Think-Tanks and Universities

Author(s):  
Amitabh Mattoo ◽  
Rory Medcalf

Even though India’s engagement with the rest of the world has seen considerable expansion in the last two decades, the role of universities and think-tanks in shaping the contours of much of that engagement has been limited. The chapter explores the reasons behind the lack of influence or impact of these institutions in the foreign policy-making of the country. In doing so, it traces their historical trajectory and institutional evolution, outlines the state of research output generated by them, and brings into relief the lack of synergy between the academic, the policy, and the bureaucratic community. However, in recent times, there seems to be a course-correction with the government recognizing the importance of utilizing outside expertise from academia and think-tanks as India navigates the complex terrain of international relations in the coming years.

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-166
Author(s):  
Fachri Aidulsyah ◽  
Gusnelly Gusnelly

Since few years ago, Indonesian government has been concerning to gain many benefits from Indonesian diaspora in various regions in the world. There are many events and agendas provided by the government which are aimed to embrace many Indonesian diaspora for giving a great contribution towards their homelands. However, its vision for gaining attention from Indonesian diaspora tends to low because the government do not have Indonesian diaspora maps in details, comprehensive, as well as described by historical trajectory. This paper aims to understand the contribution of Indonesian Muslim diaspora by mapping the role of Indonesian Muslim Organizations in the Netherlands by socio-historical perspectives. The main reasons of the Netherlands as locus of this research are; Indonesian Muslim diaspora are the first actors who promoted Islam faces in this country since 1920s and it also was acknowledged as one of the highest Muslim populated countries in Europe. Afterwards, this paper shows that there are numerous Indonesian Muslim organizations in the Netherlands from different perspectives, mazhabs, and backgrounds. Even though the government did not pillarize Indonesian Muslim organizations, albeit most of them have strong connections with some Muslim organizations in Indonesia, starting from Nahdhatul Ulama (NU) until Salafist Movement.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Imron Rosyadi Hamid

AbstractThe role of non state actor (NSA) in international relations should be connected with the twotheories of IR: liberalism and constructivism. In both, the theories not only have strong faithin cooperation among states but also their main theoritical proposition and instrument havesame unit of analysis : human being. Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) of Indonesia, the largest islamicorganization in the world with more than 50 million members, should be considered as a nonstate actor (NSA) that can play its role in countering the most recent serious threat of theworld : terrorism and islamic radicalism. The International Summit of Moderat IslamicLeaders (ISOMIL) held by Nahdlatul Ulama on May 2016 in Jakarta which attended by 300moslem leaders from more than 30 countries is interesting to be discussed in terms of itsposition as one of the influential organization in the islamic world. This paper will discussthe brief history of Nahdlatul Ulama of Indonesia, its role in eliminating islamic radicalismin Indonesia and spreading moderate islam to the world through ISOMIL. This paper is notintended to idealize the role of non state actor in comparing with the government or stateactor itself, rather, to show the importance of contribution of non state actor in eliminatingislamic radicalism throught people to people in international cooperation.Keywords : Non State Actor (NSA), Nahdlatul Ulama, ISOMIL, Islamic RadicalismAbstraksiPeran aktor non negara (NSA) dalam hubungan internasional harus dikaitkan dengan duateori IR: liberalisme dan konstruktivisme. Kedua teori tersebut tidak hanya memilikikepercayaan kuat terhadap kerja sama antar negara, tetapi juga proposisi dan instrumenteoritis utama mereka memiliki unit analisis yang sama: manusia. Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)Indonesia, organisasi islam terbesar di dunia dengan jumlah anggota lebih dari 50 juta,harus dianggap sebagai aktor non-negara (NSA) yang dapat memainkan perannya dalammelawan ancaman serius dunia terakhir: terorisme dan radikalisme islam. KTTInternasional Pemimpin Islam Moderat (ISOMIL) yang diselenggarakan oleh NahdlatulUlama pada bulan Mei 2016 di Jakarta yang dihadiri oleh 300 pemimpin umat Islam darilebih 30 negara sangat menarik untuk didiskusikan dalam hal posisinya sebagai salah satuorganisasi yang berpengaruh di dunia islam. Makalah ini akan membahas sejarah singkatNahdlatul Ulama Indonesia, perannya dalam melenyapkan radikalisme islam di Indonesiadan menyebarkan Islam moderat ke seluruh dunia melalui ISOMIL. Makalah ini tidakdimaksudkan untuk mengidealkan peran aktor non negara dalam membandingkan denganpemerintah atau aktor negara itu sendiri, melainkan, untuk menunjukkan pentingnyakontribusi aktor non-negara dalam menghapus radikalisme Islam kepada orang-orang dalamkerjasama internasional.Kata kunci: Aktor Non Negara (NSA), Nahdlatul Ulama, ISOMIL, Radikalisme Islam


