Comparative Politics studies the effects of political culture, institutions and individual decision-making in different political systems around the world. Although a separate subfield from International Relations, Comparative Politics often touches on both the domestic origins of foreign policy and the impact of the international system on domestic political behaviors and outcomes.

In the final episode of Season 1 of The Bridge Project podcast series, we are joined by Prof. Ian Hall who teaches at the School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University, Australia and Dr Constantino Xavier, Fellow, Brookings Institution. They discuss a range of issues including India’s foreign policy in the neighbourhood, political cultures and nature of governments in India's context, comparative regional studies in India and China, idea of democracy promotion and regional integration and many more.

Show Notes

1. Ian Hall (2019), Modi and the reinvention of Indian foreign policy. Bristol: Bristol University Press,
2. Constantino Xavier (2020), China is the new hub for South Asian students, Hindustan Times
3. Hall, I. (2017). Not promoting, not exporting: India’s democracy assistance. Rising Powers Quarterly, 1(3), 81-97. 
4. Constantino Xavier (2020), 'The quest for regional connectivity’, Hindustan Times.
5. Constantino Xavier, 'Book Review: Power & Diplomacy by Zorawar Daulet Singh'

Attribution:
The Bridge Project (2020), "Comparative Politics & International Relations : Lessons for Indian Foreign Policy", 1(8), 03 May 2020, URL: https://www.buzzsprout.com/921337/3598108

Research Credits:
Mukul Bhatia & Ashu Shukla

Music Credits:
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode, we explore the nature of international organizations and the concept of multilateralism. We discuss how India’s engagement strategy in international organizations and its approach to multilateralism have evolved over the years. We also enumerate various stakeholders in multilateral diplomacy and throw light on the role of advocacy networks in international forums. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we also analyze how international institutions are responding to this crisis.

We are joined by two distinguished experts – Amb. T. P. Sreenivasan and Dr. Karthik Nachiappan.

Amb. T.P. Sreenivasan has served in the Indian Foreign Service for 37 years. He is the Former Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations. He has nearly 20 years of experience in multilateral diplomacy and has represented India at a number of international conferences organised by the United Nations, the Commonwealth and the Non-aligned Movement.

Dr. Karthik Nachiappan is a Research Fellow at Institute of South Asian Studies, NUS Singapore. His research focuses on India’s approach toward multilateral institutions and global governance. He has recently published a book titled “Does India Negotiate?”

Reference:
1. Hurd, I., 2011. Theorizing International Organizations. Choices and Methods in the Study of International Organizations. Journal of International Organizations Studies, 2(2), pp.7-22.
2. Nachiappan, K., 2019. Does India Negotiate?. Oxford University Press.
3. Sreenivasan, T.P., 2019, Modiplomacy: Through a Shakespearean Prism, Konark Publishers
4. Nachiappan, K., 2019, Redirecting Multilateralism: Will India Seize the Opportunity?, The Green Political Foundation, HBS.
5. Munsi, Pallabi (2020), Why the Indian Namaste is going viral?, Ozy.

Attribution:
The Bridge Project (2020), "On India's Approach to International Organizations and Multilateralism", 1(7), 28 April 2020, URL:

Research Credits:
Aishani Jaiswal

Music Credits:
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The United States of America is sort of an enigma in world politics. From championing the liberal world order to lampooning the same, US foreign policy is faced with challenges like never before. This throws up an interesting scenario for a country like India that has seen improved relations with the US compared to in the past. And yet, Indo-US relations have encountered recent challenges that calls into question the prospects of the relationship. 

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Sreeram Chaulia, Professor & Dean, Jindal School of International Affairs, O.P Jindal Global University and Kashish Parpiani, Research Fellow, Observer Research Foundation. In this engaging conversation, both experts on US foreign policy and Indo-US relations speak on a range of subjects including the changing role of US leadership, President Trump's America First Doctrine and his re-election chances, the balance of power in Asia, the recent politicisation of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on international relations.

Show Notes

1. Ian Hall, Book Review: Trumped: Emerging Powers in a Post-American World, Australia Institute of International Affairs.
2. Sreeram Chaulia, The post-American world is here, this is what countries must do now., The Economic Times
3. Kashish Parpiani, Trump’s gateway to offshore balancing, Observer Research Foundation.
4. Sreeram Chaulia, Balancing the strategic gains made with us, Livemint.
5. Kashish Parpiani, With Trump’s India visit, US-India ties go one step forward and two steps back, Observer Research Foundation.
6. Kashish Parpiani, Trump’s politicisation of COVID-19, Observer Research Foundation. 

