The pirates of Somalia constitute one one of the greatest threats to maritime security in modern time.Their operations started amidst the political instability, economic crisis and state collapse that characterised the fall of the Siad Barre regime in Somalia in 1991.

• Samuel Oyewole
• November 2017
• Strategic Analysis

This article analyses the history of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reform with a particular focus on India’s aspiration and attempts to become a permanent member on the Council. The primary objectives of this historical examination are to appreciate how hard reforming the UNSC is and to understand how challenging it will be for India to acquire a permanent seat on the Council. Probing the General Assembly debates on UNSC reform, the article exposes the fundamental hurdles to change, the duplicity of the permanent five (P-5) and lack of unity among the stakeholders.

• Rajeesh Kumar
• November 2017
• Strategic Analysis

South Africa arguably stands well above its regional counterparts in terms of soft power resources. This is not entirely unconnected with the uncalculated attempts by non-state actors to extend the reach of the country’s soft power status across the world. This article probes the contributions of the informal drivers of South Africa’s soft power. These ‘soft powered’ institutions and individuals (with no definite state affiliation) are critical contributors to South Africa’s soft power diplomacy.

• Olusola Ogunnubi , Oluwaseun Tella
• September 2017
• Strategic Analysis

The United Nations (UN) adopted UN Peacekeeping, during its initial years, to restore international peace and security. As the world body celebrated 70 years of its existence in 2015, UN Peacekeeping continues to play an important role in maintaining peace and security, by protecting civilians and preventing human rights violations arising from violence and conflict. India has emerged as one of the frontrunners in the shared responsibility of ushering in peace and stability in the world, under the umbrella of the UN.

• Montgomery Blah
• May 2017
• Strategic Analysis

Despite a well-integrated Muslim population, and an environment where there is no tangible discrimination or lack of opportunity, the Jihadist ideology has succeeded in taking root in Trinidad. Links with organized crime have helped fuel the movement and strong links have been forged with ISIS and Al-Qaeda with the result that at least 89 Trinidadians are now in Syria. It is also argued that some Trinidadian Muslims have succumbed to the messages broadcast by ISIS and that the lure of fighting for an Islamic Caliphate has found resonance.

• Sanjay Badri-Maharaj
• March 2017
• Strategic Analysis

This article explores the possibility of conceiving South America and Southern Africa as subsystemic unipolarities under Brazilian and South African primacy, respectively. It argues that this concept, when applied to these regions, sheds light not only on the long-term strategies behind the Brazilian and South African foreign policies towards their neighbourhood, but also on the behaviour of secondary regional powers and small states. This hypothesis questions the maxim that considerations related to polarity affect great powers only.

• Luis Leandro Schenoni
• January 2017
• Strategic Analysis

One of the campaign promises of President Muhammadu Buhari was that he would eliminate Boko Haram six months after assumption of office. By December 2015, the Buhari-led government gave itself a pass mark for countering the terrorists. The government declared that the group had been ‘technically defeated’. This declaration has led to debates in the public space as to the veracity of this claim. This article aims to critically appraise the on-going attempt to eliminate the Boko Haram threat under the Buhari administration.

• Hakeem Onapajo
• January 2017
• Strategic Analysis

There have been several accounts of India's engagement with the United Nations but this book focuses particularly on the idea of One World, something greater than the UN. The need for a potent peace constituency amidst the increasing number of conflict zones with transnational and global impacts bolsters the rationale for an efficient global governing body, One World reified. The book has six chapters with a short prologue and epilogue. Manu Bhagavan presents a fine historical account of India's efforts for One World.

• Saurabh Mishra
• January 2013
• Strategic Analysis

Advantage: How American Innovation Can Overcome the Asian Challenge follows a long line of books that tap into America's preoccupation with retaining its pole position as the repository of cutting edge technology, and the resultant dominance this offers it across the political, economic and military spectrum. These books are a subset within the wider pre-occupation of responding to the rise of the Asian powers, and a shift of the geopolitical centre of gravity from the Euro-Atlantic to the Asian landmass.

• Cherian Samuel
• January 2013
• Strategic Analysis

India–US strategic dialogue was initiated in 2009, and is organised annually in different capitals. The first round of dialogue took place against the backdrop of pessimism in the bilateral relationship. For about six months after the new Obama administration was formed, strategists in Delhi were suspicious about the durability of an India–US strategic partnership that had been painstakingly nurtured by President George W. Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

• Chintamani Mahapatra
• November 2013
• Strategic Analysis

Russian influence in the Central African Republic (CAR) raises questions on the Economic Community of Central African States’ mediation efforts in Gabon, led by the President of CAR.

• Avit A. Chami
• September 29, 2023
• Comment

China’s security engagement in Africa has grown to encompass aspects relating to police and law enforcement cooperation, conflict mediation, and professional military education.

• Abhishek Mishra
• September 06, 2023
• Comment

The 15th BRICS Summit showcased the organisation’s resilience, adaptability and collective vision, and positioned the group as a potent global player.

• Rajeesh Kumar
• August 28, 2023
• Issue Brief

Nigeria's leadership of ECOWAS presents a pivotal opportunity to navigate the challenges related to coups and terrorism in the West African region.

• Mohanasakthivel J
• August 23, 2023
• Issue Brief

The coup in Niger has deep regional and international implications and may lead to increase in major power contestations in the region.

• Ruchita Beri
• August 22, 2023
• Comment

The African Peace Mission to Ukraine and Russia coincided with escalatory actions by both the antagonists.

• Mohanasakthivel J
• July 13, 2023
• Comment

Prigozhin’s rebellion has cast serious reservations about the future of Wagner in Africa, and by extension, Russia’s influence on the continent.

• Abhishek Mishra
• July 05, 2023
• Comment

The adoption of the Treaty of the High Seas by the United Nations represents a significant triumph for multilateralism.

• Rajeesh Kumar
• July 04, 2023
• Comment

The Commonwealth could be leveraged to further India’s expanding interests in the Indian Ocean Region and Africa

• Mohanasakthivel J
• May 16, 2023
• Comment

Gulf of Guinea littoral states like Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Benin and Togo have witnessed a rise in terrorist attacks in recent years.

• Sindhu Dinesh
• February 22, 2023
• Issue Brief