Jadavpur Journal of International Relations

Publisher:: Sage Publications, Inc.
Publication date:: 2021-09-06

ISBN:: 0973-5984

Issue Number

No. 27-2, December 2023

Latest documents

The Economic Logic of Strongmen Politics
Understanding Sub-State’s Agency in Regionalism: The Case of Yunnan in Bangladesh–China–India–Myanmar Initiative
Regionalism constitutes an essential unit to understanding the nature and evolution of multi-actor-dominated contemporary international relations. The ‘subnational turn’ in the regional interactions recognizes the rising role of sub-state actors such as provinces in the ‘construction’ and ‘performance’ of the ‘regionness’ to access the developmental benefits of regional and globalized capital. This paper further enriches this insight by focusing on the interaction of two components, that is, the sub-regionalism and the agency of sub-state units. It focuses on China’s Yunnan province outreach in the context of Bangladesh–China–India–Myanmar (BCIM) regionalization to critically reflect on the ‘transitioning’ agency of sub-state actors from imagining to implementing regionalism. Utilizing the analytical frameworks within paradiplomacy literature, the article emphasizes that sub-governments are substantive forces, ushering dynamic economic, political, and cultural international interactions. But, simultaneously, their power to invent and (re)define international standing is linked to larger scales of center and national. The sub-national lens on BCIM magnifies the opportunities and limitations at Yunnan’s disposal and identifies its agency as an ‘initiator’ and a ‘channel’ in the BCIM practice.
Deradicalization of Repentant Boko Haram Militants: Institutional Dilemma Between the Victims and Villains in Northeast Nigeria
Over the years, Boko Haram has taken the centre stage in Nigeria’s security concern and discourses as it consistently stands out on news headlines. After many years of counterinsurgency, Nigeria’s government realized the imperative of adopting a soft approach alongside military offensives to winning the war against insurgency. One soft approach is the institution of deradicalisation programme. Extant literature on the inadequacies of Nigeria’s deradicalisation plans, and methodologies is yet to be considered from institutional deficiency perspective as the programme is characterized by the difficulty of balancing the treatment of repentant Boko Haram militants and ameliorating the conditions of insurgency victims. Taking a cue from selected countries, the study examines the prospects of Nigeria’s deradicalisation programme. The paper therefore concludes that Nigerian authorities progressively need to set up a well thought-out structure for successful deradicalisation and reintegration of surrendered Boko Haram militants while guaranteeing the safety of victims that would co-exist with the supposed ex-members of Boko Haram sect.
‘Sovereign Democracy’: Russian Response to Western Democracy Promotion in the Post-Soviet Space
Russia became apprehensive after the outbreak of Colour Revolutions in three former Soviet republics. Post-revolution, Russia’s foreign policy in general and its outlook toward the West in particular transformed significantly. Russian response to Western democracy promotion became more pronounced. Against this backdrop, the concept of Sovereign Democracy has to be understood. It aims to not only defend the Russian regime from Western meddling but also undertake a vigorous international campaign to assert its great power status. This article deals with the meaning and rationale of Sovereign Democracy as a response to Western democracy promotion in a nuanced way. The study attempts to deal with the following research questions: How does Russia perceive and react to Colour Revolutions? How Sovereign Democracy enables Russia to restructure its foreign policy to challenge the Western democracy-promotion agenda in the post-Soviet space? How do the political institutions and historical narratives of anti-Westernism allow Russia to respond to Colour Revolutions? Lastly, whether Putin is able to reshape public opinion in Russia not only in favor of having an alternative model of democracy against the dominant Western one but also a favorable public opinion to justify Russian actions in Georgia, Ukraine, and Syria.
The Three Decades of Look East Policy and India’s Northeast Region
India has been trying to enhance overland trade and the movement of people between South and Southeast Asia through its northeast region, as well as Myanmar and Bangladesh. To materialize this, the Look East policy has been giving due emphasis on developing strategic roads and logistic facilities in the northeast region. Myanmar and Bangladesh are also crucial to achieve the twin objectives, and hence India is supporting the development of transport infrastructure. Three decades later the outcome of the policy is merely limited to the upgradation of strategic roads that are thought to have regional importance and the putting in place the modern logistical facilities at several border towns. Interestingly, the states of the region that share a border with Bangladesh are going to reap the benefit of the policy sooner as compared to the states sharing a border with Myanmar.
