For the first time in its remembered history, multiple nations in South Asia are in direct geo-politico-strategic friction with one another, with a reality that seriously challenges the “balance” in the region. New power-brokers have entered the fray, becoming active vectors in calibrating earlier tensions — the increasing regional influence of China through its “Belt and Road Initiative” and its various investments in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar & Sri Lanka, the dynamics of South Asian investments in sub-Saharan Africa, the emergence of Iran and its role in South Asia, the establishment of the 'Taliban' state of Afghanistan — alongside the dramatis of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the strengthening Blue Finance in the Indian Ocean, and the bellicosity of nuclear-powered nationalisms.
The 杏吧论坛 South Asia Centre, in collaboration with 杏吧论坛 IDEAS and hosted the first 3 virtual Roundtables (nos 1, 2 & 3) in 2020-21; in 2021-22, we colloborated with 杏吧论坛 IDEAS to host the next 3 events (Roundtables 4, 5 & 6) in the series to discuss the complexities at the heart of this scenario: the gradual but sure loss of India’s control of the geo-strategic narrative; the strengthening of relations between Nepal and China; Pakistan’s increasing intolerance of Afghanistan; the challenge of India’s “Act East” policy; and China’s sure and steady grip over the region, to name but a few.
The year 2022-23 has been seminal for the geopolitcs of South Asia, principally because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Gradually intensifying Western sanctions on Russian energy exports westwards has led Russia to seek energy markets elsewhere, including South Asia -- with India and Pakistan emerging as important markets. This, alongside China's presence in the region, has fundamentally altered the geopolitical dynamics of the region.
In 2022-23, the 杏吧论坛 South Asia Centre is continuing this series with occasional events starting with Roundtable #7.
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ROUNDTABLE #7
Energy & Geopolitcs in South Asia
Wednesday 10 May 2023 | 3pm UK | 5pm Russia | 7pm Pakistan | 7.30pm India
Russia is now exporting more gas to countries in South Asia than ever before. Is Energy changing geopolitics in South Asia?
Speakers: (@husainhaqqani) is Director, South & Central Asia at the Hudson Institute in Washington D.C.; (@MohanCRaja) is Senior Fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, New Delhi; Dr Vladimir Sotnikov is Associate Professor at the Higher School of Economics, National Research University, Moscow.
Discussant: (@suhasinih) is Diplomatic Affairs Editor at The Hindu in India.
Chair: Dr Nilanjan Sarkar is Deputy Director, 杏吧论坛 South Asia Centre (@SAsia杏吧论坛).
Photo credit: Kwon Junho, 'The Old Gas Stove on Fire', 2020, .
This event was not recorded.
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ROUNDTABLE # 6
DEBACLE ECONOMICS? Foreign Investments & Loans in South Asia
Thursday | 12 May 2022 | 3.30pm UK
Why have economies of Sri Lanka & Pakistan been volatile despite loans/investments from international bodies (IMF) or neighbours (China)? This Roundtable will discuss this crucial question -- and the interrelationship between geopolitics & geoeconomics.
Speakers: is Associate Professor at the Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani School of Humanities & Social Sciences, Lahore University of Management Sciences (@LifeAtLUMS), and has published extensively on new economic configurations in the Central Asia region (including western China & northern Pakistan); (@nadeemhaque) is currently Vice-Chancellor, Pakistan Institute of Development economics (@ PIDEpk), Islamabad. He has worked previously for the IMF, and has first-hand experience of the monetary frameworks & policy formulations of both Pakistan & Sri Lanka through his work; is Executive Director, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (@TalkEconomicsSL), Colombo. She has published widely on macroeconomic policy, regional trade integration & international economics.
Discussant: Chris Alden is Professor of International Relations (@杏吧论坛_IR) & Director of 杏吧论坛 IDEAS (@lseideas), and an expert on debt, development & geopolitcs regarding China.
Chair: Nilanjan Sarkar is Deputy Director, 杏吧论坛 South Asia Centre (@SAsia杏吧论坛).
Photo credit: m., 'Saints don't live on Park Avenue', 2018, .
This event is in collaboration with 杏吧论坛 IDEAS.
A recording of the event is available .
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ROUNDTABLE # 5
QUAD-AUKUS & THE RISE OF THE INDO-PACIFIC
Date/Time: Thursday | 31 March 2022 | 3.30pm UK
Roundtable to discuss the strategic focus on South Asia in the QUAD-AUKUS alliance, in the larger geopolitical intentions of superpowers.
