective, edited by Tan Tai Yong and S.D. Muni, is a timely book. The simultaneous rise of India and China is a defining reality of the Asian and global order. The trajectory of Sino-Indian relations will have an impact on South Asia. Since the mid-1980s, the two countries have made efforts to unfreeze the relationship, and in the last 10 years the Sino-Indian bilateral relationship has been transformed politically and economically.

• Arvind Gupta |
• September 2012 |
• Strategic Analysis

Will the Indus Water Treaty Survive?

The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) is the most significant confidence-building measure between India and Pakistan. Despite the wars and hostilities, the IWT has functioned well since it was signed in 1960. However, one cannot ignore the challenges of future supplies of fresh water between the two countries. The article delves into a historical account of how the treaty came about, the salient features of the treaty and examines whether ‘water rationality’ will continue to govern the riparian relationship or whether ‘water sharing’ will open up a new front of contentious politics.

• Uttam Kumar Sinha, Arvind Gupta, Ashok K. Behuria |
• September 2012 |
• Strategic Analysis

Post-2014 Afghanistan and India’s Options

India’s policy in Afghanistan must be Afghan-centric and not be concerned about Pakistani efforts to gain strategic depth. In fact, by getting involved in Afghanistan, Pakistan is likely to endanger its own security and stability.

• Smruti S. Pattanaik, Arvind Gupta, Ashok K. Behuria, Vishal Chandra |
• July 18, 2012 |
• Policy Brief