GUEST LECTURE

Ishani Naskar: India Neighbourhood Policy and China

Date

27. 11. 2019 10:00

Location

Trainee centre 3.40, Vodární 6, Olomouc

Abstract

Thus the limelight has turned now on to Asia, particularly on the two giant neighbours of Asia, India and China. In various ways which both these countries are described, Asian giants, geo-civilisational neighbours, the elephant and the dragon, the relationship between both these countries blow hot and cold. Now the popular understanding about India China relationship (also called Sino-India relationship) is that it is sprinkled with tension and conflicts. In reality this relationship is neither linear nor lopsided towards bilateral discord. In the recent both the countries realise that notwithstanding the competition and conflict, cooperation is also necessary for mutual interest(s). But it does not ensure permanent solution to border and territorial differences, nor does it guarantee China’s abeyance from India’s internal issues like terrorism or Kashmir, or for that matter address power asymmetry in the South Asian Regional Complex. China’s relationship with the countries of South Asia is premised on China’s focus on circumscribing India’s leadership in the region. It will be the scope of this talk to discuss how India deals with her neighbours in the South Asian Complex vis a vis China.

Bio

Prof. Ishani Naskar serves at the department of Political Science Rabindra Bharati University as Professor. She has been visiting faculty at Gourbanga University Malda, Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol and Institute of Foreign Policy Studies, University of Calcutta. She has worked on Indian foreign policy issues, particularly focusing on Act East, maritime issues in areas of Indian Ocean, the Indo pacific and South China Sea and cultural diplomacy. She has interest in the Northeast Indian region. She has produced articles and policy papers on behalf of think tanks working with Government of India focusing on these issues. . She is also part of Track II processes between India and China the Kolkata-Kunming Forum (K2K) and the informal think tank networks of the BIMSTEC and participated in the deliberations of these Track II processes. She has been invited to deliver lectures at various colleges and institutes within the country like the Malvyia Centre for Peace Research, BHU and provided inputs in policy roundtables. She has also delivered invited lectures at Chinese Foreign Affairs University and other Universities and Research Institutes in China and as SUSI fellow at Washington College USA. Her recent chapter on BCIM has been published in an edited book by Routledge. At present, Prof. Naskar is also acting as the Director of the Directorate of Distance Education of Rabindra Bharati University.

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