manmohan obama seema Courtesy: U.S. Embassy New Delhi
11 September 2013

India-U.S: Last chance to salvage ties

Since 2009, distraction and dysfunction in both India and the U.S. have dissipated the enthusiasm for greater bilateral ties. However, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has one last chance to salvage India-U.S. ties during his visit to the country this month, and he must utilise it appropriately

bob obama Courtesy: Systemman/WikimediaCommons
10 September 2013

Obama: Syria, spying and sellouts

Twelve years since the Taliban attacked the country, U.S. President Barack Obama is preparing for yet another war with a country in West Asia, for breaching a ‘red line’ he had drawn. However, the red line he needs to draw is about where the moral fiber of his presidency lies in the waning months of his tenure.

merkey steinbruck Courtesy: WikimediaCommons
6 September 2013

What does Germany want?

German foreign policy can be described as one anchored in the European and NATO alliance while being the economic centre of Europe. Yet, any government that comes in after the September 22 elections will be challenged by rapid developments in West Asia and elsewhere in a politically and economically turbulent world

assadobama Courtesy: Freedom House/Flickr
6 September 2013

Syria: An unwarranted intervention

Despite rising international opposition, U.S. President Barack Obama is ready to penalise the Syrian regime for an alleged chemical attack in Ghouta, Syria, last month. The justifications given by the U.S. for an armed attack are questionable, and such retaliatory action will destabilise the entire region

field woman Courtesy: Wendy North/Flickr
30 August 2013

Economic democracy, food security & CSR

Recently, the Indian Parliament passed two key legislations - the Companies Bill and the Food Security Bill. How will these seemingly unconnected legislations together empower technologies and business models that pose serious challenges to building a market economy that’s in sync with democratic aspirations?

maliki manmohan MEA Courtesy: Ministry of External Affairs, India
29 August 2013

Maliki’s visit lays ambitious goals

After Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s recent visit to India, cooperation in the energy sector could become the cornerstone of the bilateral relationship. A lot depends on India’s response to the opportunities offered by Iraq, and on how India triangulates its foreign policy with Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia

space by Benison P Baby Wikimediacommons Courtesy: Benison P Baby/WikimediaCommons
29 August 2013

India is sitting on a space goldmine

Indian companies are pursuing defence offsets and commercial aviation products, but bypassing the global space economy. To build on this market requires New Delhi to overhaul its space policy, ISRO to amend its policy on contracts, and Indian industry to share the risk and investment

manmohanchidammontek Courtesy: WikimediaCommons
26 August 2013

Dreams out, reality in

The economic mismanagement by the ruling UPA in the past few years – by putting politics and polls ahead of economy and prosperity, and slavish obedience to political masters – has created an environment of crisis and desperation in India. Where did the country’s so-called economic ‘dream team’ go wrong?

niyamgiri Rita Willaert flickr Courtesy: Rita Willaert/Flickr
23 August 2013

Fair business, fair growth

While the rejection by Odisha’s Gram Sabhas of mining projects in the state indicates the triumph of direct democracy, concerns that international investors will shun India due to the fear of unfavourable conditions are rife. How can we work towards both greater democracy and mining projects necessary for growth?