An Attack on Democracy
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Accidental Prime Minister
THE ACCIDENTAL PRIME MINISTER THE ACCIDENTAL PRIME MINISTER THE MAKING AND UNMAKING OF MANMOHAN SINGH SANJAYA BARU VIKING Published by the Penguin Group Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd, 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi 110 017, India Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario, M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.) Penguin Books Ltd, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England Penguin Ireland, 25 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd) Penguin Group (Australia), 707 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3008, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd) Penguin Group (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, Block D, Rosebank Offi ce Park, 181 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parktown North, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offi ces: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England First published in Viking by Penguin Books India 2014 Copyright © Sanjaya Baru 2014 All rights reserved 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 The views and opinions expressed in this book are the author’s own and the facts are as reported by him which have been verifi ed to the extent possible, and the publishers are not in any way liable for the same. ISBN 9780670086740 Typeset in Bembo by R. Ajith Kumar, New Delhi Printed at Thomson Press India Ltd, New Delhi This book is sold subject to the condition that -
Where Is Al-Qaida Going? by Anne Stenersen
PERSPECTIVES ON TERRORISM Volume 11, Issue 6 Articles Thirty Years after its Foundation – Where is al-Qaida Going? by Anne Stenersen Abstract This article presents a framework for understanding al-Qaida, based on a new reading of its thirty-year history. Al-Qaida today is commonly labelled a ‘global insurgency’ or ‘global franchise.’ However, these labels are not sufficient if we want to understand what kind of threat al-Qaida poses to the West. Al-Qaida is better described as a revolutionary vanguard, engaged in a perpetual struggle to further its Salafi-jihadi ideology. Its strategy is flexible and opportunistic, and the organization uses a range of tools associated with both state and non-state actors. In the future al-Qaida is likely to treat international terrorist planning, and support to local insurgencies in the Muslim world, as two separate activities. International terrorism is currently not a prioritised strategy of al-Qaida, but it is likely to be so in the future, given that it manages to re-build its external operations capability. Keywords: Al-Qaida, terrorism, insurgency, strategy, external operations Introduction The status and strength of al-Qaida (AQ) are the subject of an ongoing debate. [1] There are two opposite and irreconcilable views in this debate: The first is that al-Qaida is strong and cannot be discounted. The other is that al-Qaida is in decline. [2] Those who suggest al-Qaida is strong, tend to emphasise the size and number of al-Qaida’s affiliates, especially in Syria, Yemen and Somalia; they also point to the rise of new leaders, in particular bin Laden’s son Hamza. -
Religious Movements, Militancy, and Conflict in South Asia Cases from India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan
a report of the csis program on crisis, conflict, and cooperation Religious Movements, Militancy, and Conflict in South Asia cases from india, pakistan, and afghanistan 1800 K Street, NW | Washington, DC 20006 Tel: (202) 887-0200 | Fax: (202) 775-3199 Authors E-mail: [email protected] | Web: www.csis.org Joy Aoun Liora Danan Sadika Hameed Robert D. Lamb Kathryn Mixon Denise St. Peter July 2012 ISBN 978-0-89206-738-1 Ë|xHSKITCy067381zv*:+:!:+:! CHARTING our future a report of the csis program on crisis, conflict, and cooperation Religious Movements, Militancy, and Conflict in South Asia cases from india, pakistan, and afghanistan Authors Joy Aoun Liora Danan Sadika Hameed Robert D. Lamb Kathryn Mixon Denise St. Peter July 2012 CHARTING our future About CSIS—50th Anniversary Year For 50 years, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has developed practical solutions to the world’s greatest challenges. As we celebrate this milestone, CSIS scholars continue to provide strategic insights and bipartisan policy solutions to help decisionmakers chart a course toward a better world. CSIS is a bipartisan, nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Center’s 220 full-time staff and large network of affiliated scholars conduct research and analysis and de- velop policy initiatives that look into the future and anticipate change. Since 1962, CSIS has been dedicated to finding ways to sustain American prominence and prosperity as a force for good in the world. After 50 years, CSIS has become one of the world’s pre- eminent international policy institutions focused on defense and security; regional stability; and transnational challenges ranging from energy and climate to global development and economic integration. -
