Programme

A BRIEF NOTE ABOUT

NIAS Area Studies

CHINA, EAST ASIA & THE PACIFIC

Five Major Activities:

Research, Publications, Capacity Building, Network and Dialogue

The primary activities of the CEAP will be fivefold: Research, Publications, Capacity Building, Network and Dialogue. We intend to pursue academic and policy research on the geographic and issue-based verticals mentioned below, leading to publications. Depending on the geography and issue, we intend to publish Daily Briefs, Weeklies, Monthly, Issue/Policy Briefs, and Annuals.

As capacity building, we intend to create a pool of young researchers who will pursue research on the verticals. We intend to catch them young - at undergraduate and postgraduate levels- by engaging them through lectures, internships, and young scholars’ workshops. We also intend to have annual conclaves on each geographic vertical (to start with on China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Australia), by bringing researchers under a single platform, aimed to create an alumnus in the long run.

We also intend to create a network of institutions, primarily in South India that will work with NIAS on the following 

verticals. The Institute already has created an IR Network - International Studies Network Bangalore (ISNB) involving the following institutions: Pondicherry University, Puducherry (Centre for South Asian Studies), Kristu Jayanti College, Bangalore (Department of History), St. Joseph's University, Bangalore, Stella Maris College, Chennai (Department of International Studies), Loyola College, Chennai (Department of History), University of Madras (Department of Defence and Strategic Studies), University of Mysore (Department of International relations) and Indian Maritime University, Chennai.

Geographic Verticals
To start with, the NIAS-CEAP will look at the following verticals from a geographic perspective: China, Taiwan, the Koreas, Australia and New Zealand.

On China, we intend to look at internal politics, external relations, maritime, and S&T. We intend to publish a “China Reader” as a regular publication – in the form of a daily brief and a monthly monitor. 

On Taiwan, we intend to create a Chair, that would help us host scholars from Taiwan, organise regular dialogues with Taiwan Universities and also an annual track-II dialogue, and publish a Taiwan Annual at NIAS focussing on internal and external developments. The Chair should also help the CEAP to find ways to create opportunities to teach/learn the language. We also intend to organise a Taiwan Annual Conclave in Bangalore/Chennai/Pondicherry.

On South Korea, we intend to create a Chair, that would help us host scholars from South Korea, organise regular dialogues with South Korean Universities. We intend to organise a and also an annual track-II dialogue, and publish a South Korea Annual at NIAS focussing on internal and external developments. Given the importance of culture as a soft power, we intend to organize a few cultural events on South Korea as well.
 

On Japan, we intend to create a Chair as well. The chair should act as the primary point of contact to organize an “Annual Conclave on Japan,” leading towards publishing a NIAS Annual on Japan, and “India-Japan Annual Track-II Dialogue.” Given the historic linkage between India and Japan, we intend to host a “Japan Cultural Festival” in Bangalore.

On Australia, we intend to create a Chair/Centre within NIAS. The chair/centre should help the CEAP organize an “Annual Conclave on Australia,” an “Annual Track-II Dialogue with Australia,” and a series of issue/policy briefs on India-Australia partnerships.

Five Focus Issues

While we look at five regional geographies from China to New Zealand, in terms of issues, the NIAS-CEAP will look at the following five focus issues: Science & Technology, Maritime, Security, Internal Politics and External Relations.

CEAP Network and Capacity Building on China, East Asia and the Pacific

While we kickstart the new area studies initiative with three partner institutions from Kottayam, Bangalore and Chennai, we are planning to expand the network subsequently.

Besides the institutions, we intend to create a network of scholars – faculty, PhD scholars and young students who are keen to work with us on the above verticals. This will help us build capacity among the young scholars to study the above regions, and also provide them an opportunity to pursue research and publish, besides being a part of the NIAS network.

Besides the internal network, we also intend to build a series of linkages with academic institutions and think tanks from the geographic verticals and beyond.