ID :
139578
Fri, 08/27/2010 - 23:15
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https://oananews.org//node/139578
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Feature: RI-INDIAN ACADEMICIANS COLLABORATE IN REVIEWING GLOBAL AFFAIRS
By: Vicki Febrianto
Jakarta, Aug 27 (ANTARA) - Academicians from Indonesia and India are to collaborate in reviewing regional and global affairs of their concerns as their two countries start to wield wider roles in the global arena.
The move was revealed in a panel discussion at Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Center in Jakarta, Thursday, featuring four panelists from India, Dr. Shankari Sunderaraman, associate professor, Center for South and Southeast Asian Studies, SIS, JNU. Dr. Uttara Sahasrabuddhe, associate professor, department of civic and politics, University of Mumbai, Dr. Swaran Singh, professor, CIPOD-SIS, JNU, and C.R Rashmi Bhure, associate professor, University of Mumbai.
The panelists agreed that an important feature in post-Cold War international relations is the rise of Asia. Much of Asia is no more on the periphery of global politics, whereas the center of global politics was said to have clear shifted from the Atlantic to Pacific.
While two Asian powers, China and Japan, have been already recognized as major powers, India of late has become a strong contender for the same position. However, in addition to its diversity, Asia is also home to some striking contradictions.
Most of the future growth potential of the world is in this area - particularly in East and Southeast Asia. At the same time, some of the world's greatest areas of concerns are also located here, mainly South and West Asia. Beyond this, however, there is one common thing - the urge to assert "Asianness" - the value and culture that is distinct from the West.
That was said as reflected in the international relations of the Asian states in two ways - one is their effort to shape regional and global events in their own ways; and the other is the urge to be recognized and given "due" place in global politics.
The two regions of South and Southeast Asia present all the diversity, contradictions and Asian-ness. The "miracle economies" of Southeast Asia are now joined by India and China in terms of growth and market potentials.
After having absorbed the shock of the financial crisis in 1997, most states in Southeast Asia have embarked on further democratization. In the process, many have been facing increased internal crisis. However, the post-Cold War enlargement of ASEAN as well as the formation of multilateral platforms such as APEC and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) was pointed out to have served well for security, stability and prosperity of the region.
States in South Asia are affected by continued internal as well as cross-border crises. The roots and bases of some significant global terrorist organization are located in this region. Despite this, while India and Sri Lanka have established themselves as functioning democracies, other states have begun a new round of democratization recently. Due to these reasons, all major powers in the world have some stake in these regions.
Roles of Indonesia, India
The first two Asian countries to become independent from colonial rules, India and Indonesia had spearheaded the effort to build Asian unity - along with Pakistan, Ceylone, and Burma - in the 1950's, the consequence of which was the Afro-Asian Conference in Bandung, held in April 1955.
In the later years, divergent worldviews distanced these two countries throughout the Cold War period. In a post-Cold War reorientation of its foreign policy, India has revived its interest in Southeast and East Asia - what is now famously known as its "Look East" policy.
Both its security and economic interest drive this policy. As a part of this policy, India has tried to wave cross-regional linkages through groups such as BIMBSTEC, Ganga-Mekong Cooperation, and Free Trade Areas (FTA) with some important states in Southeast Asia and with the ASEAN, and its membership of the ARF.
The panel acknowledged that Indonesia had played a significant role in the formation and evolution of ASEAN as well as the other regional groups, ARF and APEC. It continues to have some influence on regional affairs, a recent example of which is the writing and ratification of the ASEAN Charter.
Non-Western perspectives are becoming more vocal and non-Western countries are becoming more influential, it makes an immense sense to understand and analyze regional and global politics from the perspectives of India and Indonesia.
Towards that approach academicians from India and Indonesia have sought to review regional and global affairs through a series of collaborative seminars, one each to be hosted by India and Indonesia. The seminars will debate papers presented on themes that will tentatively include foreign policy aims and objectivity of India and Indonesia, foreign economic policy - importance of trade, trade blocs, negotiating blocs; FTA's; and negotiations at WTO, G-20 and G-8.
The others themes will be on the challenge of and approach to terrorism, internal crises, regional disputes, regional organizations and role of India and Indonesia - SAARC, ASEAN, ARF, APEC, and the Ganga-Mekong Co-operation, and challenge of and approach to big powers - US, China, Russia and Europe.