India: the Weakening of the Congress Stranglehold and the Productivity Shift in India
ASARC Working Paper 2009/06 India: The Weakening of the Congress Stranglehold and the Productivity Shift in India Desh Gupta, University of Canberra Abstract This paper explains the complex of factors in the weakening of the Congress Party from the height of its power at the centre in 1984. They are connected with the rise of state and regional-based parties, the greater acceptability of BJP as an alternative in some of the states and at the Centre, and as a partner to some of the state-based parties, which are in competition with Congress. In addition, it demonstrates that even as the dominance of Congress has diminished, there have been substantial improvements in the economic performance and primary education enrolment. It is argued that V.P. Singh played an important role both in the diminishing of the Congress Party and in India’s improved economic performance. Competition between BJP and Congress has led to increased focus on improved governance. Congress improved its position in the 2009 Parliamentary elections and the reasons for this are briefly covered. But this does not guarantee an improved performance in the future. Whatever the outcomes of the future elections, India’s reforms are likely to continue and India’s economic future remains bright. Increased political contestability has increased focus on governance by Congress, BJP and even state-based and regional parties. This should ensure improved economic and outcomes and implementation of policies. JEL Classifications: O5, N4, M2, H6 Keywords: Indian Elections, Congress Party's Performance, Governance, Nutrition, Economic Efficiency, Productivity, Economic Reforms, Fiscal Consolidation Contact: [email protected] 1. -
Reaching for the Stars: the Incredible Rise of Arvind Kejriwal Vidya Subrahmaniam Feb 25, 2015
Reaching for the Stars: The Incredible Rise of Arvind Kejriwal Vidya Subrahmaniam Feb 25, 2015 Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi. - FILE PHOTO: SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY Five years ago, Arvind Kejriwal was far from being the man of the masses he is today. The Hindu Centre's Senior Fellow Vidya Subrahmaniam, who as a correspondent with The Hindu followed Kejriwal's public life between 2006 and 2014, traces his rise from activism to political stardom. In the immediate afterglow of the Assembly election, everyone seemed to be smiling in Delhi. A friend out on his morning walk found strangers congratulating him on the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP’s) superhero-sized victory. He returned the compliment, aware that like him, they were ordinary citizens basking in the reflected glory of Arvind Kejriwal’s brilliantly executed electoral coup. As results poured in, television anchors, across channels, briefly forgot to be officious. The incorrigibly rude Arnab Goswami attempted poetry and watched bemusedly as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson and his counterpart in the AAP warred and sparred in shayari (Urdu poetry). Visuals suggested a carnival-like mood on the streets. Delhi did not erupt in such sheer joy even when the BJP’s Narendra Modi broke a 30-year jinx to win a majority in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. The emotional, spontaneous response was reminiscent of 1977, when the all-new Janata Party unseated Indira Gandhi after the Emergency. The AAP’s victory was the sweeter for having come in the most exacting circumstances. Kejriwal had ceased to be Kejriwal since quitting as Delhi’s Chief Minister in February 2014 — after only 49 days in office. -
Al Qaeda: Beyond Osama-Bin Laden
IDSA Issue Brief IDSIDSAA ISSUEISSUE BRIEFBRIEF1 al Qaeda: Beyond Osama-bin Laden Shruti Pandalai Shruti Pandalai is OSD Outreach & Research Analyst at the Institute for Defence Studies & Analyses (IDSA), New Delhi May 3, 2011 Summary “Justice has been done” exclaimed a visibly re-energised but sombre US President, Barack Obama, as impromptu celebrations broke outside the White House. A decade since the “World’s Most Wanted Terrorist” had declared war against the US and made “Jihad global”, bin Laden’s elimination has been touted as “closure”. Conspiracy theories – the “suspect timing” with Obama’s bid for second term closing in, “level of compliance of Pakistani authorities”, “Was Osama’s head the price Pakistan had to pay to save the cracking relationship?”, “is this the master plan to ease Pakistan’s entry and US exit from Afghanistan?” – seem to cloud the right here and now; but naturally. Yet, the importance of this development on the movement of “global jihad” pioneered by Osama and al Qaeda remains a pivotal conceptual question that will require nuanced analysis. The war is not over yet, even Obama says so. al Qaeda: Beyond Osama-bin Laden 2 “This has nothing to do with the poor servant of God, nor with the al-Qaeda organisation. We are the children of the Islamic nation whose leader is Mohammed.” -Osama bin Laden, October 21, 2001 to al Jazeera (on the importance of Osama to al-Qaeda). 1 e “The death of Bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat Al Qaeda. -
