Program Related Publication Feeds

Capacity and Resolve

jdunton — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The last decade has seen the United States involved in two wars, an ongoing worldwide struggle against terrorism, and more recently a severe economic recession. This period has exposed two great structural challenges facing the United States. First, in a globalized world, vectors of prosperity quickly become vectors of insecurity. And second, the center of gravity in world affairs is shifting to Asia.

Global Forecast 2011

jdunton — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Responding to Crisis in Japan

ian — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The heartbreaking tragedy that has befallen Japan will not keep that resilient and strong nation down for long. However, the three-headed monster of a massive earthquake, life-sucking tsunami, and nuclear uncertainty has hit our stoic allies hard.

Enter the Elephant: India Is Part of Asia

ian — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu god is considered an important symbol in India and is widely revered in mythology as the “remover of obstacles.” Strategically, including India in new strategic conceptions of Asia could help to do exactly that—remove obstacles, enhance balance and help create regional architectu

South Asia Monitor: The Inside Pages: An Analysis of the Pakistani Press

udukkipati — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Pakistan’s press enjoys a wide measure of freedom, though unofficial norms backed up by informal pressure restrict criticism of the Pakistan Army. The Urdu press provides a window on the views available to a mass audience in Pakistan that should worry U.S. policymakers.

South Asia Monitor: Beyond Kashmir's Summer of Violence

udukkipati — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Nearly six months of regular violence in Kashmir have brought to the fore a new generation of protesters, unimpressed by the traditional separatist leadership and armed with stones—and the Internet. India’s appointment of three non-politicians as “interlocutors” with the Kashmiris has raised some hopes.

Enhancing India’s Role in the Global Nonproliferation Regime

jdunton — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

One of the major objectives of the U.S.-India civil nuclear deal was to bring India within the international nuclear nonproliferation regime by giving it both the rights and responsibilities broadly equivalent to those of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) member states, without requiring it to officially sign the treaty.

India and the Nonproliferation Institutions

jdunton — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

India’s arms control and nonproliferation policies have evolved in a positive direction since it declared itself a nuclear weapon power in 1998. The historic civil nuclear initiative concluded during 2005–2008 has accelerated the pace of that evolution.

U.S. Engagement in Indian Health Care

jdunton — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

When India became independent in 1947, the country was known for its grinding poverty, crushing illiteracy, and omnipresent illness. Six decades later, India has made enormous advances in both economic development and human quality of life.

Key Players in Global Health

jdunton — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

This report represents the first step in an 18-month CSIS initiative focused on how the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) countries and South Africa are influencing activities, practices, and strategies in the area of global health diplomacy.

Obama in India: Many High Notes, Much Work Ahead

sherry — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

As President Barack Obama’s plane headed eastward from New Delhi, he left India on a high. The India-U.S. partnership had been lifted out of the apparent slowdown of the past two years.

President Obama’s Trip to India

mentman — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Q1: Where does India stand in the Obama administration’s priorities? Why is President Obama going there?

South Asia Monitor: Pakistan Floods: Internally Displaced People and the Human Impact

udukkipati — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Pakistan’s floods have submerged one-fifth of the country, bringing destruction and deprivation to some 20 million people. Some 1,800 are dead and about 3,000 are injured, but the major impact is in property damage and, looking ahead, disruption of millions of people’s livelihood. Millions lost homes and possessions. Displaced people who return confront massive dislocation.

South Asia Monitor: A Role for India in Latin America's Development - October 1, 2010

udukkipati — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

During the recent FIFA World Cup games, cricket-crazed India morphed into a football-obsessed nation, pledging its overwhelming support to Brazil and Argentina. From Kochi to Kolkata the power lines, city walls, and rickshaws hung the flags and colors of a continent thousands of miles away. Latin America is a natural ally for Indian soccer fans and businesses alike.

The 2nd ASEAN-U.S. Summit in New York: What's on the Menu in Manhattan?

ian — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

President Barack Obama will host 8 of the 10 leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)—Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam—in New York City on Friday, September 24, at the second U.S.-ASEAN Summit.

Bulding the City: India's Urban Future

udukkipati — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The shadows of the Beijing Olympics and World Cup loom large over India’s upcoming Commonwealth Games. Disguised as global sporting events, these nationalistic displays are designed to showcase the strength of a country’s culture, economy, and people.

Avoiding Disaster in Kashmir

sherry — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Since mid-June, over 50 civilians, many of them teenagers, have been killed in clashes between stone-pelting protesters and police in the streets of Srinagar and other towns in Kashmir. This could pose a serious threat to peace in South Asia.

South Asia Monitor: A Difficult Road Ahead: India's Policy on Afghanistan - August 1, 2010

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Common wisdom in Afghanistan says, “The West has all the watches but the Taliban has all the time.” Following the decision by U.S. president Barack Obama in December 2009 to announce that the United States will begin to reduce its presence in Afghanistan by July 2011, the region has taken this as a signal of U.S. disengagement.

