By a Distinguished Speaker
Dr. Pramod Jaiswal, the Research Director,
Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE)
At the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace
On 7 November 2024, from 9 – 10:30am
Abstract
The changing global power dynamics are reshaping the geopolitical landscape of South Asia, as nations in the region grapple with the strategic rivalries and alliances of major powers like the United States, China, and Russia. India, with its rising economic and military influence, seeks to assert itself as a regional leader while balancing its relationship with both the West and its immediate neighbors, including Pakistan and China. The growing US-China competition has drawn South Asian countries into new strategic alignments, impacting trade, security, and diplomacy. The Indo-Pacific strategy, China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and the Afghanistan crisis are key developments influencing the region’s geopolitical future. Smaller nations, such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, navigate a complex web of external pressures while striving to maintain sovereignty and leverage economic opportunities. This evolving landscape challenges South Asia to redefine its role in global diplomacy, maintain regional stability, and address issues like economic integration, security, and multilateral cooperation amidst shifting global alliances. It is in this context, the lecture will focus on how small states of South Asia like Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other push for their interest in the changing geopolitical landscape of South Asia.
About the Speaker
Dr. Pramod Jaiswal is the Research Director at NIICE. He has been a regular and visiting faculty at different universities of Nepal and China. He is Visiting Fellow at Sandia National Laboratories, Cooperative Monitoring Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, US; Senior Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi; Non-Resident Fellow at India Studies Center, Ubon Ratchathani University, Thailand and Senior Research Fellow at Institute for National and International Security, Belgrade. He is also an alumnus of the Near East South Asia Center, National Defence University, Washington DC. Previously, he was Researcher at South Asian Studies, Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok and Manohar Parikkar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. He has worked as Correspondent and Strategic Affairs Editor with different reputed media outlets of Nepal. He is the Member of the Editorial Board, Journal of International Affairs, Kathmandu; Member of the Academic Committee at the Pangoal Institution, Beijing; Member of International Advisory Committee, Journal of Liberty and International Affairs, Macedonia; and member of Subject Committee of International Relations and Diplomacy, Tribhuvan University. He holds Masters, M. Phil and PhD from School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He is the recipient of Silver Jubilee Scholarship and SAARC Doctoral Fellowship from Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Government of India. He has authored, edited and co-edited around two dozen books on China and South Asia affairs.