2017 ◽  
pp. 148-159
Author(s):  
V. Papava

This paper analyzes the problem of technological backwardness of economy. In many mostly developing countries their economies use obsolete technologies. This can create the illusion that this or that business is prosperous. At the level of international competition, however, it is obvious that these types of firms do not have any chance for success. Retroeconomics as a theory of technological backwardness and its detrimental effect upon a country’s economy is considered in the paper. The role of the government is very important for overcoming the effects of retroeconomy. The phenomenon of retroeconomy is already quite deep-rooted throughout the world and it is essential to consolidate the attention of economists and politicians on this threat.


Author(s):  
Keith Krause

This article evaluates the achievements and limitations of the world organization in the field of disarmament. It stresses the role of the UN as part of the efforts to control arms as a way to achieve international peace and security. It also notes specific cases where progress was achieved or not, as well as the more recent efforts to handle the problems of anti-personnel land mines and small arms and light weapons. The article also tries to draw out some of the broader implications for international relations of the UN experience with formal multilateral arms control, among others.


Author(s):  
Alexander Naumov

This article reviews the role of Anglo-German Naval Agreement of 1935 in escalation of crisis trends of the Versailles system. Leaning on the British Russian archival documents, which recently became available for the researchers, the author analyzes the reasons and consequences of conclusion of this agreement between the key European democratic power and Nazi Reich. Emphasis is placed on analyzing the moods within the political elite of the United Kingdom. It is proven that the agreement became a significant milestone in escalation of crisis trends in the Versailles model of international relations. It played a substantial role in establishment of the British appeasement policy with regards to revanchist powers in the interbellum; policy that objectively led to disintegration of the created in 1919 systemic mechanism, and thus, the beginning of the World War II. The novelty of this work is substantiated by articulation of the problem. This article is first within the Russian and foreign historiography to analyze execution of the Anglo-German Naval Agreement based on the previously unavailable archival materials. The conclusion is made that this agreement played a crucial role in the process of disintegration of interbellum system of international relations. Having officially sanctioned the violation of the articles of the Versailles Treaty of 1919 by Germany, Great Britain psychologically reconciled to the potential revenge of Germany, which found reflection in the infamous appeasement policy. This launched the mechanism for disruption of status quo that was established after the World War I in Europe. This resulted in collapse of the architecture of international security in the key region of the world, rapid deterioration of relations between the countries, and a new world conflict.


Author(s):  
Al. A. Gromyko

The research is focused on several key problems in the system of international relations influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is shown that the events caused by it and broadly identified as a coronacrisis have a direct impact on the world economic contradictions (pandenomica) and political ones, including the sphere of security. These particular aspects are chosen as the main objects of the research. The author contends that the factor of the pandemic has sharpened the competition between regional and global players and has increased the role of a nation- state. In the conditions of transregional deglobalisation, regionalism and “protectionism 2.0” get stronger under the banners of “strategic vulnerability” and “economic sovereignty”. A further weakening of multilateral international institutions continues. The EU endeavours to secure competitive advantages on the basis of relocalisation, industrial and digital policies and the Green Deal. The article highlights the deterioration in the relations among Russia, the US, the EU and China, the unfolding decoupling between Washington and its European allies, which stimulates the idea of the EU strategic autonomy. An urgent need for the deconfliction in Russia – NATO interaction is stated.