Asia's Response to Climate Change and Natural Disasters

jdunton — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

This new report by energy, regional, and humanitarian disaster specialists at CSIS examines the politics of climate change in Asia, the region’s response to natural disasters, and the implications for the future geometry of Asia’s institutions and U.S. policy in the region. The assessment looks broadly at two areas of nontraditional security cooperation in Asia: (1) climate change, including the domestic political factors in Asia and the regional strategies for securing low-carbon pathways; and (2) regional approaches to disaster management. The volume draws on case studies to assess the utility of existing and emerging institutions—the promises as well as the problems—as the United States and the region seek greater cooperation on both traditional and nontraditional security challenges. The authors discuss the problems related to lack of coordination at different levels, the uncertain role of the military, and continuing gaps in resources and expertise in key organizations.

Public Health in South Asia

jdunton — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

South Asia, a region of strategic importance, faces public health challenges on a demographic and geographic scale unmatched in the world. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka are home to nearly one-fifth of the world’s population. Even more dramatic, however, these countries are home to two-thirds of the world’s population living on less than $1 a day.

Border Security in a Time of Transformation

jdunton — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The September 11, 2001, attacks transformed American and international conceptions of border control. The U.S. government, for instance, had traditionally viewed border control as a mostly customs- and immigration-based challenge. But after 9/11, policymakers and officials increasingly viewed borders as potential points of entry for would-be terrorists.

South Asia Monitor: Calling on Mobile Banking: Financial Inclusion in Rural India - July 1, 2010

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The mobile phone revolution is sweeping across India and has the potential to dramatically transform the lives of the nation’s rural poor. An estimated 8 million rural Indians who own mobile phones do not have access to banks. This gap is only widening.

South Asia Monitor: Sri Lanka: Politicial Consolidation without Reconciliation? - June 15, 2010

udukkipati — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0400

A year after the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Sri Lanka’s government is consolidating and accumulating power. It hopes that economic growth will make the bitter civil war fade into distant memory and is recalibrating its international relationships. The end of the war has been a relief, but the anger that fueled it will require more than prosperity to heal.

Neighbourhood Watch

ian — Mon, 10 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

In the debate over the “end game” in the U.S. and NATO post-September 11 engagement in Afghanistan, the headlines are dominated by the military approach to counter-insurgency, and the “civilian surge,” including both economic aid and support for better governance.

South Asia Monitor: Higher Education in India: Sustaining Long-Term Growth? - May 1, 2010

TSmith — Sat, 01 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

In 2007, the Indian Government announced a ninefold increase in higher education spending over the next five years. While this came as good news to a sector characterized by limited supply and uneven quality, three years later it is apparent that a more concerted effort is required.

South Asia Monitor: A Modern Insurgency: India's Evolving Naxalite Problem

TSmith — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The April 6, 2010, ambush in Chhattisgarh state, killing 76 members of the Central Reserve Police Force, marks the deadliest attack upon Indian security forces since the foundation of the “Naxalite” movement.

South Asia Monitor: Pakistan: In the Cauldron - March 3, 2010

TSmith — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Pakistan is beset by an increasingly violent homegrown insurgency and a weak and unpopular civilian government with difficult relations with the powerful military, just as the United States is launching a new strategy in Afghanistan designed to regain military momentum and lay the groundwork for a political settlement.

South Asia Monitor: The Future, On Sale: The Indian Retail Market - January 6, 2010

sherry — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Increasingly, the verve of the modern Indian economy is anchored in the growing buying power and affluence of the country’s domestic consumers. As products fly off the shelves at unprecedented rates, the Indian retail market has gained both in size—12 percent growth in 2008—and in importance—12 percent of GDP.

Manmohan Singh in Washington

ian — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s state visit to Washington – the first under the Obama Administration – succeeded in its goal of creating a warm tone at the top and a stronger sense of momentum for a relationship that is moving forward on many fronts, but is not driven by a single big idea. This is not a breathtaking result, but it should leave both sides feeling good.

South Asia Monitor: Bangladesh: Bangladesh's Climate Change Emergency - December 1, 2009

udukkipati — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

As one of the countries most seriously affected by climate change and natural disasters, Bangladesh has been forced to be resourceful and resilient. Without outside help, however, the country of 160 million will not have the capacity to address climate-related environmental changes as their severity and frequency increase.

Washington Visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India

sherry — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Q1: As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh heads for Washington, where does India fit into the Obama administration’s policy?

South Asia Monitor: Pakistan: Avoiding Economic Disaster - November 1, 2009

udukkipati — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Pakistan is at an economic crossroads. The global financial crisis and the terrorist insurgency, coupled with long-term underfunding of the social sectors, reduced Pakistan's economic growth to 2 percent in 2008-2009. Rising food prices and electricity shortages have made economic problems a major focus for popular discontent. U.S.

South Asia Monitor: India-Japan Relations: A Partnership for Peace and Prosperity - October 1, 2009

udukkipati — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

In 1949, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru donated an Indian elephant named Indira to the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo. He hoped that Indira would bring joy into the lives of Japanese children, still suffering from the aftermath of World War II. That gesture is typical of the exchanges between these two Asian nations.

