“They’re digging in the wrong place!”
The year was 1981 and the world was introduced to one of the most iconic action heroes to have graced the big screen: Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones in Steven Spielberg’s Raiders of the Lost Ark. A movie labelled as “one of the most deliriously funny, ingenious and stylish American adventure movies ever made” by New York Times critic Vincent Canby and 43 years later, and the appeal remains.
Only now, we’re giving you the opportunity to step into Indiana’s shoes in 2024.
What if we told you that Takshashila’s new expert capsule course in Geospatial Science and Technology may get you closer to becoming like Indy than ever before? In just four weeks, you’ll cover diverse modules in everything from cartography (hello future map readers!) to digital image processing and advanced remote sensing, led by subject matter experts from across the country.
We’ll promise you everything but his famed fedora and the flight ticket to Peru. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to apply to our early bird scholarship (if you apply before October 13). Click here to apply today!
But the geospatial adventures are not limited to our online classrooms. They spill over to the real geopolitical activities of our neighbours.
High Time We Look at China’s High-Altitude Capabilities
Head of Takshashila’s Geospatial Programme, Dr. Y Nithyanandam, writes an Op-Ed for The New Indian Express where he analyses the increase in China’s military air infrastructure in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR).
He writes:
China's critical military infrastructure at higher altitudes is rapidly expanding in the challenging environment of the TAR. A vital part of this expansion is the proliferation of high-altitude heliports and helipads, which are quickly becoming crucial nodes in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) ground and air operations strategy.
These helipads, strategically placed near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China, disputed areas with Bhutan, and critical infrastructure like surface-to-missile (SAM) sites and military barracks, serve as logistics hubs. Their role in facilitating rapid troop and equipment movement underscores their strategic significance.
Click here to read his detailed research and analysis on these notable developments and what he proposes as India’s response.
We move next from India’s reaction to geopolitical activity, to China’s. Read on learn more about what has caught Beijing’s interest following a recent Quad meeting.
China Thinks This About the Quad…
“...criticism from China is likely to get much more shrill” writes Takshashila’s Chairperson of the Indo-Pacific Studies Programme, Manoj Kewalramani, in his Op-Ed for Moneycontrol where he decrypts the mixed views on the Quad from the perspective of Beijing, following the recent Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington.
He examines this wide ranging commentary on the Quad, a grouping which has been labelled as everything from an “essential component of a larger containment effort by the US” to “a politically fragile and fundamentally ineffective grouping”. Importantly however, he pays close attention to the largely critical view of the Summit from Chinese media.
Click here to read more.
Beyond commentary and speculation on the Quad, Beijing has been busy elsewhere. Read on to discover what Chinese activities have caught our researchers’ eye.
A Magnifying Glass to China’s Economic and Security Challenges
Takshashila’s Anushka Saxena takes a magnifying glass to China’s recent (and public) Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) test on September 25. She draws particular attention to the missile used as well as the implications of this test for the country’s nuclear strategy and simmering geopolitical tensions in the region. Further, she includes commentary on internal pressures within the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF), including recent leadership changes, importantly, all happening amidst China’s ongoing economic challenges.
Click here to see why she suggests these efforts may be akin to using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
Takshashila’s researcher, Amit Kumar, further scrutinises China’s economy, writing a recent Op-Ed for Nikkei Asia on the country’s struggles with regard to a consumption-driven economy. Click here to read his detailed analysis further.
Chinese economic activity is not the only thing Takshashila staff are trying to examine. We turn now to examine the good ol’ fashioned idea of the ‘economic man’.
Is it a Bird? Is it a Plane? No, it’s Homo Economicus!
Our ATP episode of the week features one of Takshashila’s resident economists, Anupam Manur, in conversation with Ashish Kulkarni (the latter manages to draw on a Spock and Simpson reference in the same sentence in this episode). Does the understanding of homo-economicus or the ‘economic man’ stand the test of time? Anupam and Ashish examine this fundamental assumption tied to economic reasoning in the All Things Policy episode of the week. Click here if you’d like to hear more.
Let’s move from the general ‘economic man’ to a particular Japanese leader who has caught the headlines in recent public discourse.
‘Tis the Season for… Elections In Japan
Takshashila’s own Vanshika Saraf gives you a quick rundown of all the dynamics to be alert to in the Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) elections, in her recent Op-Ed for The Indian Express.
With the news of the new incoming Japanese Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, this timely piece allows you to get a ‘behind-the-curtain’ view of the dynamics around the country’s election activity. She examines factors including support across factional divides within the LDP, strength of candidates with strong public appeal and the importance of the support of current and former senior political leadership in the country.
Further, her piece will give you the opportunity to review Fumio Kishida’s record following his departure from the country’s coveted leadership position. We leave you to decide the impact his legacy may have for incoming LDP leadership.
Click here to take a closer look at her analysis.
But Wait, There’s More!
We’re looking for a motivated scholar interested in following developments related to the economy, domestic politics and foreign policy of Pakistan. Know someone up to the task? Refer them to this link.
We’re also keeping a keen eye out for a new Assistant Programme Manager to join Takshashila’s Policy School. Know of anyone who has stellar organisational and communication skills? Who enjoys the thought of delivering an awesome learning experience to students making their first foray into the world of public policy? If the answer is yes, encourage them to apply here.
This edition of the Dispatch was written by Kripa Koshy, Programme Manager for Takshashila’s Post Graduate Programme in Public Policy.