Avoidable Distraction
Established 1946 1 Pages 16 Price : Rupees Five Vol. 71 No. 23 Avoidable distraction July 3, 2016 Sandeep Pandey Quality of journalism Kuldip Nayar On 21 June, International Yoga for the achievement of Sustainable Day was celebrated with much Development Goals' this time. SDGs Negotiating with fanfare utilizing the popularity of were adopted by UN General undeclared Emergency Yoga which already existed Assembly on 19 July 2014 as a Pushkar Raj worldwide before the present BJP desirable set of 17 goals which the government came to power. The countries around the world would Ecological protection Prime Minister may have just like to achieve by 2030. These goals and justice consolidated the self-motivated mainly include ending of poverty Bharat Dogra separate efforts and has been able to and hunger, achievement of food market it as of uniquely Indian security, promotion of sustainable origin. The United Nations has also agriculture, ensuring healthy lives, M.M. Thomas and Emergency acknowledged it by agreeing to ensuring inclusive and equitable Varughese George dedicate June 21 for this cause since quality education, achievement of the last year. It definitely holds a gender equality, ensuring The idea of India - II great symbolic value. Its main availability of water and sanitation Irfan Habib attraction is its offer of mental and for all, promoting inclusive and physical well being, which are sustainable economic development, increasingly becoming scarce in the ensuring work for all, reducing BJP/RSS icon modern society globally. Otherwise inequality, ensuring sustainable was a collaborator it is like any other stream of production and consumption, Shamsul Islam spiritualism which offer solace at an combating climate change, individual level. -
Returning Western Foreign Fighters: the Case of Afghanistan, Bosnia and Somalia
Returning Western foreign fighters: The case of Afghanistan, Bosnia and Somalia Jeanine de Roy van Zuijdewijn and Edwin Bakker ICCT Background Note June 2014 Authorities are increasingly worried about the large number of Western foreign fighters present in Syria. The fear is that these fighters will return radicalised, battle hardened and with extensive radical networks that might encourage them to commit a terrorist attack in the home country. The recent attack on the Jewish Museum in Brussels – allegedly by a returned foreign fighter from Syria – seems to be a case in point. However, the conflict in Syria is not the first to attract foreign fighters. In this Background Note, Jeanine de Roy van Zuijdewijn and Edwin Bakker investigate three historical cases of foreign fighting: Afghanistan (1980s), Bosnia (1990s) and Somalia (2000s). In this paper they aim to give insight into what happened to these foreign fighters after their fight abroad had ended. The authors distinguish eight possible pathways for foreign fighters that can help to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of this complex phenomenon. About the Authors Jeanine de Roy van Zuijdewijn is Research Assistant at the Centre for Terrorism and Counterterrorism (CTC) in The Hague. She holds a master’s degree in International Relations in Historical Perspective (cum laude) from Utrecht University, which she completed with a thesis on foreign fighters. Currently, she is working on the development of MOOCs – massive open online courses – at Leiden University. In that position, she assisted Professor Bakker with the MOOC Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Comparing Theory & Practice that attracted more than 40,000 students. -
BJP Gets Down to Business to Pick Cms BJP Cobbles Manohar Parrikar to Be Chief Minister of Goa; Legislature Parties in U.P
follow us: monday, march 13, 2017 Delhi City Edition thehindu.com 28 pages ț ₹10.00 facebook.com/thehindu twitter.com/the_hindu Don’t destroy judiciary, Supreme Court sets High proile U.S. S.S.P. Chowrasia Ram Jethmalani norms for HCs to hear attorney Bharara was clinches second tells Justice Karnan criminal cases ired for refusing to quit straight Indian Open page 7 page 7 page 12 Page 17 Printed at . Chennai . Coimbatore . Bengaluru . Hyderabad . Madurai . Noida . Visakhapatnam . Thiruvananthapuram . Kochi . Vijayawada . Mangaluru . Tiruchirapalli . Kolkata . Hubballi . Mohali . Allahabad . Malappuram . Mumbai NEARBY In Manipur, BJP gets down to business to pick CMs BJP cobbles Manohar Parrikar to be Chief Minister of Goa; Legislature Parties in U.P. and Uttarakhand to meet on March 16 up numbers Nistula Hebbar Shiv Sahay Singh NEW DELHI Amarinder Imphal After