Kalyani Mahavidyalay International Seminar on Promoting Unity, Consolidating Peace: Understanding Indian Foreign Policy Dynamism in 21st Century.
CAL FOR PAPERS
ICSSR Sponsored International Seminar on
Promoting Unity, Consolidating Peace: Understanding Indian Foreign Policy Dynamism in 21st Century
Organised by
Department of Political Science, Kalyani Mahavidyalay, West Bengal
(affiliated to University of Kalyani, West Bengal)
In collaboration with
Kalinga Institute of Indo-Pacific Studies (KIIPS)
4-5 August 2023
Venue: Kalyani Mahavidyala Auditorium, Kalyani
Time 11am to 5pm
Concept Note: Kalyani Mahavidyalay International Seminar
The Kalinga Institute of Indo-Pacific Studies (KIIPS) in collaboration with Department of Political Science, Kalyani Mahavidyalay, affiliated to University of Kalyani, West Bengal proposes to organise two-days international seminar on the theme Promoting Unity, Consolidating Peace: Understanding Indian Foreign Policy Dynamism in 21″ Century’
The objective of the seminar will be to critically asses and analyse the evolving trends and orientations in Indian foreign policy amidst a changing global balance of power and the uncertainties inherent in the current world order.
India aspires to be a leading power of global reckoning, amidst a power shift unravelling in the Indo-Pacific between the United States and China.
Since its independent existence in the firmament of nation-states, even in times of extremely limited material capabilities. India has always aspired to practice relative autonomy in its foreign policy.
India has been more categorical than ever before, in expressing its aspirations to increase its influence at the global high level across a multitude of issue areas.
The direction of India’s foreign policy has shown a more pragmatic turn, developing more skin in the game, towards making choices that protect and promote India’s national interest.
Despite severe material deficit in early years of its independence, India was able to chart a path of its own in the international arena and present a distinct worldview and did not blindly follow the path created by the bipolar structure of the Cold War.
The changing world order after the end of Cold War opened a new dimension in Indian foreign policy, in terms of its engagement with the West in general and the United States in particular. Moreover, the structural challenges posed by a rising China led to Delhi finding strategic convergence with the United States and its allies, to protect and promote its interest. However, owing to its penchant for practicing autonomy in its foreign policy has led to its own definition of partnerships and threat perceptions, which does not completely align with the United States and the West. For instance, the nature of India’s engagement with countries like Russia and Iran, which are hardcore adversaries of the United States, follow a distinct path of its own. Moreover, despite a strategic embrace with the United States to counteract China’s assertive rise, Delhi has its own home-grown toolkit to deal with the China challenge that combines elements of cooperation, competition, and confrontation. With India having taken the baton of the G20 Presidency from Indonesia this year, there is a new juncture in Indian foreign policy and diplomacy. It is indeed a moment of opportunity to implement India’s vision of inclusive multilateral governance of the international system while being mindful of the vagaries of current geopolitics.
New Delhi’s call for “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family) is well appreciated globally, but it also must navigate an era of growing great power rivalry and the need for a pragmatic turn in its foreign policy approach. The primary task of India’s foreign policy will be to ensure an external environment that is conducive to India’s transformation and development. The changes and continuities in Indian foreign policy will form a part of the debates and discussions during the conference. The KIIPS along with Department of Political Science, Kalyani Mahavidyalay, affiliate to University of Kalyani, West Bengal, will make a modest attempt to provide a platform to the academic, diplomatic, and strategic community to exchange views on the identified themes.
Objectives of the Conference
This proposal envisages for an international conference that would explore the challenges and prospects for India’s foreign policy. What would be the specific focus of India’s foreign policy especially in the context of promoting India’s national interest will form a major part of discourse. The objectives of the conference will be:
To explore the evolving dynamics in the internal and external sources of India’s foreign policy.
- To assess the evolving dimensions of the world order and its impact on the orientations of Indian foreign policy towards fostering peace and unity.
- To locate the goals and objectives of Indian foreign policy in the current geopolitical context.
- To evaluate the ways in which a future roadmap of Indian foreign policy opportunities
- and challenges can be analysed.
- In this Conference a selected group of abstracts from scholars, academicians and practitioners
- will be selected from an advertised call for papers on the following themes
- ⚫ Evolving Sources of Indian Foreign Policy
- ⚫ Theoretical and Conceptual Debates on Indian Foreign Policy
- ⚫ Indian Foreign Policy in the Indo-Pacific Era ⚫ India’s Immediate and Extended Neighbourhood
- ⚫ Hard and Soft Power in Indian Foreign Policy
- ⚫ India and Multilateralism in the 21″ Century
- ⚫ The Economics of Indian Foreign Policy
- ⚫ The Role of Technologies in Indian Foreign Policy
- ⚫ Indian Foreign Policy and Future Trajectory
- Abstracts of 300 words be submitted through email [email protected] by 15″ July 2023.
- Selected abstracts will be notified by email by 25th July 2023.
- Full papers to be submitted by all paper presenters by 1″ August 2023 for publication in an edited volume from an international publisher by December 2023,
- Registration fees (inclusive of seminar kits, lunch and breakfast) for faculties (substantive) is
- Rs. 1200/- and for SACT and research scholars is Rs. 700/-.
- Online presentation allowed and for that faculties must register with Rs. 600/- and SACT and scholars with Rs. 300/-
- Kalayni is well connected by local train from Kolkata city which takes around two hours.
- No T.A./D.A. will be paid to participants for attending the seminar. Outstation participants may contact us for accommodation places in their own cost in Kalyani city.
- For details please contact: 9432429782/9836397402/9734409807