Attribution:
The Bridge Project (2020), "Role of the U.S. in a Changing World and Implications for India", 1(6), 19 April 2020, URL: https://www.buzzsprout.com/921337/3414607

Music Credits:
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The world in 21st century is rapidly changing. New technologies are being invented every other day. New practices are being adopted to enhance productivity and efficacy. This trend is not untouched in the military domain. The emerging technologies and how military responds to make them operational is rapidly transforming how military operations are conducted around the world.
We discuss these issues in this episode featuring Dr. Anit Mukherjee and Mr. Abhijnan Rej. We also explore how academia and policy-makers in India have approached to this trend.

Dr. Anit Mukherjee is an Assistant Professor in the South Asia Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University. He has also served as a Major in the Indian Army and has been an alumni of India’s National Defense Academy.

Mr. Abhijnan Rej is a New Delhi-based researcher, analyst, and consultant. He frequently writes about international security, Indian defense and foreign policies, emerging technologies and strategy, and complexity science. He is a trained as a mathematician in the University of Connecticut and Max Planck Institute for Mathematics, Bonn.

Show Notes:

1. Abhijnan Rej (2020), The Remaking of War, Firstpost.
2. Eliot A. Cohen (2004) Change and Transformation in Military Affairs, Journal of Strategic Studies, 27:3, 395-407, DOI: 10.1080/1362369042000283958
3. Grissom, A. (2006). The Future of Military Innovation Studies, Journal of Strategic Studies.
4. Anit Mukherjee (2019), The Absent Dialogue, Oxford University Press.
5. Anit Mukherjee (2017), "Educating the Professional Military: Civil–Military Relations and Professional Military Education in India," Armed Forces and Society, XX(X): 1-22.

Attribution:
The Bridge Project (2020), "Military Modernization in the 21st Century: Where does India Stand?", 1(5), 12 April 2020, URL: https://www.buzzsprout.com/921337/3330343

Music Credits:
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Exploring the role of ideologies, institutions and interests in the practice of international relations and diplomacy of both India and China, this episode features Ambassador Kishan S Rana, Dr. Jabin T Jacob and Dr. Dhananjay Tripathi.

Ambassador Rana is currently Professor Emeritus and a Senior Fellow at the DiploFoundation. During his distinguished Indian foreign service career, Ambassador Rana worked in China from 1963-1965 and 1970-72 and was also Ambassador and High Commissioner to Algeria, Czechoslovakia, Kenya, Mauritius, and Germany.

Dr Jabin T Jacob is an Associate Professor in the Department of International Relations & Governance Studies at Shiv Nadar University. He is also Adjunct Research Fellow at the National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi and was formerly a Fellow and Assistant Director at the Institute of Chinese Studies.

Dr Dhananjay Tripathi is an Assistant Professor in the Dept of International Relations at South Asian University and whose expertise lies in regionalism, border studies and the political economy of South Asia.

In this discussion moderated by Dr. Tripathi, Ambassador Rana and Dr. Jacob discuss the Indian and Chinese thinking of international relations & practice of soft power diplomacy, the two countries' approaches to regional integration, the role of Indian and Chinese foreign ministries and the recent impact of COVID-19 on China's pursuit of reimagining the global order.

Show Notes

1. Kishan S Rana (2016), "Soft Power in an Asian context", in Naren Chitty (ed.), The Routledge Handbook of Soft Power, Routledge.
2. Jabin T. Jacob, “India, RCEP and the China spectre”, Money Control.
3. Kishan S Rana, “Why India needs smart diplomacy”, DiploFoundation.
4. Kishan S Rana (2013), “The Contemporary Embassy: Paths to Diplomatic Excellence”, Palgrave Macmillan.
5. Jabin T. Jacob, “China’s BRI & its Implications for India”, Heinrich Boell Stiftung India.
6. Jabin T. Jacob, “Covid-19 pandemic: China’s propaganda machinery is in full swing”, Money Control.
7. Kishan S Rana, “Getting the whole government involved in foreign affairs”, Business Standard.

Attribution:
The Bridge Project (2020), "Ideologies, Institutions & Interests: An Examination of the Indian & Chinese Experiences",1(4), 04 April 2020, URL: https://www.buzzsprout.com/921337/3226429

Music Credits:
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode, Dr Nabarun Roy, Assistant Professor in the Department of International Relations at South Asian University hosts SD Muni, Professor Emeritus at the Jawaharlal Nehru University. Prof. Muni was also India’s Special Envoy to Southeast Asian countries on UN Security Council Reforms from 2005-06 and served as India’s Ambassador to Laos PDR between 1997 to 1999. 

In this fascinating engagement, Dr Roy finds out from Prof Muni about what ails India's Neighbourhood First Policy and the recent challenges to it. They also talk about the India-Pakistan bilateral issue in SAARC, the prospects of sub-regionalism, China's recent forays in South Asia, institutional capacity of the MEA to implement the Neighbourhood First Policy and other pertinent themes.