Jakarta, Aug 27 (ANTARA) - Academicians from Indonesia and India are to collaborate in reviewing regional and global affairs of their concerns as their two countries start to wield wider roles in the global arena.
The move was revealed in a panel discussion at Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Center in Jakarta, Thursday, featuring four panelists from India, Dr. Shankari Sunderaraman, associate professor, Center for South and Southeast Asian Studies, SIS, JNU. Dr. Uttara Sahasrabuddhe, associate professor, department of civic and politics, University of Mumbai, Dr. Swaran Singh, professor, CIPOD-SIS, JNU, and C.R Rashmi Bhure, associate professor, University of Mumbai.
The panelists agreed that an important feature in post-Cold War international relations is the rise of Asia. Much of Asia is no more on the periphery of global politics, whereas the center of global politics was said to have clear shifted from the Atlantic to Pacific.
While two Asian powers, China and Japan, have been already recognized as major powers, India of late has become a strong contender for the same position. However, in addition to its diversity, Asia is also home to some striking contradictions.
Most of the future growth potential of the world is in this area - particularly in East and Southeast Asia. At the same time, some of the world's greatest areas of concerns are also located here, mainly South and West Asia. Beyond this, however, there is one common thing - the urge to assert "Asianness" - the value and culture that is distinct from the West.
That was said as reflected in the international relations of the Asian states in two ways - one is their effort to shape regional and global events in their own ways; and the other is the urge to be recognized and given "due" place in global politics.
The two regions of South and Southeast Asia present all the diversity, contradictions and Asian-ness. The "miracle economies" of Southeast Asia are now joined by India and China in terms of growth and market potentials.
After having absorbed the shock of the financial crisis in 1997, most states in Southeast Asia have embarked on further democratization. In the process, many have been facing increased internal crisis. However, the post-Cold War enlargement of ASEAN as well as the formation of multilateral platforms such as APEC and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) was pointed out to have served well for security, stability and prosperity of the region.
States in South Asia are affected by continued internal as well as cross-border crises. The roots and bases of some significant global terrorist organization are located in this region. Despite this, while India and Sri Lanka have established themselves as functioning democracies, other states have begun a new round of democratization recently. Due to these reasons, all major powers in the world have some stake in these regions.
Roles of Indonesia, India
The first two Asian countries to become independent from colonial rules, India and Indonesia had spearheaded the effort to build Asian unity - along with Pakistan, Ceylone, and Burma - in the 1950's, the consequence of which was the Afro-Asian Conference in Bandung, held in April 1955.
In the later years, divergent worldviews distanced these two countries throughout the Cold War period. In a post-Cold War reorientation of its foreign policy, India has revived its interest in Southeast and East Asia - what is now famously known as its "Look East" policy.
Both its security and economic interest drive this policy. As a part of this policy, India has tried to wave cross-regional linkages through groups such as BIMBSTEC, Ganga-Mekong Cooperation, and Free Trade Areas (FTA) with some important states in Southeast Asia and with the ASEAN, and its membership of the ARF.
The panel acknowledged that Indonesia had played a significant role in the formation and evolution of ASEAN as well as the other regional groups, ARF and APEC. It continues to have some influence on regional affairs, a recent example of which is the writing and ratification of the ASEAN Charter.
Non-Western perspectives are becoming more vocal and non-Western countries are becoming more influential, it makes an immense sense to understand and analyze regional and global politics from the perspectives of India and Indonesia.
Towards that approach academicians from India and Indonesia have sought to review regional and global affairs through a series of collaborative seminars, one each to be hosted by India and Indonesia. The seminars will debate papers presented on themes that will tentatively include foreign policy aims and objectivity of India and Indonesia, foreign economic policy - importance of trade, trade blocs, negotiating blocs; FTA's; and negotiations at WTO, G-20 and G-8.
The others themes will be on the challenge of and approach to terrorism, internal crises, regional disputes, regional organizations and role of India and Indonesia - SAARC, ASEAN, ARF, APEC, and the Ganga-Mekong Co-operation, and challenge of and approach to big powers - US, China, Russia and Europe.
