Recent Addition, October-December 2019

1. United states relations with China and Iran: toward the Asian century / Edited by Osamah F. Khalil .- London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2019

Abstract: The book examines the past, present and future of U.S. foreign relations toward the People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Iran. It benefits from recently declassified documents and an interdisciplinary, transnational approach to explore different aspects of the relations between these three countries. While the 20th century has been referred to as the “American Century,” this book posits that the 21st century will be shaped by relations between the United States and key countries in Asia, in particular China and Iran. In assessing the United States' foreign policy towards China and Iran over the past six decades the chapters focus on several key themes: interaction, normalization, and confrontation. The book provides an insight into how and why Washington has developed and implemented its policies toward Beijing and Tehran, and examines how China and Iran have developed policies toward the United States and internationally. Finally, it draws on the insights of leading scholars discussing the future of relations between Beijing and Tehran.

2. Climate Economic, Economic Analysis of Climate, Climate Change and Climate Policy, Second Edition / Richard S.J. Tol .- USA: Edward Elgar, 2019

Abstract: The South China Sea (SCS) is an arena of growing conflicts due to overlapping claims by both littoral states and extra-regional powers. With respect to the Spratly and Paracel Islands, different geographic features are reportedly occupied by claimant-states such as Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, China, and Malaysia. The source of the SCS dispute is traceable to 1951, due to vast continental shelf constituting a potentially rich source of oil and natural gas. China demarcated its claims with a U-shaped nine-dash line, covering most of the area. The SCS has witnessed a number of inopportune conflicts in terms of economic interests, civilian security, and the environment in the recent past. AbThis unique textbook offers comprehensive coverage of the economics of climate change and climate policy. Topics discussed include the costs and benefits of adaptation and mitigation, discounting, uncertainty, policy instruments, and international agreements..

3. Post-war dilemmas of Sri Lanka: democracy and reconciliation / S. I. Keethaponcalan .- London: Routledge, 2019

Abstract: This book examines whether democracy, compared to authoritarianism, is conducive to post-war reconciliation. The research, founded on primary as well as secondary data, concludes that political systems have little to do with the success or failure of post-war ethnic reconciliation. The Sri Lankan case indicated that post-war reconciliation is more contingent on the readiness of the former enemies to come together. Readiness stems from, for example, satisfaction in the way issues have been resolved, confidence in the other party's intentions, and the compulsion to coexist. If the level of satisfaction, confidence, and the compulsion to coexist are low, the readiness to reconcile will also be low. The end of the war had a profound impact on post-war governance and ethnic relations in Sri Lanka. 

4. Rebuilding Afghanistan in times of crisis: a global response / Edited by Andernrele Awotona .- London: Routledge, 2019

Abstract: The book draws together expert contributions from countries across three continents – Asia, Europe and North America – which have provided external aid to Afghanistan. Using international, regional and local approaches, it highlights the importance of rebuilding sustainable communities in the midst of ongoing uncertainties. It explores the efficacy of external aid; challenges faced; the response of multilateral international agencies; the role of women in the reconstruction process; and community-based natural disaster risk management strategies.

5. Sino-Pakistan relations / Filippo Boni .- Oxon: Routledge, 2020

Abstract: This book analyses the relationship between Pakistan and China in the post 9/11 period against the backdrop of Pakistan’s domestic politics and proposes that the major source of continuity in the ties between the two countries is represented by the military. The evolution and continuity of Sino-Pakistani relations are explored through three timely case studies: the port of Gwadar, where Chinese investment well pre-dates the advent of the Belt and Road Initiative; the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the "flagship project" of China’s global ambitions; and how the relationship between China and Pakistan has played out in Afghanistan. The book assesses the extent of military influence in Pakistan’s relations with China throughout the last 20 years in several key decision-making areas, ranging from internal security to elite recruitment. By looking at the extent of military prerogatives in Pakistan’s domestic politics, the book reveals how the major source of continuity in the ties between the two countries was represented by the role that the military has played overtime.