India–Zimbabwe Relations: Recalibrating the Failing Engagement
The India–Zimbabwe relations are rampant with obdurate omissions, commissions, misinformation, and proper attention, hence dismally productive. This investigation pins down the dismal relations to Zimbabwe’s economic quagmire, the inseparable China–Zimbabwe relations, Zimbabwe’s diplomatic isolation and the effects of sanctions enacted by the US and other Western countries. With both primary and secondary sources, an interpretive approach is used to generate and analyse data. The study outlines prospects that can recalibrate India–Zimbabwe relations, especially in the new dispensation era of Zimbabwe after Mugabe. The possibilities include leveraging the available business opportunities, energy and mineral resources, security, regional cooperation and conflict management, knowledge exchange, institutional building, and social cohesion.
The Economic Logic of Strongmen Politics
Understanding Sub-State’s Agency in Regionalism: The Case of Yunnan in Bangladesh–China–India–Myanmar Initiative
Regionalism constitutes an essential unit to understanding the nature and evolution of multi-actor-dominated contemporary international relations. The ‘subnational turn’ in the regional interactions recognizes the rising role of sub-state actors such as provinces in the ‘construction’ and ‘performance’ of the ‘regionness’ to access the developmental benefits of regional and globalized capital. This paper further enriches this insight by focusing on the interaction of two components, that is, the sub-regionalism and the agency of sub-state units. It focuses on China’s Yunnan province outreach in the context of Bangladesh–China–India–Myanmar (BCIM) regionalization to critically reflect on the ‘transitioning’ agency of sub-state actors from imagining to implementing regionalism. Utilizing the analytical frameworks within paradiplomacy literature, the article emphasizes that sub-governments are substantive forces, ushering dynamic economic, political, and cultural international interactions. But, simultaneously, their power to invent and (re)define international standing is linked to larger scales of center and national. The sub-national lens on BCIM magnifies the opportunities and limitations at Yunnan’s disposal and identifies its agency as an ‘initiator’ and a ‘channel’ in the BCIM practice.
Deradicalization of Repentant Boko Haram Militants: Institutional Dilemma Between the Victims and Villains in Northeast Nigeria
Over the years, Boko Haram has taken the centre stage in Nigeria’s security concern and discourses as it consistently stands out on news headlines. After many years of counterinsurgency, Nigeria’s government realized the imperative of adopting a soft approach alongside military offensives to winning the war against insurgency. One soft approach is the institution of deradicalisation programme. Extant literature on the inadequacies of Nigeria’s deradicalisation plans, and methodologies is yet to be considered from institutional deficiency perspective as the programme is characterized by the difficulty of balancing the treatment of repentant Boko Haram militants and ameliorating the conditions of insurgency victims. Taking a cue from selected countries, the study examines the prospects of Nigeria’s deradicalisation programme. The paper therefore concludes that Nigerian authorities progressively need to set up a well thought-out structure for successful deradicalisation and reintegration of surrendered Boko Haram militants while guaranteeing the safety of victims that would co-exist with the supposed ex-members of Boko Haram sect.
India–Zimbabwe Relations: Recalibrating the Failing Engagement
The India–Zimbabwe relations are rampant with obdurate omissions, commissions, misinformation, and proper attention, hence dismally productive. This investigation pins down the dismal relations to Zimbabwe’s economic quagmire, the inseparable China–Zimbabwe relations, Zimbabwe’s diplomatic isolation and the effects of sanctions enacted by the US and other Western countries. With both primary and secondary sources, an interpretive approach is used to generate and analyse data. The study outlines prospects that can recalibrate India–Zimbabwe relations, especially in the new dispensation era of Zimbabwe after Mugabe. The possibilities include leveraging the available business opportunities, energy and mineral resources, security, regional cooperation and conflict management, knowledge exchange, institutional building, and social cohesion.