Panel Discussion on the 'Idea of ASEAN'
Date : 2nd February 2017
Panel Discussion on the 'Idea of ASEAN'
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India dialogue, a year which also happens to mark the 50th year of the founding of ASEAN, the Southeast Asia Research Group (SEARG) at Department of Political Science, University of Delhi in association with Nehru Memorial Museum and Library conducted a Panel Discussion on the ‘Idea of ASEAN’ on 2nd February 2017.
This was a curtain raiser to a series of activities planned through the year to commemorate the occasion and its dissemination to a larger audience and with the young minds at the University level.
The event was graced by eminent dignitaries with the panelist list including among others: Amb. Preeti Saran, Secretary East, MEA Amb. Rajiv Bhatia, Amb Jayant Prasad, Ms Pooja Kapur and Prof Harsh V. Pant. Madam Preeti Saran in her Keynote Address outlined the evolution of ASEAN as well as gave an overview of the relationship between ASEAN and India.
Emphasizing on the connectivity dynamic between the two entities, the Secretary East also highlighted some of the key programmes and initiatives to be launched in this commemorative year. Continuing the discussion, Ms Kapoor began with the common history and values underlying the relationship between India and ASEAN, also listing out several activities already underway and in all making a very eloquent case for further developing relationship between India and the regional organization.
This was followed by Amb. Rajiv Bhatia who in the true spirit of the title of the discussion began by setting out the very historicity of the ‘Idea of ASEAN’ and how the core values of consensus and consultation drove its formation as well as its eventual shaping of the regional environment. While acknowledging that the ‘Idea of ASEAN’ itself did face challenges under the growing political uncertainties all around the globe, he ended on a ‘cautiously optimistic’ note.
Mr Jayant Prasad took the discussion forward with a view on how the ‘Look East Policy’ and its updated cousin Act East policy has had a transformational impact on the relations between India and its Southeast Asian neighbours.
Lastly, Prof Harsh Pant, true to being an academic, took a theoretical approach to the questions that confront today’s liberal institutional order and the impact which could have on the ASEAN as a regional grouping. He also sought to pinpoint the factors behind the institutional resilience of ASEAN particularly in context of EU’s own ongoing dilemmas.
While the Welcome Address was given by Shri Shakti Sinha, Director, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Mr Prabhakar Rao, Principal Zakir Husain Delhi College, delivered the Opening Remarks. The discussion was moderated by Prof Navnita, Head, Department of Political Science, University of Delhi. Dr Sonu Trivedi gave a Vote of Thanks concluding the discussion.
* This information is sent by Dr. (Ms) Sonu Trivedi (Zakir Husain Delhi College (University of Delhi) who can be contacted at sonutrivedi(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This Post is webcasted on February 03 2017
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