6. Tactical constructivism, method, and international relations / Edited by Brent J. Steele .- London: Routledge, 2020

Abstract: This is a book on methods, how scholars embody them and how working within, from or against Constructivism has shaped that use and embodiment. A vibrant cross-section of contributors write of interdisciplinary encounters, first interactions with the ‘discipline’ of International Relations, discuss engagements in different techniques and tactics, and of pursuing different methods ranging from ethnographic to computer simulations, from sociology to philosophy and history. Presenting a range of voices, many constructivist, some outside and even critical of Constructivism, the volume shows methods as useful tools for approaching research and political positions in International Relations, while also containing contingent, inexact, unexpected, and even surprising qualities for opening further research. It gives a rich account of how the discipline was transformed in the 1990s and early 2000s, and how this shaped careers, positions and interactions.

7. Terrorism in insurgency in Asia: a contemporary examination of terrorist and separatist movements / Edited by Benjamin Schreer and Andrew T. H. Tan .- London: Routledge, 2019

Abstract: The rise of the Islamic State since 2014 has led to the re-emergence of terrorism as a serious security threat in Asia. Coupled with the ongoing terrorism and insurgency challenges from both radical religious extremists and also ethno-nationalist insurgencies, it is clear that some parts of Asia remain mired in armed rebellion despite decades of nation-building. While the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan has obviously deteriorated, there is also a growing terrorist challenge, on top of armed insurgencies, in other parts of Asia. A common theme in armed rebellions in the region has been the lack of legitimacy of the state and the presence of fundamental causes stemming from political, economic or social grievances. Addressing rebellion in the region thus requires a comprehensive approach involving transnational co-operation, addressing fundamental grievances, and also the use of more innovative approaches, such as religious rehabilitation and reconciliation programmes.

8. The Baghdadi Jews in India: maintaining communities, negotiating identities and creating super-diversity / Edited by Shalva Weil .- London: Routledge, 2019

Abstract: This book explores the extraordinary differentiation of the Baghdadi Jewish community over time during their sojourn in India from the end of the eighteenth century until their dispersion to Indian diasporas in Israel and English-speaking countries throughout the world after India gained independence in 1947. Chapters on schools, institutions and culture present how Baghdadis in India managed to maintain their communities by negotiating multiple identities in a stratified and complex society. Several disciplinary perspectives are utilized to explore the super-diversity of the Baghdadis and the ways in which they successfully adapted to new situations during the Raj, while retaining particular traditions and modifying and incorporating others. Providing a comprehensive overview of this community, the contributions to the book show that the legacy of the Baghdadi Jews lives on for Indians today through landmarks and monuments in Mumbai, Pune and Kolkata, and for Jews, through memories woven by members of the community residing in diverse diasporas.

9. The first world war, anticolonialism and imperial authority in British India, 1914-1924 / Sharmishtha Roy Chowdhury .- London: Routledge, 2019

Abstract: Between 1914, when the Great War began, and 1924, when the Ottoman Caliphate ended, British and Indian officials and activists reformulated political ideas in the context of total war in the Middle East, Gandhian mass mobilisation, and the 1919 Amritsar massacre. Using discussions on travel, spatiality, and landscape as an entry point, The First World War, Anticolonialism and Imperial Authority in British India, 19141924 discusses the complex politics of late colonial India and the waning of imperial enthusiasm. This book presents a multifaceted picture of Indian politics at a time when total war and resurgent anticolonial activism were reshaping assumptions about state power, culture, and resistance.

10. The taiwan issue: problems and prospects / Edited by Benjamin Scheer and Andrew T. H. Tan .- London: Routledge, 2020

Abstract: While global attention has been focused on other regional issues, such as China-US tensions and North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, little attention has been paid to Taiwan. Yet the so-called Taiwan issue, namely the continued separation of the island from mainland China, remains a major regional security challenge that could potentially spark direct conflict involving the USA, China and Japan, the three largest economies in the world, two of which are nuclear powers. Although Taiwan has continued to find opportunities to maintain the current status quo despite a deteriorating geo-strategic environment as a result of the rise of China and the uncertainties of the Trump Administration, its room for manoeuvre continues to narrow. This volume examines the challenges and evaluates the prospects for preventing conflict on the Taiwan Strait, by focusing on the political conditions that Taiwan faces internally and externally.

