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212. The Conventional Wisdom About the Chinese Military Challenge: Incomplete and Unpersuasive
- Author:
- Steven Kosiak
- Publication Date:
- 11-2023
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
- Abstract:
- Now possessing the world’s largest economy and backed up by an increasingly capable military, in recent years China has grown into an ever more significant and complex concern for the United States, its friends and allies, and others in the Indo–Pacific region. It has become not only stronger and more capable but, in a variety of areas, including the South China Sea and the Taiwan Straits, more assertive. In this light, it is only prudent that the United States remain engaged in the region and, along with its allies, maintain robust military capabilities. At the same time, however, it is difficult to understand some of the main features of what has emerged as the conventional wisdom concerning the magnitude, scope and shape of the challenge China represents, particularly in its military dimensions. Among other things, shortcomings in the conventional wisdom include the unsettling degree to which mainstream assessments of the Chinese military challenge have: • devoted enormous attention to various Taiwan contingencies and, by comparison, remarkably little attention to the Chinese military’s capacity — or lack thereof — to directly conquer or coerce any of the major powers in the region; • equated defending Taiwan, and other relatively small nearby economies, with preventing Chinese regional hegemony, without providing significant analytical support for the presumption; • argued that Taiwan is defensible, in part because of the vulnerability of seaborne invasion forces to precision-guided munitions, as well as the difficulties inherent strategies aimed at punishing adversaries into submission (e.g., through bombardment or blockade) — while seeming to ignore the logical inferences of those conclusions for the defensibility of the major powers in the region, which are larger, economically stronger and generally located much farther from China; • analogized the challenge posed by China today to the threats posed by Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in World War Two and the Soviet Union during the Cold War in ways that — because of differences in, among other things, geography, technology, nationalism, and China’s role in the global economy (including its great dependence on international trade) — may do more to obscure than illuminate the challenge. These analytical shortcomings need to be addressed through additional, more rigorous and better focused research and analysis. While clearly needed, however, it seems unlikely that this additional analysis will come close to fully redeeming the conventional wisdom about the Chinese military challenge as articulated today, including the necessity of some key components of the U.S. military’s existing force structure, modernization and other plans. Taken together, the gaps, weaknesses, blind spots, and analytical leaps upon which the conventional wisdom rests appear too pervasive and deep for such to be the case. Given this reality, rather than the current U.S. strategy, embracing something akin to the Active Denial strategy proposed by a Quincy Institute panel in 2022 would seem to represent a more prudent approach. 1 This strategy embraces some cuts to force structure — especially among ground forces — yielding significant budgetary savings. But it retrains robust air, naval and other forces that would leave the U.S. military with a powerful capacity to deter and, if need be, counter Chinese aggression in the Indo–Pacific and, specifically, to support key U.S. allies and friends in the region. And better addressing the areas noted above could go far towards facilitating the refinement of this more restrained strategy, and ensuring that it is both as effective as possible and can be supported at an affordable and sustainable price.
- Topic:
- Nationalism, Bilateral Relations, Hegemony, Influence, and Military
- Political Geography:
- China, India, Asia, and United States of America
213. Creative Freedom and Censorship: A Comparative Analysis of Regulatory Framework for Ott Contents in the UK, India, and China
- Author:
- Siddharth Kanojia
- Publication Date:
- 12-2023
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Journal of Liberty and International Affairs
- Institution:
- Institute for Research and European Studies (IRES)
- Abstract:
- The emergence of over-the-top (OTT) services has lately revolutionized the way people consume media content. These services have emerged as a significant disruptor in the media industry in recent years. With the advent of OTT platforms, various concerns have arisen over the censorship and regulation of content on these platforms. Accordingly, this paper has examined the current trends in censorship and regulation of OTT content through the perusal of various legal and regulatory frameworks in the United Kingdom, India, and China. It has probed into cases of censorship and examined various aspects of civil and political liberties. The analysis has revealed a persuasive connection between the degree of freedom of expression and creative freedom dispensed in each region. Lastly, the paper has provided recommendations for policymakers and other stakeholders on balancing the need for freedom of expression and access to information with responsible content management and regulation.
