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A. Vinod Kumar is Associate Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), and a Visiting Faculty at the Institute of Foreign Policy Studies (IFPS), University of Calcutta, Kolkata. His research interests include nuclear policy issues (including non-proliferation, nuclear energy and deterrence), missile defence and India’s relations with the great powers. Kumar’s first book titled India and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime – The Perennial Outlier was published by the Cambridge University Press in April 2014. He has written extensively in acclaimed publications including Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, The National Interest, Strategic Analysis, South Asian Survey, Asia Times, Huffington Post, The Indian Economist and Vayu Aerospace Review, among others. Prior to joining IDSA, Kumar was a journalist with stints in print and audio-visual media platforms and have spearheaded pioneering endeavours in mass communications including the first political public relations campaign in Kerala. He has been a private broadcaster as well as a first generation online journalist and was part of many web ventures, including as Executive Editor of South Asia Monitor – a media diplomacy platform. Kumar was earlier a Fellow at the Indian Pugwash Society. His ongoing study is on the implications of missile defence for nuclear deterrence. Concurrently, he is also spearheading an archival mining effort to trace India’s nuclear and foreign policy history. Kumar is recipient of the Ministry of Defence Madras Medal.
The Expectant Global Nuclear Energy Renaissance: Movers, Shakers and Spoilers
Associate Fellow, IDSA, Mr A Vinod Kumar's chapter titled ‘The Expectant Global Nuclear Renaissance: Movers, Shakers and Spoilers’ was published in Springer Edited Volume titled ‘Resurgence of Nuclear Power: Challenges and Opportunities for Asia’, co-edited by Nandakumar Janardhanan, Girijesh Pant and Ravi B Grover.
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The Saffron Surge and Tilt towards Absolutism
Associate Fellow, IDSA, Mr A Vinod Kumar’s opinion piece on the political environment after three years of the NDA government, titled ‘The Saffron Surge and Tilt towards Absolutism’, was published in ‘The Citizen’ on June 13, 2017.
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Over 60 nations attend One Belt, One Road Summit: Is China ruling the world already?
Associate Fellow, IDSA, Mr A Vinod Kumar’s article on One Belt, One Road Summit, titled ‘Over 60 nations attend One Belt, One Road Summit: Is China ruling the world already?’ was published in ‘The Indian Economist’ on May 15 2017.
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Can Kim Jong-Un be tamed?
There will be little legitimacy for a pre-emptive US strike on North Korea unless Pyongyang launches a pre-meditated strike on any nation.
Norm Entrepreneur, Catalyst or Challenger? India in the Nuclear Non-proliferation Narrative
Associate fellow, IDSA, Mr A Vinod Kumar’s article on India and nuclear non- proliferation, titled ‘Norm Entrepreneur, Catalyst or Challenger? India in the Nuclear Non-proliferation Narrative’ was published in the South Asian Survey, Vol. 21:1&2.
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2017 Conference to Outlaw Nuclear Weapons: Time Ripe for a Stand-Alone Disarmament Instrument?
The First Committee vote is a culmination of a long-drawn campaign and marks a dramatic shift in the affairs of the non-proliferation regime.
Is There A Russia-China-Pakistan Axis In The Making?
The world order seems to be on the cusp of a major transformation. A potential power realignment seems to slowly shaping up with a hitherto unlikely combination (at least partly) of Russia, China and Pakistan, seeking to challenge the great power status quo, or pushing for greater bipolarity in global affairs.
Between Idealism, Activism, and the Bomb: Why did India Reject the NPT?
Associate Fellow, IDSA, Mr Vinod Kumar's chapter titled ‘Between Idealism, Activism, and the Bomb: Why did India Reject the NPT?’ was published in the Routledge edited volume ‘Negotiating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty: Origins of the Nuclear Order, edited by Popp Roland, Liviu Horovitz and Andreas Wenger.
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NSG and China’s Grand Strategic Flip-flops: Some Plausible Explanations
Given that the NSG may not be able to withhold the India membership question for long, in spite of China’s inconsistent positions, it would be unwise on India’s part to forfeit any advantage it has on the SCS issue.
The Non-Proliferation Orthodoxies Stalling India's NSG Bid
Associate Fellow, IDSA, Mr A Vinod Kumar’s article on India’s NSG bid, titled ‘The Non-Proliferation Orthodoxies Stalling India's NSG Bid’ was published in ‘The Huffington Post’ on July 4, 2016.