11. Great Powers and International Hierarchy / Daniel McCormack .- USA: Palgarve Macmillan, 2019

Abstract: Hierarchical relationships—rules that structure both international and domestic politics—are pervasive. Yet we know little about how these relationships are constructed, maintained, and dismantled. This book fills this lacuna through a two-pronged research approach: first, it discusses how great power negotiations over international political settlements both respond to domestic politics within weak states and structure the specific forms that hierarchy takes. Second, it deduces three sets of hypotheses about hierarchy maintenance, construction, and collapse during the post-war era. By offering a coherent theoretical model of hierarchical politics within weaker states, the author is able to answer a number of important questions, including: Why does the United States often ally with autocratic states even though its most enduring relationships are with democracies? Why do autocratic hierarchical relationships require interstate coercion? Why do some hierarchies end violently and others peacefully? Why does hierarchical competition sometimes lead to interstate conflict and sometimes to civil conflict?

12. South Asia in global power rivalry: inside-out appraisals from Bangladesh / Edited by Imtiaz Hussain .- New York: Palgrave, 2019

Abstract: This edited volume examines global power-rivalry in and around South Asia through Bangladeshi lenses using imperfect and overlapping interest concentric-circles as a template. Dynamics from three transitions —the United States exiting the Cold War, China emerging as a global-level power, and India’s eastern interests squaring off with China’s Belt Road Initiative, BRI—help place China, India, and the United States (in alphabetical order) in Bangladesh’s “inner-most” circle, China, India, and the United States in a “mid-stream” circle, and the United States and Latin America, among other countries, in the “outer-most” circle, depending on the issue.

13. Taiwan's Party Politics and Cross - Strait Relations in Evolution (2008 - 2018) / Gang Lin .- China: Palgrave Macmiilan, 2019

Abstract: This book explores the dynamics of party politics in Taiwan and cross-Strait relations over the past decade. While power transfer from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) back to the pro-status quo Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang, KMT) in 2008 ushered a great leap of cross-Strait relations in the following years, the DPP’s coming back to power in 2016 has reversed the trend and brought back a cold peace between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait featuring the period of the Chen Shui-bian administration. Social cleavage and partisan confrontation on the island have justified Beijing’s strategy of selective engagement with the two main parties within Taiwan. The state of cross-Strait relations, therefore, has become a by-product of volatile party politics on the island. As speculation about Taiwan's future mounts, this book will interest scholars, China-watchers, and policymakers.

14. The China-Pakistan economic corridor of the belt and road initiative: concept, context and assessment / Siegfried O. Wolf .- London: Springer, 2020

Abstract:  This book focuses on the implementation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure development project intended to connect Asia with Europe, the Middle East and Africa. By introducing a new analytical approach to the study of economic corridors, it gauges the anticipated economic and geopolitical impacts on the region and discusses whether the CPEC will serve as a pioneer project for future regional cooperation between and integration of sub-national regions such as Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Further, it explores the interests, expectations and policy approaches of both Chinese and Pakistani local and central governments with regard to the CPEC’s implementation. Given its scope, the book will appeal to regional and spatial sciences scholars, as well as social scientists interested in the regional impacts of economic corridors. It also offers valuable information for policymakers in countries participating in the Belt-and-Road Initiative or other Chinese-supported development projects.

15. The political economy of Iran, development, revolution and political violence / farhad  gohardani .- London, UK, 2019

Abstract: This study entails a theoretical reading of the Iranian modern history and follows an interdisciplinary agenda at the intersection of philosophy, psychoanalysis, economics, and politics and intends to offer a novel framework for the analysis of socio-economic development in Iran in the modern era. A brief review of Iranian modern history from the Constitutional Revolution to the Oil Nationalization Movement, the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and the recent Reformist and Green Movements demonstrates that Iranian people travelled full circle. This historical experience of socio-economic development revolving around the bitter question of “Why are we backward?” and its manifestation in perpetual socio-political instability and violence is the subject matter of this study. Michel Foucault’s conceived relation between the production of truth and production of wealth captures the essence of hypothesis offered in this study.

16. China-Africa and an economic transformation / Edited by Arkebe Oqubay and Justin Yifu Lin .- New York: Oxford University Press, 2019

Abstract: The author examines China's rise to explain the implications and externalities of its economic emergence in an era of globalization; Focuses on evolving China-Africa relations and institutional and policy frameworks for promoting cooperation; Describes the Chinese approach to doing business in Africa; Considers the impact of China on Africa's industrialization and structural transformation.