Author(s):  
Iana V. Shchetinskaia ◽  

Research institutions and specifically think tanks have existed and developed in the United States for more than 100 years. Since their inception, they have changed and evolved in many ways, while expanding their research foci and political impact. Since the 2010s, a few experts in the field have observed that the U.S. policy expertise is now in crisis. To understand current challenges of policy analysis institutions it is important to study them in a historical retrospective. This article explores the political and socioeconomic contexts in which think tanks emerged and developed from 1910 to the 1950-s. It particularly examines the role of international crises, as well as domestic political factors, such as the role of philanthropy organizations, institutional changes in the government, and others. It discusses how these domestic and foreign policy aspects affected the early development of the Carnegie Endowment for the International Peace (1910), the Council on Foreign Relations (1921) and the RAND Corporation (1948).


2021 ◽  
pp. 84-97
Author(s):  
Tatyana Leonidovna Musatova

The article analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic crisis on the foreign policy and diplomacy of states, including economic diplomacy. ED is interpreted as a multi-sided multi-faceted activity, an integral part of foreign policy aimed at protecting the national interests and economic security of the country. Given the interdepartmental nature of the ED, the presence of numerous actors and agents, not only state, but also public and business structures, political and foreign economic coordination on the part of the Foreign Ministries is of great importance, and this role of foreign policy departments is increasing during the pandemic crisis. The activity of the ED of Russia in 2020 was generally successful, among the main results: active participation of diplomats in the anti-epidemic work of the Government of the Russian Federation, including export flights, provision of emergency assistance by compatriots abroad, assistance to foreign countries; measures to promote the Russian vaccine in the world, establish its production abroad, and thus win new world markets for medicines; settlement of the pricing crisis on the world oil market with the leading role of Russia and Saudi Arabia; adjustment of double taxation agreements with a number of foreign countries, taking into account the domestic economic needs of the country; the growing experience of BRICS, this interstate association, which did not know the crisis, including its fight against epidemiological diseases, during the period of Russia’s presidency in the BRICS; further steps to deepen integration within the EAEU; Russia’s success in the eastern direction of foreign policy, in the development of trade exchanges and epidemiological cooperation with the ASEAN and APEC states. The new world crisis has become a catalyst for the convergence of ED methods with scientific and public diplomacy, with other diplomatic cultures that can be combined under the general name of civil diplomacy. Such a separation is required to protect the legacy of professional diplomacy, the popularity and use of which methods is growing significantly. ED, as an integral part of official diplomacy, is presented as a mediator between classical and civil diplomacy. It provides civil society with an example of the more rigorous, pragmatic, resultsoriented work that the current pandemic crisis requires.


Author(s):  
Bulut Gurpinar

Children have always been a part of the war for millennia but child soldiering is often portrayed as something rather new, as a side product of the Post-Cold War in most of the fragile states in the world. Underdevelopment is a feature of the fragile state and especially political violence is a common figure in such states. This paper argues that, children's role changes in fragile states, and further focuses on children in Syrian war and their changing role in the society. While the conflict was turning into a war the role of the children both in the society and in the conflict of which increasing tension was turning it into a war. And when the country, one of the fragile states in the world, collapsed, the government lost control and the children took the sides as terrorists. Given the brief information about the changing roles of Syrian children in this dynamically violent environment, this article will examine the transformation of the role of the children in the fragile state Syria.


Author(s):  
Halise Duygu Özalp

Since the date it was founded to the present day, International Labour Organization (ILO) has been working on developing policy proposals about the problematic areas emerging in working life. Though unemployment is regarded across the world as the source of major problematic areas of economies, the thought of the need for taking the new ‘invisible' work types into the spotlight also as problematic areas is considered significant. This chapter acknowledges this need and is about the fight against modern slavery; in this context, the chapter takes the assessments and reports of ILO on forced labor. Thus, the purpose is to put forth the necessity and importance of fighting against the modern forms of slave labor, expanding on the efforts of the Organization which can cause significant pressure on the government/state level.


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