South Asia Monitor: Permanently on the Brink?: Nepal Strives for Stability - September 1, 2009

ian — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

In the nearly two decades since the end of absolute monarchy, Nepal has stumbled forward as a nominal democracy. Ethnic divisions, a Maoist insurgency, a royal massacre, and perennially unstable governments have continually dampened optimism about future progress. In the last year, the country has taken several promising, yet tenuous, steps forward.

South Asia Monitor: India's Energy Options: Coal and Beyond - August 24, 2009

sherry — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Over the coming decades, two of India’s greatest challenges will be (1) how to grow while concurrently joining a worldwide push toward mitigating climate change and (2) how to secure diversified sources of energy. The discourse on India’s energy security has centered on the country’s thirst for imported oil.

South Asia Monitor: "A Calculated Risk": India's New Budget - August 03, 2009

udukkipati — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

On Monday, July 6, India's finance minister Pranab Mukherjee unveiled a $210 billion budget that emphasized rural spending, took a cautious approach to reform, and included some useful changes in tax policy. The rise in government spending should stimulate domestic demand, but it will also widen the fiscal deficit to its largest gap in 18 years.

Hillary Clinton's Visit to India

ian — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Q1: What did Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accomplish during her trip to India?

South Asia Monitor: Triumphalism and Uncertainty in Post-Prabhakaran Sri Lanka - July 01, 2009

udukkipati — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The decision of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to lay down their arms and the May 19 death of their leader Velupillai Prabhakaran at the hands of the Sri Lankan army marked the end of 25 years of intermittent bloody conflict that had convulsed the island.

India and the United States in the 21st Century

jdunton — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

"There are few more knowledgeable observers of US-India relations than Teresita Schaffer, a former senior US diplomat, who has served in virtually every south Asian capital and is now a doyenne of Washington’s still surprisingly small coterie of India watchers. . . .

South Asia Monitor: The Congress Comeback: Unexpected Results of the Indian Election - June 01, 2009

sherry — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Manmohan Singh has returned to the prime ministership at the head of a new government with a robust coalition. His party, the Indian National Congress, improved its showing in many parts of the country; their opponents in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), internally divided and unimpressively led, lost seats nearly everywhere they contested.

South Asia Monitor: Pakistan: Struggling Through the Perfect Storm

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The attack on the authority of the Pakistani state that is being played out on the front pages of today's newspapers has been building up for the better part of a decade. Reestablishing a stronger political and state structure is possible, but becomes more difficult each time the state appears to cede control to the insurgents. The U.S.

South Asia Monitor: The Strategic Implications of India's Internal Security

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Between November 26th and November 29, 2008, 10 gunmen murdered 173 people and brought India’s financial capital to its knees. This ushered in a period of high tension between India and Pakistan, sparked the beginnings of an effort to reform India's internal security response, and may have opened a door to expanded cooperation between the United States and India against terrorism.

Bridging Strategic Asia: Conclusion

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

As relations among India, Japan, and the United States have evolved gradually over the past decade, the three countries, at both official and unofficial levels, have begun to consider common interests and potential cooperation on a range of international issues.

South Asia Monitor: The Refugee Problem: Looking Toward Afghanistan's Long-Term Stability - December 10, 2008

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Nearly three decades after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan sent some 3.5 million refugees into exile in Pakistan, nearly 2 million are still there. The refugees’ own meager assets, lack of education and skills, compounded by Afghanistan’s lack of infrastructure to accommodate returnees, have made returning an unattractive option.

Starry Eyes or Serious Potential? - The Rise of India's Space Program

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The landmark success of India's moon launch in October 2008 has all eyes set on the Indian space program. India’s space program produces both satellites and launchers.

Islamic Radical Ideologies and South Asian Security

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Sunni Muslim radicals, a violent and vocal minority, are responsible for the largest number of violent terrorist incidents in the world today. This trend is expected to continue for at least the next decade.

South Asia Monitor: Mercury Rising: India's Looming Red Corridor - October 03, 2008

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

In 2006, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cited terrorism and the Naxalite insurgency as the single greatest threats to India’s security. Rebels from the 40-year-old Naxal movement have established themselves in a swath of territory stretching from the eastern state of Chhattisgarh down to the jungles of Kerala, in an attempt to create a Maoist-controlled corridor of power.

South Asia Monitor: India's Economy: Slowing, But Still Delivering - September 02, 2008

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

In recent years India's economy has grown at breakneck speed, averaging 8.7 percent per year since 2003. The downturn in the United States and rising oil and food prices has contributed to a recent slowdown. GDP growth in India is projected at 7 and 8 percent for 2008/2009, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) is down, and inflation is now in double digits.

Pakistan after Musharraf

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Pervez Musharraf's resignation after nearly nine years at Pakistan's helm should take the brakes off the transition to an elected government. This is good news for a country whose political institutions have nearly suffocated under years of military-dominated governments.

South Asia Monitor: Running on Empty: South Asia's Food and Fuel Crisis - August 01, 2008

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The rapid rise in global food and energy prices has created political and economic stress all over South Asia with serious strategic implications for India, Pakistan, and the region at large. The energy crisis is the most immediate. With oil hovering around $120 a barrel, developing nations with high energy demands like India and Pakistan are particularly vulnerable.