International Studies

- Publisher:
- Sage Publications, Inc.
- Publication date:
- 2021-08-12
- ISBN:
- 0020-8817
Issue Number
- Nbr. 58-3, July 2021
- Nbr. 58-2, April 2021
- Nbr. 58-1, January 2021
- Nbr. 57-4, October 2020
- Nbr. 57-3, July 2020
- Nbr. 57-2, April 2020
- Nbr. 57-1, January 2020
- Nbr. 56-4, October 2019
- Nbr. 56-2-3, April 2019
- Nbr. 56-1, January 2019
- Nbr. 55-4, October 2018
- Nbr. 55-3, July 2018
- Nbr. 55-2, April 2018
- Nbr. 55-1, January 2018
- Nbr. 54-1-4, January 2017
- Nbr. 53-3-4, July 2016
- Nbr. 53-2, April 2016
- Nbr. 53-1, January 2016
- Nbr. 52-1-4, January 2015
- Nbr. 51-1-4, January 2014
Latest documents
- Discordant World of ‘Unknown Nations’: The Problem of Ethicization of National Identity
This article explores the reasons for adopting a particular interpretation of national identity and the dynamics of external and internal forces in determining a nation’s ‘ethical history’. The main analysis introduces conceptual innovations related to the problem of ethical cognition through which national identity is being determined based on cognitively unclarified determinants—in this study referred to as the EDCUD paradox. In this regard, the process of ethicization of national identity and the paradox of ethical cognition that emerges in the pursuit of its understanding has been identified as one of the main reasons behind the misuse of national identity in international relations. With that in mind, this study has attempted to create a theoretical setting that would help the analysis of individual cases of national identity in further research.
- Environmental Standards in the BRICS: An Analysis of Vehicular Pollution
Since its inception, the BRICS has received attention as a geopolitical challenger to the already established institutions of the Global North. BRICS members have also been vocal on issues concerning global environment. Brazil, India, China and South Africa have raised important issues at international conferences on Climate Change. The article looks at the specific issue of vehicular pollution in the BRICS countries. Vehicular pollution standards already in existence through the United Nations Environment Programme and the most cited and practised standards of the European Union remain the yardstick to be followed around the world. The article looks at the standards set up by the individual BRICS countries. Subsequently efforts of the BRICS as a group are explored through their joint statements. The article argues that despite important players in global vehicle market, the BRICS as a grouping has not been able to formulate any viable alternative standards for vehicular emissions.
- Amrita Narlikar and Aruna Narlikar, Bargaining with a Rising India: Lessons from the Mahabharata
- On India as a Responsible Nuclear Weapon State: Does the ‘No First Use’ Doctrine Need a Review?
India conducted Operation Shakti (Pokhran II) nuclear tests during 11–13 May 1998 that ushered her into the cherished nuclear weapons club. It was well calibrated decision to formally choose the nuclear path through the first peaceful nuclear explosion, Smiling Buddha (Pokhran I) that was conducted on 18 May 1974. It was significant that without joining the 1968 Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, India managed to gatecrash into the nuclear weapons capability. It led to articulation of the No First Use (NFU) doctrine on 4 January 2003 (Ministry of External Affairs [MEA], 2003). In the wake of 16 August 2019 pronouncement of the Indian Defence Minister on possible review of the NFU, this article seeks to probe the question: Does the NFU doctrine require any such review? It comprises the rational, the promise of NFU, counterforce strategies, NFU with respect to tactical nuclear weapons and associated problems with First Use and NFU.
- The ‘Homeland Security Moment’ in International Politics: Implications for the Third World
This article attempts to understand the emergence of the idea of homeland security in the US in the recent past, the attendant security praxis, and its impact on the Third World security (predicament). It maps the journey of the idea of homeland security—from a US-specific domestic policy framework to a globalizing security framework. It is argued that in the emerging security understanding, the concerns of Third World countries, which were getting some global attention in the past few decades through the concepts like human security and societal security, have been marginalized. By referring to security-related policy changes in other countries, the article explains the US efforts to export this new understanding of security to the Third World and its long-term implications. As the homeland security paradigm and practices make their way into many developing countries, understanding the ‘homeland security moment’ from the perspective of the latter is of crucial significance to gauge their security predicament in the newer context.
- BRICS and Global Governance: Will the Grouping be able to Reform the United Nations Security Council?
This article analyses the role played by the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) countries within the context of the reform of international institutions, in primis the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). In recent years, the new emerging powers, among which the BRICS occupy a central position, have instigated a paradigm shift in international relations and global governance (GG). Furthermore, some scholars argue that the BRICS could inaugurate a new world order. Since the United Nations (UN) is one of the institutions in which these changes need to be more broadly reflected due to its global projection, it is doubtful if the BRICS will be able to bring about its reform. In fact, several debates were conducted about the need to reform the UN and, in particular, the Security Council (SC). In order to do this, the article examines the interests of the BRICS countries, within the group itself, and their vision for the UNSC. Only a common vision within the group could have specific effects in reforming the UNSC, thus giving a new shape to GG, which may not be possible. There are several obstacles from within the BRICS itself in this regard, despite the fact that during their summits, they have repeatedly called for the UN reforms.
