What Form Does Odette Take? The BRICS Summit Edition...
When Prince Siegfried stumbles upon a lake in the woods, he’s taken aback by what he beholds. A moonlit lake, in the quiet woods, populated with beautiful swans. As he takes aim to kill one, he’s transfixed as it transforms into a woman.
Our beautiful swan-heroine laments that she is in fact a princess bound to the spell of an evil sorcerer who has enslaved her in this form.
While versions of the plot line may vary, this is typically how the tale of the famed ballet, Swan Lake, begins. Composed by Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky, the ballet first premiered in 1877 and follows our hero who attempts to break this curse and save his ‘true love’, Odette.
Much like our Prince, the lay observer may not be able to accurately identify the form that the recent BRICS Summit has taken, but Takshashila Research Analyst, Vanshika Saraf is here to dispel any myths and reveal the ‘form’ taken by the BRICS host, Russia, and other states who have found their way to Kazan.
In her recent Op-Ed for The Diplomat, Vanshika helps us reveal the complexity behind, and contours of, these actions taken at this multilateral convening:
“We are seeing a dichotomy unfold in international relations, where the perception of Russia as a responsible global player is being decoupled from its identity as an aggressor. A distinction is being made between the politics of war and the politics of peace. Although we have done this for decades in the context of the United States, it has never been done quite so overtly. “
She parses out the motivations behind each country’s participation at the Summit, from ASEAN member countries to Azerbaijan and Armenia (spoiler alert: their motivations are more economic than political).
Click here to take a closer look at her revealing commentary.
We continue onto domestic turf to examine the ANRF and its role in enabling India’s BioE3 policy.
Why Should ANRF Care About FMCGs? (And Other Fun Acronyms)
In their recent Op-Ed for The Hindu, Takshashila Head of Research, Shambhavi Naik alongside L.S. Shashidhara from the National Centre for Biological Sciences, make a case for why the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) needs to focus on Fast-Moving Consumer Goods to realise the ambition of India’s new BioE3 policy (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment).
Using the example of soap manufacturing and its associated palm oil dependance, their Op-Ed in The Hindu argues:
“The ANRF and the BioE3 policy are the right ways of moving towards a bio-based economy linked to a strong partnership between academia and industry. Products of everyday use might be a great first place to start, to make a real impact in terms of being both sustainable and self-reliant.”
Click here to read the strong case they build for this proposed way forward.
Keeping with our persistent foray, we venture to India’s bilateral relationship with Germany in this next section.
The Door to Europe is Open, and It May Be Through Germany?
The 7th India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) are underway. This convening alongside the Asia Pacific Conference, has brought German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to town, where he was to deliver the keynote address alongside PM Modi.
As India’s biggest trading partner in Europe, Germany (with bilateral trade exceeding $26 billion in 2023), presents an opportunity for India to forge a path toward a potential comprehensive free trade agreement with the EU.
Takshashila Research Analyst, Vanshika Saraf, examines India’s ties with Germany in the areas of business, defence, energy and labour mobility and identifies opportunities in the bilateral relationship that India may be well poised to take greater advantage of.
Vanshika is also quick to offer a pragmatic view of the partnership, including areas of friction such as the EU-India Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BITA) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
Click here to take a closer look at her detailed analysis.
We continue to this next section on the role of government - ever have questions on what role it is well suited to take? Anupam will elucidate in this next section.
Government As Competitor? Let’s Hear Anupam’s Take…
What happens when the government takes on the tripartite role of regulator, policymaker and operator? Well, curious reader, you need not wonder any more.
Takshashila Professor of Economics, Anupam Manur was recently featured on an episode of The Ken Podcast, where he examines some of the interventionist solutions that the government takes charge on.
Click here to listen in!
Now that you’re on the podcast train, we have more for you to listen to, as we showcase our All Things Policy Episode of the week!
