Southeast Asia Research Group (SEARG) Meeting
Date :: November 22, 2016
The first interaction and meeting of the Southeast Asia Research Group (SEARG) formed under the aegis of Department of Political Science, University of Delhi was held on 22. 11. 2016. The group has been launched as a part of the research initiative and collaborative ventures of academia and researchers working on the common theme of Southeast Asian region in India and abroad. Although, converging on a common platform, the group has a diverse background with each member focusing on a specific issue relating to the region. This initiative becomes significant in the background of the high priority accorded to India’s neighbourhood and in particular, the Act East Policy as a critical factor shaping India’s strategic and economic interests in the region.
With this background, the scholars and the researchers engaged in studying the geo-political realities of the region and its economic dynamics have agreed to come together under the umbrella of Southeast Asia Research Group (SEARG) to discuss and deliberate upon the issues of common interest and concern for all Southeast Asia watchers. The research group proposes to provide a common platform for all the members to share their ideas on the emerging issues and challenges relevant to the region.
Though, initially launched as a Discussion Group the SEARG is expected to grow and evolve as a major interactive research forum for sharing ideas and organizing lectures, panel discussions, workshops, national and international conferences and associate young and emerging scholars working on the region. The forum envisages active association of all members and hopes to carry it forward at an international level for the exchange of ideas and dissemination of knowledge based on the expertise of each of its potential members.
The first interactive meeting of this nascent initiative was chaired by Professor Navnita Chadha Behra, Head, Department of Political Science, University of Delhi and was coordinated by the Convenor of the SEARG, Dr Sonu Trivedi. Other members who also attended the meeting and shared the platform includes Shamika Ravi, Senior Fellow, Brookings India; Sanjay Pulipaka, Senior Consultant, ICRIER, Sunniva Engh, Senior Fellow, Norwegian Institue of Defense Studies; Alana Golmei, Director, Burma Centre Delhi; Manish Dabhade, School of International Studies, JNU and Sanjeev Kumar, Zakir Husain Delhi College.
Southeast Asia Research Group
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
University of Delhi
CONCEPT NOTE
Given the changing architecture of international politics from end of Eurocentrism to the rise of an Asian order, countries of the Global South are now shaping the emerging contours of World Politics. A significant development in this regard has been the rise in the strategic importance of Southeast Asia which has a far-reaching implication for the stability of the region.
Though, initially conceptualized as a geographical region, over the years it has acquired a geo-political construct and has been pivotal to the great game strategy of the erstwhile Super-powers and the other competing powers in the region. In more recent times, the United States pivot to Asia and its rebalancing strategy has once again raised the geo-strategic significance of the region in the World Politics.
In the evolving international order with the rise of Asian giants such as India and China and the highly competitive Japan and other regional powers such as South Korea and Australia, the Southeast Asian region has emerged as a focus of great power rivalry. Emerging geo-political realities and the power shift in the region has impacted the regional architecture in a big way.
This region situated east of the Indian subcontinent and south of China shares political and cultural affinities to both these great powers. While the Chinese imprints are visible more politically and economically, Indian influence could be seen in the cultural and historical linkages. The competing strategies and emerging alliances of the Southeast Asian States with the Big Powers have been continuously evolving in the background of their external and domestic exigencies.
With this background, the scholars and the researchers engaged in studying the geo-political realities of the region and its economic dynamics have agreed to come together under the umbrella of Southeast Asia Research Group (SEARG) to discuss and deliberate upon the issues of common interest and concern for all Southeast Asia watchers. The research group proposes to provide a common platform for all the members to share their ideas on the emerging issues and challenges relevant to the region.
Though, initially launched as a Discussion Group the SEARG is expected to grow and evolve as a major interactive research forum for sharing ideas and organizing lectures, panel discussions, workshops, national and international conferences and associate young and emerging scholars working on the region. The forum envisages active association of all members and hopes to carry it forward at an international level for the exchange of ideas and dissemination of knowledge based on the expertise of each of its potential members.
* This information is sent by Sonu Trivedi - Southeast Asia Research Group (SEARG) who can be contacted at sonutrivedi(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This Post is webcasted on November 24 2016
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