- Topic:
- Regulation, Freedom of Expression, and Censorship
- Political Geography:
- China, United Kingdom, and India
214. Leveraging IBSA for the G20 Troika Presidencies
- Author:
- Rajiv Bhatia and Manjeet Kripalani
- Publication Date:
- 11-2023
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations
- Abstract:
- On December 1, 2023, India will hand over the G20 Presidency to Brazil. The G20 troika will now comprise the three IBSA countries – India, Brazil, South Africa – till November 2025. This trio has an agenda in common and with the G20, such as multilateral reform, energy transitions and digitalisation. IBSA should use its mechanisms and natural solidarity to advance the interests of the Global South.
- Topic:
- Reform, G20, Digitalization, and Energy Transition
- Political Geography:
- South Asia, India, Brazil, and South America
215. Naxalism: The Left-Wing Extremist Movement in India
- Author:
- Rajashri Ghosh
- Publication Date:
- 01-2023
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Polish Political Science Yearbook
- Institution:
- Polish Political Science Association (PPSA)
- Abstract:
- After 200 years of bondage, India gained freedom from the British through numerous revolutionary movements in 1947. But, within 20 years of the independence, insurgent movements had started arising against the Indian Government as well. In 1967, the Naxalite insurgency was initiated as a radical protest by the oppressed peasants against the colonial tenancy system retained by the feudal landowners even after the British had left the country for good. The uprising got pinpointed as Naxalism and the rebels as Naxals, as it all started at Naxalbari, a village in the Indian state of West Bengal. Spanning over 50 years, this ongoing movement initially acquired the respect of the general population of India with its radical ideologies of fighting against the oppressor imperialists but soon mutated into a source of terror. A qualitative assessment of the instances taken from secondary sources, such as context-related online journals and blog articles, will help this paper to explain the formation of the contemporary perception of Naxalism as an extreme radical armed revolution and one of the biggest security challenges against the Indian Government.
- Topic:
- Terrorism, Radicalization, Leftist Politics, Maoism, and Naxalism
- Political Geography:
- South Asia and India
216. Smart Cities: Promoting Urban Governance in India
- Author:
- Centre for Policy Research
- Publication Date:
- 12-2023
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Centre for Policy Research, India
- Abstract:
- Recognising the role of cities as catalysts for economic progress, India has placed technology adoption at the heart of governance transformations via its Smart Cities Mission (SCM). Moreover, India’s adoption of smart city solutions has been unique in also responding to the country’s diverse urban contexts and specific urban governance challenges, which this report focuses on capturing. By allowing cities’ choice to interpret ‘smartness’ as per local needs and contexts, the SCM has encouraged cities to have diverse and, in several instances, more resident-centric project portfolios. Bringing in innovative institutional mechanisms, for instance the special purpose vehicle, has afforded localised decision-making flexibility and power to implement projects quickly and efficiently, though concerns about the sustainability of these institutional interventions remain. Lastly, the adoption of data-driven technology and infrastructure across smart cities has not only enhanced service delivery and emergency response but also provided an avenue to improve interdepartmental coordination. Particularly encouraging is the first-time data-based urban transformations unfolding in the mid-sized cities. Improved governance in this fast-growing segment of the Indian urban landscape is expected to yield multiple positive spillovers for economic growth and social cohesion.