Old Wine, New Bottle? ANRF Edition…
This is the question that Takshashila’s Head of Research, Shambhavi Naik, Research Analyst from our High-Tech Geopolitics programme, Satya Sahu and Programme Manager, Saurabh Todi grapple with, as they examine recent initiatives under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation.
Further, they also examine the role of the private sector in such initiatives, and discuss what a potential roadmap for the future could look like.
Click here to listen to their insightful conversation in this week’s All Things Policy episode of the week.
If we’re speaking of insightful analysis, we’d be hard pressed not to highlight Rakshith’s recent Op-Ed in the Deccan Herald; press on to learn more.
Israel-Gaza: Have We Considered the Environmental Impact?
A oft forgotten aspect of conflict remains the toll it takes on the environment, asserts Takshashila Research Analyst, Rakshith Shetty. The conflict that Rakshith examines in his recent Op-Ed, is that between Israel and Gaza.
In Gaza, the impact of conflict on agricultural lands and food security is significant with 67.6 percent of agricultural land damaged, as of September 2024.
Further, he highlights the notable disruption of waste management systems and the stark increase in the production of toxic waste that in turn contaminates soil, water, air, flora and fauna.
Click here to read more of his analysis in the Deccan Herald including why he calls for a paradigm shift in understanding military emissions.
We continue on to our next section to illuminate what the China-India BRICS sidelines meeting could speak to.
The Kazan Handshake: China and India Meet at BRICS…
Following a much awaited meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, commentators are busy attempting to examine developments that may have transpired in this bilateral chat.
Watch Takshashila’s Chair of the Indo-Pacific Studies Programme, Manoj Kewalramani unpack the implications of this meeting and possible areas of convergence and divergence between the two nations, in his recent interview with the New Indian Express.
Click here to watch his illuminating exchange with Senior Journalist Neena Gopal, alongside other experts.
We continue onto what the PLA is occupied with in their Western Theatre command.
PLA and Revolutions in War Fighting…
In her latest piece for Life of Soldiers, Takshashila Staff Research Analyst, Anushka Saxena, takes to examining theatre commands, with particular attention to the Western Theatre Command (WTC) of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), that direct their primary operation towards India.
She writes:
“The PLA WTC appears to be rapidly evolving its approach to enhance combat preparedness. Since its formation in February 2016, the WTC and its various sub-commands have developed standardisation of measures in everything from reconnaissance and fighting drills, to communications, transportation and delivery, with talent at its core. Over the next few years, it is only likely that the WTC doubles down on such measures, creating a joint force truly capable of conducting successful combat operations, especially under conditions of informatisation. In such a case, India must continue to observe developments in the WTC, and direct its efforts towards countering them.”
Click here to read more of her analysis.
If we’re examining China, it’s fitting that our next section turns to developments from Taiwan.
Taiwan’s Third Representative?
While there may be meaningful engagement between India and China on a number of key bilateral areas of concern, there “still exist ‘red line’ issues for a territorially aggressive China”, writes Takshashila Staff Research Analyst for the Indo-Pacific Programme, Anushka Saxena.
In her latest Op-Ed for The Quint, Anushka explores the implications of India welcoming a third representative office from Taiwan in Mumbai.
Click here to read more of her detailed analysis.
We continue onward to examine developments related to the India-U.S. bilateral relationship.
Enhanced Cooperation: A Way Forward on the U.S.- India Bilateral Relationship
Takshashila Adjunct Scholar, Yusuf Unjhawala, was recently in conversation with Kritee Chopra (Centre for East Asian Studies at Christ University).
Click here to watch their discussion on the evolving partnership between U.S. and India on defence technology transfer and production, while they discuss a way forward on enhanced cooperation between the two countries.
We bid you adieu without a Tabletop Trove section this week, but before then, a quick spotlight on our new Expert Capsule Course.
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This edition of the Dispatch was written by Kripa Koshy, Programme Manager for Takshashila’s Post Graduate Programme in Public Policy.