Backgrounders

Anti-System Extremisms

An Unnatural Convergence: Hard Right and Radical Left in Their Anti-Westernism and Fascination with Russia


Memory, nationalism and shifting identity in Bangladesh

Last year’s students’ movement has brought to sharp relief the continuing religio-linguistic divide in Bangladesh

THE BLACK MIRROR OF HISTORY

Donald Trump Following the Steps of James Buchanan and Herbert Hoover: The Exact Opposite of Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan
Neighbourhood
Defence

The Indo-Pakistani “Phone War”: The world on the brink

Indo-Pakistani tensions mirrored a chilling mix of nationalism, miscalculations, and political games that pushed both countries dangerously close to war

India’s Indus bargain needs a cohesive strategy not coercion

Given the challenges the Indus Basin faces, India needs to weave geo-strategy with geo-ecology

The Himalayan Abyss: India, Pakistan, and the Spiral of Terror

The terrorist attack of April 22, 2025, in the Baisaran Valley has reignited this geopolitical powder keg.
Energy

How Trump’s pursuit of cheap oil will impact India’s energy security

The promotion of fossil fuel-driven growth by Trump poses significant challenges but there are mitigating factors as well

Can nuclear replace coal-based electricity in India?

India’s energy strategy should be a judicious mix of coal, nuclear power, and clean energy resources. The share of coal, however, needs to come down

Making an electric car battery, minus China

Building indigenous capacities to produce raw materials for lithium-ion batteries will be crucial for achieving energy transition goals
World

Donald Trump’s Middle East Tour: A Strategic Reset on a Highly Volatile Chessboard

Trump’s regional tour marks a strategic shift from interventionism to diplomacy and trade, signaling a complex geopolitical inflection point

Why US-China trade talks may not lead to a comprehensive deal

If the US pressures China to free-float the yuan, increase market access for its companies and go for full capital account convertibility, a trade deal is unlikely

What does Germany’s rightward shift mean for Europe and Trumpian world?

Germany may have survived the extreme right wing political onslaught of AfD, but the world looks a dangerous place with rearmament of Europe