17. Middle east politics: changing dynamics / Mahmood Monshipouri .- London: Routledge, 2019

Abstract: Aimed at undergraduate-level courses, this brand-new textbook provides an overview of Middle Eastern politics, offering in-depth examination of the forces of stability, change, uncertainty, and progress in the region. Building on both historical and contemporary analysis, the chapters are timely, engaging, and provocative, covering topics such as: Turmoil and transition in Middle Eastern politics; The Arab-Israeli conflict; The Persian Gulf and global security; The rise of the internet; Terrorism and the Islamic State; US-Iran relations; The role of new regional players, such as China, India, and Russia; Increasing investment in wind and solar energy in the post-carbon era.

18. National security / Donald M. Snow .-7th Ed. .- London: Routledge, 2020

Abstract: It examines national security from two fundamental fault lines--the end of the Cold War and the evolution of contemporary terrorism, dating from the 9/11 terrorist attacks and tracing their path up to the Islamic State (ISIS) and beyond. The book considers how the resulting era of globalization and geopolitics guides policy. Placing these trends in conceptual and historical context and following them through military, semi-military, and non-military concerns, National Security treats its subject as a nuanced and subtle phenomenon that encompasses everything from the global to the individual with the nation at its core.

19. One National, Two Realities Dueling facts in America Democracy / Morgan Marietta and David C. Barker .- New York: Oxford University Press, 2019

Abstract: The deep divides that define politics in the United States are not restricted to policy or even cultural differences anymore. Americans no longer agree on basic questions of fact. Is climate change real? Does racism still determine who gets ahead? Is sexual orientation innate? Do immigration and free trade help or hurt the economy? Does gun control reduce violence? Are false convictions common?Employing several years of original survey data and experiments, Marietta and Barker reach a number of enlightening and provocative conclusions: dueling fact perceptions are not so much a product of hyper-partisanship or media propaganda as they are of simple value differences and deepening distrust of authorities.

20.  Routledge handbook of South-South relations / Edited by Elena Fiddian-Qasmiyeh and Patricia Daley .- London: Routledge, 2019

Abstract: This handbook critically explores diverse ways of defining ‘the South’ and of conceptualising and engaging with ‘South-South relations.’ Through 30 state-of-the-art reviews of key academic and policy debates, the handbook evaluates past, present and future opportunities and challenges of South-South cooperation, and lays out research agendas for the next 5-10 years. The book covers key models of cooperation (including internationalism, Pan-Arabism and Pan-Africanism), diverse modes of South-South connection, exchange and support (including South-South aid, transnational activism, and migration), and responses to displacement, violence and conflict (including Southern-led humanitarianism, peace-building and conflict resolution).

21.  Border and connectivity: north-east India and south-east Asia / Edited by K. Vidya Sagar Reddy and C. Joshua Thomas .- New Dehli: Pentagon Press, 2019

Abstract: This collection of articles which provide an analytical commentary on the contemporary issues concerning Indias Act East Policy and Northeast India. It is multi-faceted in approach and gives interesting insights into understanding the political and social implications of cross-border trade in this ethnically diverse region of the country. It weighs the policy agenda versus the ideational aspects of India Act East and Indias Northeast. This volume captures the essence of infrastructural development, human capacity building and soft assets as pillars to connect North-East India and Southeast Asia. North-East Indias soft power assets will play a critical role in Indias relations with ASEAN through the CLMV countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam).

22. China and intervention at the UN security council: reconciling status / Courtney J. Fung .- New York: Oxford University Press, 2019

Abstract: What explains China's response to intervention at the UN Security Council? China and Intervention at the UN Security Council argues that status is an overlooked determinant in understanding its decisions, even in the apex cases that are shadowed by a public discourse calling for foreign-imposed regime change in Sudan, Libya, and Syria. It posits that China reconciles its status dilemma as it weighs decisions to intervene: seeking recognition from both its intervention peer groups of great powers and developing states. Understanding the impact and scope conditions of status answers why China has taken certain positions regarding intervention and how these positions were justified. Foreign policy behavior that complies with status, and related social factors like self-image and identity, means that China can select policy options bearing material costs.

23.  China ascendant: its rise and implications / Edited by Harsh V. Pant .- India: Harper Collins, 2019

Abstract: China is on the cusp of becoming a superpower. The transformation of Beijing's regional and global position over the last three and a half decades has received extensive attention from experts and opinion- and decision-makers across the world. The responses of the states in the Indo-Pacific and beyond to China's rise is currently a mixture of trepidation, confrontation and cooperation. China Ascendant is an eclectic collection of articles by some of the finest minds in India and seeks to capture the pattern and complexities of Beijing's engagement with the world and the states around its rim-land.