- Topic:
- Governance, Economy, Urban, and Cities
- Political Geography:
- South Asia and India
217. Finding the Finance: A guide to identifying Centrally Sponsored Schemes to fund heat resilience solutions
- Author:
- Shreya Shekhar, Tamanna Dalal, Sidharth Santhosh, Aditya Valiathan Pillai, and Bhargav Krishna
- Publication Date:
- 12-2023
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Centre for Policy Research, India
- Abstract:
- This analysis attempts to address a pressing problem at the heart of India’s plans to combat extreme heat: finance. Indian Heat Action Plans (HAPs) contain a welcome diversity of adaptation solutions spanning many sectors, but generally fail to identify viable sources of public and private finance to implement these solutions. In a previous study published in March 2023, we found that only two of the 37 state, district and city heat action plans reviewed had cited specific sources of finance for at least some of their interventions. In this analysis, we map heat-resilience solutions proposed across 37 Indian HAPs against interventions in India’s Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs), Central-Sector Schemes (CSs), and an Act, all implemented by states with significant financial support from the Union government. These cover areas as diverse as the creation of low-cost affordable housing, the construction of artificial water bodies, urban greening, and changing the way settlements are built, among others. CSSs carry a lot of financial firepower and if creatively utilised, could help solve some of India’s climate finance shortfalls. In Financial Year 2023-2024 (FY 2023-24), CSSs were allocated ₹ 4,76,104.59 crores or 10.57% of the total Union budget (₹ 45,03,097 crores). We reviewed a total of 72 schemes which includes 67 CSSs, one CS, one Act and three national missions/action plans related to heat action and with budgetary allocations for FY 2023-24. We found that a quarter (18 schemes) contained interventions that directly correspond to heat resilience solutions identified in the HAPs. Overall, these 18 schemes (16 CSSs, an Act and a CS) could potentially support the implementation of 16 different types of heat solutions.
- Topic:
- Climate Change, Cities, Resilience, and Heat
- Political Geography:
- South Asia and India
218. Overcoming Barriers to Improve Antimicrobial Access, Innovation, and Stewardship in India
- Author:
- Parshuram Hotkar, Deepak Jena, Mohammed Abdul Rahman, Snigdha Das Sweety Shreyashi, and Javier Guzman
- Publication Date:
- 07-2023
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Center for Global Development (CGD)
- Abstract:
- India is racing against the clock in its fight against antimicrobial resistance. A combination of complex regulatory and procurement systems, a lack of health insurance penetration, and little groundwork on state and national action plans has stymied progress. A multi-fold approach is needed to improve access to, and innovation of next-generation antimicrobials and enhance stewardship practices. Improving access to the World Health Organization’s list of Watch and Reserve categories of antimicrobials through existing and new procurement channels, strengthening stewardship and diagnostic facilities in hospitals, and developing an environment conducive to antimicrobial research and development is key to achieving these goals.
- Topic:
- World Health Organization, Innovation, Public Health, Global Health, Healthcare System, and Antimicrobial Resistance
- Political Geography:
- South Asia and India
219. Thin Ice in the Himalayas: Handling the India-China Border Dispute
- Author:
- International Crisis Group
- Publication Date:
- 11-2023
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- International Crisis Group
- Abstract:
- Frictions along the India-China frontier have heated up following a burst of fighting in 2020, the first in decades. The danger of more will lurk as long as the countries disagree over where the line lies. Both should take steps to manage the mounting risks.
- Topic:
- Conflict Prevention, Territorial Disputes, Borders, and Risk
- Political Geography:
- China, South Asia, India, Asia, and Himalayas
220. The Dual Mandate of Food Exporting States: India’s Roles in the Global Food Order
- Author:
- Jose M. L. Montesclaros
- Publication Date:
- 09-2023
- Content Type:
- Commentary and Analysis
- Institution:
- Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
- Abstract:
- Criticisms of India’s rice export ban must be balanced with the recognition of its responsibility to ensure food affordability for its constituents. Finding a middle ground that addresses India’s predicament could help to prevent the impending international food price crisis from escalating.
- Topic:
- Climate Change, Food Security, Exports, Affordability, Rice, and Conference of the Parties (COP)
- Political Geography:
- South Asia and India