Show Notes
1. Shubhajit Roy, "Our neighbourbhood policy has to be more generous: S Jaishankar", Indian Express.
2. S. D. Muni, and C. Raja Mohan, (2004). “Emerging Asia: India’s Options.” International Studies, vol. 41, no. 3, Aug. 2004, pp. 313–333.
3. S.D Muni, "Narendra Modi’s Foreign Policy: Rebuild South Asian Neighbourhood", Centre for Land Warfare Studies.
4. Amit Bhandari and Chandni Jindal, "Chinese Investments in India’s Neighbourhood", Gateway House.
5. Smruti S. Pattanaik (2016), "Sub-regionalism as New Regionalism in South Asia: India’s Role", Strategic Analysis, 40:3, 210-217.

Attribution:
The Bridge Project (2020), "Revisiting India's Neighbourhood Policy",1(3), 29 March 2020, URL: https://www.buzzsprout.com/921337/3159394

Music Credits:
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode, Prof Rajesh Rajagopalan, Professor of International Politics, JNU is joined by Ms Ruhee Neog, Director, IPCS to discuss the academic and policy debates in the context of the India-Pakistan nuclear dynamics in recent years. 

They discuss a range of issues including the concepts of nuclear deterrence, brinkmanship & Robert Putnam's two-level games vis-a-vis India- Pakistan dyad. They also tackle policy questions surrounding India's No-First Use (NFU) Doctrine, the government's response following the Uri & Pulwama terror attacks and the role & influence of media in crisis escalation and management.

Attribution:
The Bridge Project (2020), "Situating India-Pakistan Nuclear Debate post-Pulwama", 1(2), 22 March 2020, URL: https://www.buzzsprout.com/921337/3081832

Music Credits:
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Show Notes

1. Kevin James, "Can India or Pakistan Break Deterrence?", https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/can-india-or-pakistan-break-deterrence-53692

2. Amanda Foreman, "A Brief History of Brinkmanship", https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-brief-history-of-brinkmanship-1503507520

3. Robert D. Putnam, "Diplomacy and Domestic Politics: The Logic of Two-Level Games", https://www.law.upenn.edu/live/files/5154-putnamdiplomacy-and-doestic-politicspdf

4. Ruhee Neog and Hannah Haegeland, "Indian Media Plays a Crucial Role in Times of Crises With Pakistan", https://thewire.in/media/india-pakistan-mumbai-attack-media

5. Dinakar Peri, "Should India tinker with its ‘No First Use’ policy?" (Interview with Prof Rajesh Rajagopalan & Dr Manpreet Sethi), https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/should-india-tinker-with-its-no-first-use-policy/article29224507.ece

In this episode, Dr. Rajneesh Verma, Director of Research and Senior Fellow at the Intellesia Institute joins Dr. Nabarun Roy, Assistant Professor in the Department of International Relations at South Asian University to speak about the field of International Relations in policy-making. Dr Verma is also an Associate Professor in the College of International Relations at China's Huaqiao University.

Laying the conceptual introduction to the policy-academia divide in international relations, Dr Roy and Dr Verma discuss a range of themes including the application of theory in policy making, the current state of cross-field contribution in International Relations by looking at specific country cases like the US, Europe, China and India and the challenges ahead in order to bridge this gap.

Attribution:
The Bridge Project (2020), "Decoding the Policy-Academia Divide in International Relations", 1(1), 15 March 2020, URL: https://www.buzzsprout.com/921337/3011449

Music Credits:
Inspired by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Show Notes
1. Stephen M. Walt (2012), 'What role should IR scholars play in policy-making?', Foreign Policy.
2. Stephen M. Walt (2009), 'The cult of irrelevance', Foreign Policy.
3. Joseph Lepgold (1998), 'Is Anyone Listening? International Relations Theory and the Problem of Policy Relevance',  Political Science Quarterly, 113(1), 43-62. doi:10.2307/265765
4. Joseph S. Nye Jr. (2008), 'Bridging the Gap between Theory and Policy', Political Psychology, 29(4), 593-603.
5.  Nick Taber (2018), 'How Xi Jinping is Shaping China’s Universities', The Diplomat.

Dr. Verma can be reached at [email protected]. Dr. Roy can be reached on Twitter @NabarunRoy15 

The Bridge Project, a student-led initiative, attempts to bridge the widening gap between academia and policy making in India by offering a platform for dialogue between scholars and practitioners. 

In the very first season of this initiative, we invite both renowned academics and policy makers with expertise in international relations and Indian foreign policy to discuss relevant themes.

Each episode will explore how the fields of academia and policy making approach a particular issue and why the disconnect between the two fields continue to persist. Through such a series of conversations, we look to utilise the domain expertise of both academics and policy makers to help bridge the gap and find common ground on a range of issues.

Do follow us on our Facebook page 'The Bridge Project' and on Twitter @Project2Bridge for the latest updates.

Join us on this initiative, help spread the word and let's bridge that gap!