24. China Pakistan military nexus: implications for india / Edited by Gen pc katoch and Gp capt sharad tewari .- New Dehli: Pentagon Press, 2019

Abstract: Pakistan and China enjoy exemplary friendly ties, which have been expanding and becoming even deeper with time. China's main geopolitical focus in South Asia is to restrain India as a competitor by using Pakistan as a proxy. China's growing economic and security relation with Pakistan, and the unholy nexus between the two, remains a major worry for India as the growing Chinese involvement is bound to erode India's influence in the region. Another area of concern has been the lack of credible Indian deterrence to the hybrid threats that it faces as a result of such collusivity between Pakistan and China. This book is the culmination of a series of discussions held under the aegis of the United Service Institution of India on the subject of Sino-Pak Collusivity and Hybrid Warfare. The book contains details on Concepts and Determinants of Hybrid Warfare, an objective assessment of the China-Pakistan Collusive Threats and their Implication for India, and makes Policy recommendations for India in the Time-Frame up to 2030.

25. China's Strategic behaviour / Sanjeev chauhan .- New Dehli: Pentagon Press, 2019

Abstract: China s Strategic Behaviour takes us on an enticing and a grand journey. It traces China s past and present and translates - Chinese thoughts, choice and behaviour. The book attempts to unlock the overwhelming complexity and energy of a country which has been misunderstood owing to the cloak with which it has kept itself chaste. As China continues its inexorable rise and regains its position of strength as a result of its incredible economic growth, it feels justified in asserting its rightful place in the new world order. It is only after the humiliation of being colonised by the Western powers that China realised the extent of its frailty and fragility. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) came into being in a fragmented country and therefore, had a monumental task of blowing life into it. The twenty first century belongs to the country which has size, sway and stockpile and China more than qualifies when it comes to the aforementioned parameters.

26. China's Strategic Deterrence / Anshuman Narang .- New Delhi: Pentagon Press, 2019

Abstract: This book reveals the contours of this policy, identifies the key stratagems of the Chinese Grand Strategy, its implications and key deterrence facilitators. The PLA, ordered repeatedly to be loyal to the CCP, has accordingly established a nearly impregnable multi-domain wall to deter China's adversaries, particularly America, India and Japan. The resource-hungry nation has exploited its vast industrial base and exploited its fast-expanding Diaspora. The Chinese government has channelized its scientific talent in conjunction with secret technology transfers and espionage to lead technology development, especially in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Quantum, Robotics, Blockchain, Hypersonic and Big Data Analytics. This book is a comprehensive compendium of the key measures initiated by the CCP and President Xi to revive Han supremacy the world over. It brilliantly covers the PLA's march from 'Mechanisation' to 'Informationisation' to 'Intelligentisation'.

27. Containing the China onslaught: role of the US Japan, India and other democracies / Pradip Baijal .- Harayan: Quadrant, 2019

Abstract: Containing The China Onslaught: Role of the US, Japan, India and other democracies is a book with a special relevance today both for the world and India. It provides an insightful look at the miraculous Chinese growth story between 2005 and 2015, presenting hard-hitting facts on how China’s GDP has overtaken that of the US, and is currently five times that of India. It unfolds how after being in the same league as India as illustrated in the Goldman Sachs’ BRIC reports of 2001 and 2005, Deng Xiaoping, the paramount leader of the People’s Republic of China and the architect of China’s market economy reforms, planned and implemented policies for China’s growth. Through archives now available in the public domain, the book reveals how the US and the world’s financial institutions aided and abetted this growth.

28. Defending Frenemies, Alliances, Politics and Nuclear Nonproliferation in US foreign Policy / Jeffrey W. Taliaferro .- Oxford University Press: Oxford University Press, 2019

Abstract: The United States maintains defense ties with as many as 60 countries, which not only enables its armed forces to maintain command globally and to project its force widely, but also enables its government to exert leverage over allies' foreign policies and military strategies. The book presents a historical and comparative analysis of how successive US presidential administrations have employed inducements and coercive diplomacy toward Israel, Pakistan, South Korea, and Taiwan over nuclear proliferation. Taliaferro shows that the ultimate goals in each administration, from John F. Kennedy to George H. W. Bush, have been to contain the Soviet Union's influence in the Middle East and South Asia and to enlist China as an ally of convenience against the Soviets in East Asia. Policymakers' inclinations to pursue either accommodative strategies or coercive nonproliferation strategies toward allies have therefore been directly linked to these primary objectives.