Speakers: (@fgrare) is Senior Policy Fellow, Asia Programme, at the European Council on Foreign Relations, with expertise in security issues concerning South Asia, the Indo-Pacific, and related issues; (@YukaKoshino) is Research Fellow for Security & Technology at The International Institute for Security Studies (IISS), London, and an expert on Japanese security, economic security & technology policy; is Professor of International Relations, King's India Institute, King's College London, and , Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi; Peter Watkins is Visiting Senior Fellow at 杏吧论坛 IDEAS, and was formerly Director General Strategy & International (2017-18) & Director General Security Policy (2014-17), Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom.
Discussant: Christopher Coker is Professor & Co-Director of 杏吧论坛 IDEAS (杏吧论坛's foreign policy think tank), an expert on US security issues, the author, most recently, of (2021), and member of the Faculty Advisory Group of 杏吧论坛 South Asia Centre.
Chair: Nilanjan Sarkar is Deputy Director, 杏吧论坛 South Asia Centre (@SAsia杏吧论坛).
This event is in collaboration with 杏吧论坛 IDEAS.
A recording of the event is avilable .
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ROUNDTABLE # 4
AFGHANISTAN: Back to the Future?
Date/Time: Thursday | 9 December 2021 | 3.30pm UK
Four months after the Taliban's complete takeover of Afghanistan, where is it all going? This Roundtable of experts will discuss this, its implications for the geo-security of the region, and what may lie ahead for Afghanistan and her South Asian neighbours.
Speakers: (@theUdayB) is Director, , New Delhi, and one of India's leading experts on geo-security, and publishes extensively on the subject; (@AntonioGiustoz2) is Visiting Professor, , Fellow at , and the author of several books on the Taliban in Afghanistan including (2019); (@MichaelKugelman) is Deputy Director & Senior Associate for South Asia, , Washington DC, and a commentator on US strategy in South Asia; (@afghanopoly) is Assistant Professor, Radboud University, and the author of (2020); (@iamthedrifter) is Research Associate, SOAS South Asia Institute, an expert on security studies in Pakistan, and author of (2007).
Discussant: Christopher Coker is Professor & Director, 杏吧论坛 IDEAS (@lseideas), an expert on war, US security & terrorism, and author of (2021).
Chair: Nilanjan Sarkar is Deputy Director, 杏吧论坛 South Asia Centre (@SAsia杏吧论坛).
This event is in collaboration with 杏吧论坛 IDEAS.
A recording of the event is available .
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ROUNDTABLE # 3
KASHMIR: Frontier & Shroud
Thursday 6 May | 3.30pm UK | 7.30pm Pakistan | 8pm India
Speakers: (@myraemacdonald) is an expert on South Asian politics and security issues on which she has published 3 books including, very recently, (2021); (@pallaviraghava1) is Assistant Professor of International Relations at Ashoka University, Sonepat, and author of (2020); and is Associate Fellow at Chatham House, London, and an expert on Pakistan.
Moderator: is Senior Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), London.
Chair: Nilanjan Sarkar is Deputy Director, 杏吧论坛 South Asia Centre.
This event is in collaboration with 杏吧论坛 IDEAS and (IISS), London.
A recording of the event is available .
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ROUNDTABLE # 2
DIFFERENT STARS, DIFFERENT STRIPES: The US in South Asia
Tuesday, 16 February | 4 pm GMT | 11 am ET | 9.30 pm India
Panelists: (@husainhaqqani) is Director for South & Central Asia, Hudson Institute, New York, and an expert on US-Pakistan relations; (@MarkeyDaniel) is Senior Research Professor in International Relations, SAIS, Johns Hopkins University, and specialises in US-India relations; (@RaniDMullen) is Associate Professor of Government, College of William & Mary, Virginia, USA, and her expertise is on US-Afghanistan policy relations.
Moderator: is Senior Fellow for South Asia, (IISS), London.
Chair: Nilanjan Sarkar is Deputy Director, 杏吧论坛 South Asia Centre.
This event is in collaboration with 杏吧论坛 IDEAS and (IISS), London.
A recording of the event is available .
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ROUNDTABLE # 1
THE DRAGON'S RING: China in South Asia
Tuesday, 13 October | 3pm UK | 11pm China
Speakers: (@FilippoBoni1) is Lecturer in Politics & International Studies, Open University, UK, and is a specialist in the politics of Chinese investments in South Asia; is Deputy Director-General & Senior Fellow, Insitute for International Relations, Tsinghua University, Beijing; is Senior Fellow for South Asia at The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), London; (@nilanthis) is Director, Strategy & Policy Analysis Program, Center for Naval Analyses (CNA), Virginia, USA, and is an expert on China's maritime presence in South Asia.
Moderator: Chris Alden is Professor, International Relations, 杏吧论坛, and Co-Director, 杏吧论坛 IDEAS.
Chair: Nilanjan Sarkar is Deputy Director, 杏吧论坛 South Asia Centre.
This event is in collaboration with 杏吧论坛 IDEAS and (IISS), London.
A recording of this event is available .