The course provides an introduction to contemporary world affairs. The primary objective of the course is two – first, to enhance the understanding of contemporary global developments, with an attempt to comprehend the larger picture. Second, to identify trends leading forecasts on contemporary world affairs.
The Course will also invite senior scholars within and outside NIAS – also from within and outside India to provide lectures on contemporary world affairs.
Research Questions on Global Politics
The course focus on providing an explanation, and expects the scholars to increase their understanding on the following:
1. Contemporary World Order:
- Policies of the US, China, EU and Russia and their implications on the global order
2. Regional Security:
- South Asia, Southeast and East Asia, West Asia, Europe, Latin America and Africa
3. Maritime Security:
- South China Sea, Indian Ocean, Indo-Pacific, Arctic and Blue Economy
4. Science and Security:
- Energy Politics, Climate Change, Outer Space, Nuclear Order and Disarmament, Cyber Security and Drones and Internal Security
5. International Economy and Security:
- G7-G20 Summits, WTO, World Bank, Trade and Conflict and Regional Economic Integration
Special Focus on South Asia
The Course aims to create an understanding from a South Asian perspective. Given the enormity of literature, primarily from an international perspective, there is a substantial gap in terms of approaching contemporary global issues from a South Asian perspective.
The course also aims to create a pool of scholars, thereby build capacity that would help the region in understanding issues of global politics, regional and international conflicts and also regional security in South Asia.
Enhancing Presentation Style & Writing Skills
A common issue facing young scholars is the challenge of effective communication. This course aims to address the same in terms of building basic skills of research presentation.
On the basic research tools side, the course aims to pick up different contemporary issues and make presentations – oral and power point, with an objective to convert the same into short writings to be published in the Course Portal
Effective Use of Social Media for Dissemination
The course will also recommend its scholars to maintain their own individual blogs and also help improving their tweets and related social media communication; the objective of this endeavour is to create awareness about making effective use of the social media for research and dissemination.
The course also aims to create a group of young scholars working on issues relating to peace and conflict and pool them together with an online identity.
Online Portal: Global Politics
The Course will also have an Online portal managed by the Course Instructor, where the writings of the scholars on contemporary world affairs will be published on a regular basis.
The Online portal of the Course will also have lectures by the international faculty uploaded.
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Course Outline
Global Politics: Identifying Contemporary Issues
The course focuses on providing an explanation, and expects the scholars to increase their understanding on the following:
1. Contemporary World Order:
- Policies of Big Power: US, China, EU, Russia and India
- Institutionalism and World Politics: Role of International and Regional Organisations
2. Regional Security:
- South Asia
- Southeast and East Asia
- West Asia
- Europe
- Latin America
- Africa
3. Maritime Security:
- South China Sea
- Indian Ocean
- Indo-Pacific
- Arctic
- Blue Economy
4. Science and Security:
- Energy Politics
- Climate Change
- Outer Space
- Nuclear Order and Disarmament
- Cyber Security
- Drones and Internal Security
5. International Economy and Security:
- Globalism and Economic Diplomacy: G7-G20 Summits
- International Economic and Financial Organisation- WTO, World Bank
- Trade and Conflict
- Regional Economic Integration
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Course Framework
For the NIAS scholars, there will be regular classes, every Wednesdays between 1000 and 1300 hrs.
Every session would involve 45 minutes of lecture, followed by 45 minutes of interactions.
The above will be followed by students’ presentations for 90 minutes
Student Presentations, followed by Short Commentaries will play a crucial role in deepening the understanding of students. Each student will be asked to make minimum two presentations and write two short commentaries every month.
The portal on Global Politics will engage the students of the course on a regular basis in following subjects on a daily basis and also prepare online databases.
Guest Lectures and International Faculty:
Since the course is also designed as an online one, this would give flexibility to invite faculty from across the world.
Academics, Think Tankers, former government officials will be requested to take guest lectures on specific subjects.