29. Economic survey 2018-2019 Volume 2 .- New Dehli: oxford university press, 2019

Abstract: The economic Survey is the budget document of the Government of India, which is presented in Parliament every year. It presents the state of affairs of the Indian economy. Economic Survey 2018-19 consists of two volumes, which analyse the performance of the Indian economy for the financial year 2018-19.

30. An Economist's Miscellany from the Groves of Academe to the slopes of Raisina Hill / Kaushik Basu .- New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2020

Abstract: Philosophy has to be deductive, poetry romantic, plays and fiction humorous, and politics intriguing if they are to catch My attention,’ writes Kaushik Basu. All these interests are on display in an economist’s miscellany, which brings together an eclectic collection of writings on the world of academe, politics, policy, travel, and more. This book offers unique glimpses of the authors engagement with the world: his opinions on contemporary policies and economic issues; his exploration of different parts of the world; and his reflections on people, ideas, and books that have influenced him. An economist’s miscellany also puts on display his literary forays—translations of two hilarious Bengali short stories and a four-act play on academe, love, and cultural misunderstandings. This second and much-expanded edition of the book features a new set of essays that reflects the authors dual perspective of the world: one from the groves of academe and one from the policymaker perch

31. Finding faith in foreign policy : religion and American diplomacy in a postsecular World / Gregorio Bettiza .- New York: Oxford University Press, 2019

Abstract: Since the end of the Cold War, religion has become an ever more explicit and systematic focus of US foreign policy across multiple domains. US foreign policymakers, for instance, have been increasingly tasked with monitoring religious freedom and promoting it globally, delivering humanitarian and development aid abroad by drawing on faith-based organizations, fighting global terrorism by seeking to reform Muslim societies and Islamic theologies, and advancing American interests and values more broadly worldwide by engaging with religious actors and dynamics. Simply put, religion has become a major subject and object of American foreign policy in ways that were unimaginable just a few decades ago. The author explains the causes and consequences of this shift by developing an original theoretical framework and drawing upon extensive empirical research and interviews.

32. From freedom fighters to Jihadists / Vera Mironova .- New York: Oxford University Press, 2019

Abstract: At the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, thousands of pro-democracy rebel groups spontaneously formed to fight the Assad regime. Years later, the revolution was unrecognizable as rebel opposition forces had merged into three major groups: Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar al Sham, and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Why did these three groups rapidly increase in size and military strength while others simply disappeared? What is it about their organizational structure and their Islamist ideology that helped group manage their fighters so successfully? With these questions at the forefront, this book examines the internal organization of armed groups and, in particular, their human resources. Analyzing the growth of these groups through the prism of a labor market theory, this book shows that extreme Islamist groups were able to attract fighters away from more moderate groups because they had better internal organization, took better care of fighters both physically and monetarily, experienced less internal corruption, and effectively used their Islamist ideology to control recruits.

33. The Great Game in the Buddhist Himalayas, India  and China's quest  for Strategic Dominance / Phunchok Stobdan .- Harayan: Penguin Random House, 2019

Abstract: There is a new 'great game' being played in the Buddhist Himalayas between India, China and Tibet, which makes for a crucial third player. Together, they are leveraging their influence with the Buddhist communities to create strategic dominance, with varying degrees of success. China's 'Buddhist diplomacy' has focused on Nepal and Bhutan, and the Indian Himalayan regions of Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, which have sizeable Buddhist populations and are vulnerable to this influence. The crisis in Doklam brought into focus what will be one of the most difficult issues to unfold in the Himalayas in future: India's insufficient ability to deal with China only through the prism of military power. If Xi Jinping, who is known to be working towards a resolution of the Tibet question, succeeds, and the Dalai Lama does indeed return to Tibet, how will it impact Indian interests in the Buddhist Himalayas?

34. Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708): master of the white hawk / J. S. Grewal .- New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2019

Abstract: The unifying Theme in the life of Guru Gobind Singh was confrontation with the Mughals, which culminated in a struggle for political power. This fact is brought into sharp focus when we consider the gurus life and legacy simultaneously in the contexts of the Mughal empire, its feudatory states in the hills, and the Sikh movement. The creation of the Khalsa in 1699 as a political community with the aspiration to rule made Conciliation or compromise with the Mughal state almost impossible. Their long struggle ended eventually in the declaration of Khalsa Raj in 1765. Using contemporary and near contemporary sources in Gurmukhi, Persian, and English, J.S. Grewal presents a comprehensive study of this era of Sikh history. The volume elaborates on the life and legacy of Guru Gobind Singh and explores the ideological background of the institution of the Khalsa and its larger political context.