- New Realms of Influence: Infrastructure Development, Financial Institutions and Markets
The renewed emphasis on Asia’s connectivity infrastructure has brought into focus the complex relationship between pursuing economic development through trans-state linkages and promoting political agendas. The formalizing of transit flows across the Asian space has involved financial, technical and regulatory relations bringing together the interests of actors at various levels. This article examines how these have been used by China to create new realms of influence through a study of the working of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Chinese markets across Central Asia, in order to demonstrate the complex role that these play in determining the contours of a relationship based on infrastructural financing and trade. The extent to which these globalized corridors and systems of governance might be impacted by the pandemic, however, remains to be seen.
- Jianwei Wang and Hoo Tiang Boon (Eds.), China’s Omnidirectional Peripheral Diplomacy
- ‘Losing Leverage’ in the Neighbourhood: A Cognitive Frame Analysis of the European Union Migration Policy
The European Union (EU)–Turkey deal consolidated a shift in the EU’s migration policy. The deal is the culmination of the dominance of the security frame and depicts the continuous externalization of the EU’s responsibility of asylum protection and burden sharing. The strengthening of the security frame has weakened the humanitarian norms that previously dictated EU’s behaviour. This has led to the EU losing some of its comparative advantages in negotiations. Simultaneously, the instrumentalization of the value of asylum, paired with an increased number of asylum seekers, has given negotiation leverage to the neighbouring countries turned service providers. These changes in perception and norms have created a power shift, at the disadvantage of the EU, creating a more leveled playing field for negotiations between the parties. This article tracks the historical shifts in the global refugee regime to explain how today’s situation was created. Hereby, the existence of two competing cognitive frames—humanitarian and security—is assumed, tracked and analysed. While looking at the EU–Turkey deal, the article shows that the EU has started treating refugees as a security problem rather than a humanitarian issue, breaking the normative fabric of the refugee regime in the process. The article also displays how Turkey was able to capitalise on this new reality and engage with negotiations of other neighbouring countries of EU that point towards a change of dynamics in the global refugee regime.
- Editor-in-Chief’s Note
Featured documents
- On the Century of Peacemaking at the 1919 Treaty of Versailles: Looking Back to Look Ahead
This study seeks to make a modest effort to look back at the marathon peacemaking ushered into by the Treaty of Versailles, during 1919–1922 periods, after Armistice was signed on 11 November 1918, bringing to an end the First World War. It has sought to place under scanner the said arduous process ...
- Brexit’s Impact on Japan’s Trade with Europe
In the context of globalization, the Japanese government emphasizes the importance of reinforcing the free trade system. Due to European Union’s (EU) reluctance, the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between Japan and the EU took 4 years to conclude. However, Brexit prompted the conclusion of ...
- Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals
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- Brexit and Canada: Stopgap Solutions for the EU–Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) or a New Beginning?
This article investigates how Canada’s trade with the EU-27 and the UK might be affected by Brexit. As the transition period foreseen in the 2019 UK Withdrawal Agreement has ended, the EU and the UK are no longer one customs area. The EU–Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA),...
- Postcolonial and Post-Soviet Experiences of Constitution-making
There has largely been a consensus among comparative political scientists regarding the relevance of a participatory and transparent democratic constitution-making process in democratic transition and consolidation. However, there are fewer attempts to see any linkage between postcolonial India and ...
- Impact of Demographic Dividend on Economic Growth
As the countries pass through the different stages of demographic transition in their process of development, a window of a demographic opportunity opens in the phase of rapidly declining infant mortality. The result is an increase in the share of young adults in the population leading to a ‘youth...
- India as a Normative Power
India is in the middle of a historic transformation, wherein it confronts a dyadic situation on whether it will rise as a significant global power in the twenty-first century. Factors such as modernization, a fast-growing economy, strong demographic dividend and emergence as the single largest IT...
- Book Review: Krishnendra Meena, British Geopolitics in South Atlantic
- Afghanistan’s ‘Political Insecurity’ and the Emerging Geopolitical Calculus in Eurasia
The ‘sustainable peace’ is eluding Afghanistan over centuries. This can largely be attributed to both external geopolitical factors as well as the internal domestic realignments. Often these two factors operate in isolation and at times collude with each other, thus accentuating both domestic and...
- Discordant World of ‘Unknown Nations’: The Problem of Ethicization of National Identity
This article explores the reasons for adopting a particular interpretation of national identity and the dynamics of external and internal forces in determining a nation’s ‘ethical history’. The main analysis introduces conceptual innovations related to the problem of ethical cognition through which ...