registering massive In a controversial finale of BMW hits cab and auto, electoral victories in Uttar gets all-clear the Assembly elections in four injured Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Manipur, the BJP is all set NEW DELHI the BJP’s highest decision- Punjab Pradesh Congress to form the government in In yet another incident making body, the Parlia- president Amarinder Singh the State with the support involving a high-value car, mentary Board, got down to will take the oath as Chief of three regional parties — four persons, including a the business of nominating Minister on March 16. On Naga People’s Front (NPF) pregnant woman, were Chief Ministers for these Sunday, he met Governor National Peoples Party injured when a BMW States, with the surprise en- V.P. -
Change Is on Its Way January 5, 2014 S
Established 1946 Price : Rupees Five Vol. 68 No. 52 Change is on its way January 5, 2014 S. Viswam The first task for all of us here already formed a government in in Janata, a pleasant one, is to wish Profligate legislators Delhi. It has announced that it intends all our readers a happy 2014. In the Kuldip Nayar to go national and field a substantial context of national politics, the year number of candidates for Parliament. we have just ushered in is a crucial The party is not lacking in public Apartheid of the world unite! one for the polity and the country. support for its unconventional style K. S. Chalam We begin 2014, as we have done of politics. The people at large are with earlier new year arrivals, with funding it in a surprisingly big way. hope laced with abundant optimism. Its anti-corruption crusade, initially No roadblocks for AAP agenda The year we have just rung out did launched under Hazare’s inspiration Nitish Chakravarty not meet with all our expectations. and leadership, has caught popular Indeed, it left us highly dissatisfied, imagination, which has been further displeased and even angry. But it has fortified by the welfare measures set gone. Let it go. Why I am not in AAP? in by the Kejriwal government. In Sandeep Pandey short, the ground has been laid, and But in its own way, it gave some now exists, in many states of India, for shape and substance to its successor by a pan-Indian entry into the national Communal violence in 2013 ushering in some important changes mainstream politics by the AAP. -
Israel's Attack on Osiraq
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA THESIS ISRAEL’S ATTACK ON OSIRAQ: A MODEL FOR FUTURE PREVENTIVE STRIKES? by Peter Scott Ford September 2004 Thesis Advisor: Peter R. Lavoy Second Reader: James J. Wirtz Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instruction, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188) Washington DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED September 2004 Master’s Thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE: Israel’s Attack on Osiraq: A Model for Future 5. FUNDING NUMBERS Preventive Strikes? 6. AUTHOR Peter S. Ford 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING Naval Postgraduate School ORGANIZATION REPORT Monterey, CA 93943-5000 NUMBER 9. SPONSORING /MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSORING/MONITORING N/A AGENCY REPORT NUMBER 11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. -
D271 an Interview with Jason Burke
An Interview with Jason Burke www.opendemocracy.net /terrorism/%252Farticles/jason-burke0606 Madrid11: How do you think we are doing in the war on terrorism? Burke: It's difficult to give any kind of assessment it depends on what the criteria are for winning and losing. There's a pessimistic way of looking at it that if our aim is to be free from the threat of radical Islamic terrorism, or even to diminish that threat substantially, then we haven't done particularly well. I don't think the threat level is much lower or higher than it was four or five years ago, which is essentially a low level threat with a potentially high level destructive capacity. There has been a significant increase in the radicalization, leading to the mobilization of people across Islamic countries. There's no doubt that the current period is one of febrile political activity unrivaled since the early 70s perhaps. However, there's also a more positive view, and one that I'm increasingly coming around to, namely that we simply have not seen the massive broad uprising of the Islamic peoples that Bin Laden wanted to provoke with 9/11. As it seems, and despite the fact there has been a fair amount of radicalisation, the vast majority of the 1.3 billion Muslims worldwide have remained largely impervious to Bin Laden's and others call to arms. Madrid11: In the places where someone like Bin Laden would hope to radicalize people, have you got a sense of the majority of people rejecting him on some level? Burke: There's all kinds of cultural identity factors that are in play, and it's difficult to discern what is pro-Bin Laden and what is anti-American, for example.