35. A history of the present: a biography of India South Africans, 1994-2019 / Ashwin Desai and Goolam Vahed .- New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2019

Abstract: Through the long 20th century, Indian South Africans lived under the whip of settler colonialism and white minority rule, which saw the passing of a slew of legislation that circumscribed their freedom of movement, threatened repatriation, and denied them citizenship, all the while herding them into racially segregated townships. This volume chronicles the broad outlines of this history. Taking the story into the present, it provides an analysis of how Indian South Africans have responded to changes wrought by the remarkable collapse of apartheid and the holding of the first democratic elections in 1994. Drawing upon archival records, in-depth interviews, and ethnography, this study examines the ways in which Indian South Africans define themselves and the world around them, and how they are defined by others. It tells of the incredible journey of Indian South Africans, many of whom are fourth and fifth generation, towards being recognised as citizens in the land of their birth and how, while often attracted by and seeking to explore their roots in India, they continue to dig deeper roots in African soil.

36. India in a warming world: integrating climate change and development / Edited by Navroz K. Dubash .- New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2019

Abstract: Riven with scientific uncertainty, contending interests, and competing interpretations, the problem of climate change poses an existential challenge. For India, such a challenge is compounded by the immediate concerns of eradicating poverty and accelerating development. Moreover, India has played a relatively limited role thus far in causing the problem. Despite these complicating factors, India has to engage this challenge because a pathway to development innocent of climate change is no longer possible. The volume seeks to encourage public debate on climate change as part of India’s larger development discourse. 

37. India's security environment: emerging uncertainties and challenges / Edited by Satish Kumar .- New Delhi: Pentagon Press, 2019

Abstract: Draws attention to new uncertainties and challenges that have emerged in Indias security environment in the last few years because of the volatile nature of international relations. The 21st century has witnessed the evolution of relations among nations in a manner that has disrupted the sanctity of the international order built in the 20th century. For instance, the rule-based international system is being violated and the violators are not being punished. There is a tendency on the part of major powers to pursue policies governed by nationalism and protectionism without caring for their impact on other nations. The legitimacy of international agreements has been diluted by abrupt withdrawal of big powers from them. The rise of China as an economic and military power and its assertiveness has ruffled the international environment, making choices difficult for smaller nations.

38. J&K invisible faultlines / Edited by Sandhya Jain .- New Delhi: Pentagon Press, 2019

Abstract: A veil of darkness shrouds Indian political discourse with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Its genesis can be traced to Jawaharlal Nehru's decision to extract J&K from Sardar Patel's mission to integrate the Princely States with the fledgling Dominion of India. Nehru's subsequent inability to manage the war with Pakistan in the face of the duplicitous manoeuvrings of Louis Mountbatten whom he imprudently appointed as Governor General of India and chairman of the Defence Committee, waffling in the face of the steely British backroom diplomacy at the UN Security Council, and above all, abject surrender to the intractable Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah whom he had unleashed upon the hapless Maharaja Hari Singh and his subjects, have bequeathed a bitter legacy.

39. Kashmir's untold Story Declassified / Iqbal Chand Malhotra, Maroof Raza .- New Delhi: Bloombury Publishing India Pvt. Ltd, 2019

Abstract: The book provides answers to these gripping questions and joins the dots in presenting the matrix of a consistent and compelling argument regarding the future of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Today, the state's water resources are coveted by the beleaguered Chinese microchip industry and it appears that this is going to determine the continuing militancy in the state. Malhotra and Raza argue that China and its client Pakistan will actively back the militancy, come what may.

40. The Oxford handbook of comparative foreign relations law / Curtis A. Bradley .- New York: Oxford University Press, 2019

Abstract: This Oxford Handbook ambitiously seeks to lay the groundwork for the relatively new field of comparative foreign relations law. Comparative foreign relations law compares and contrasts how nations, and also supranational entities (for example, the European Union), structure their decisions about matters such as entering into and exiting from international agreements, engaging with international institutions, and using military force, as well as how they incorporate treaties and customary international law into their domestic legal systems. The legal materials that make up a nation's foreign relations law can include constitutional law, statutory law, administrative law, and judicial precedent, among other areas. 

 

41. The Promise of India, How Prime Ministers Nehru to Modi Shaped The Nation (1947-2019) / Jaimini Bhagwati .- China: Penguin Random House, 2019

Abstract: On 15 August 1947, most Indians had stars in their eyes as they looked ahead to a glorious future as a free country. In this first-of-its-kind book, Jaimini Bhagwati analyses the key political, foreign policy and economic decisions of all the premiers from Jawaharlal Nehru to Narendra Modi, to understand how well they steered the nation on the path of progress and development. With his long experience in the corridors of power, Bhagwati reveals fascinating behind-the-scenes events and offers fresh insights into each PM's governance. For instance, Nehru, considered a 'socialist' by some, in fact acted according to the prevailing wisdom of highly regarded economists; why P.V. Narasimha Rao has not received adequate credit for heralding economic reforms; how Atal Bihari Vajpayee followed in the footsteps of Nehru and Rao; and how and why Modi focused on the delivery of basics to the poor.

 

42. Resurgent Asia / Deepak Nayyar .- Oxford University Press: New Delhi, 2019

Abstract: Gunnar Myrdal published his magnum opusasian drama, in 1968, to conclude that Asia's development prospects were gloomy. Since then, contrary to myrdal's expectations Asia has been transformed beyond recognition, the development of Nations and living standards of people revolutionized. These transformations have been uneven across countries and unequal among people. Yet, Asia's economic progress in this short time span has been remarkable and almost unprecedented in history. Resurgent asia provides an analytical narrative of Asia's incredible economic development, situated in the wider context of historical, Political, and social factors. It also provides an economic analysis of underlying factors that assisted Asia's growth and the critical issues in the process of development.

 

43. Rise of the indo-pacific: perspectives, dimensions and challenges / Edited by Chintamani Mahapatra .- New Delhi: Pentagon Press, 2019

Abstract: A new concept of Indo-Pacific has entered into the geopolitical discourse and the lexicon of International Relations. There is no unanimity of views on the definition of the emerging concept of Indo-Pacific. Yet, Indo-Pacific region as a new geopolitical concept appears to have come to stay. Three major developments have taken place in recent years leading to emergence of the concept of Indo-Pacific that does not replace but subsumes the geopolitical construct, hitherto known as the Asia-Pacific. The newest development, of course, is the rise of India as an economic powerhouse and influential political actor in world affairs, particularly in Asian affairs. Second most important development is Chinas assertive foreign policy and use of military strength to assert its sovereignty on disputed islands in the South China Sea. The third important development is erosion of self-confidence of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that used to display its image as a triumphant political grouping in a region, despite diversity in terms of political system, economic philosophy, religious beliefs and socio-cultural traditions.

 

44. South China Sea: territorial claims and disputes / Edited by G. jayachandra Reddy .- New Delhi: Pentagon Press, 2019

Abstract: The South China Sea (SCS) is an arena of growing conflicts due to overlapping claims by both littoral states and extra-regional powers. With respect to the Spratly and Paracel Islands, different geographic features are reportedly occupied by claimant-states such as Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, China, and Malaysia. The source of the SCS dispute is traceable to 1951, due to vast continental shelf constituting a potentially rich source of oil and natural gas. China demarcated its claims with a U-shaped nine-dash line, covering most of the area. The SCS has witnessed a number of inopportune conflicts in terms of economic interests, civilian security, and the environment in the recent past.

 

45. Sino-Indian equation: competition+cooperation-confrontation / Rajeev Bhutani .- New Dehli: Pentagon, 2019

Abstract: When two neighbouring countries of comparable national power are vying for influence in the same strategic space, competition is bound to occur. Drivers of conflict will always be there in their co-existence, however increasing convergence of national interests can lead to cooperation between them for the mutual benefit of both. If China and India can overcome their differences, they can make their disagreements over boundary dispute and competition in the Indo-Pacific region irrelevant. They can create positive effects on economic development and security in Asia and in turn affect the global landscape. However, the world is passing through a period of strategic uncertainty where China is seeking to dislodge the United States as leading power in the Indo-Pacific region and contain India and Japan - through geo-economic measures like Belt and Road Initiative and exercising de facto control of South China Sea by militarizing the artificial islands.


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