THE GEORGIAN PROBLEM AND THE RUSSIAN JUGGERNAUT

By

Dr. Lopamudra Bandyopadhyay

The second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Georgia on August 8, 2008 was bereft of adequate public attention. However, on August 11, 2010, Russia’s Air Force Commander-in-Chief, Colonel-General Alexander Zelin, announced at a press conference in Moscow that S-300 anti-aircraft missiles have been deployed in separatist Abkhazia, which Moscow has recognised as independent since August 2008. The S-300 missile system reinforced Moscow's military presence in the disputed territory and drew an irate response from Georgia. General Alexander Zelin stated that air defences of other types had been deployed in Georgia's other Russian-backed rebel region, South Ossetia. His comments, two years after Russia routed Georgian forces in a five-day war that strained Moscow's ties with the United States and Europe, were reported by Russian news agencies. Zelin said the air defence systems would also protect Russian bases in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Detailed Paper

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THE DILEMMA OF THE NORTH CAUCASUS: RUSSIA’S ENDLESS CONFLICT

By

Dr. Lopamudra Bandyopadhyay

Introduction

Recently, the Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin outlined a new strategy for the North Caucasus intended to enhance its economic development in order to curtail the cause for rising violence in the region. He was making the statement at a plenary session during the course of the inter-regional conference held by the ruling United Russia party, on the strategy for North Caucasus' social and economic development by 2020, and the programme for 2010-2012. Detailed Paper

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ISLAMIC REVIVALISM IN CENTRAL ASIA AND THE ISLAMIC MOVEMENT OF UZBEKISTAN

By

Dr. Lopamudra Bandyopadhyay

The Central Asian republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have largely been overshadowed by Russia since their independence from the latter a decade ago. As early as 1991, when the five Soviet Central Asian republics gained independence, some voiced fears that a radical Islamic movement would engulf these countries. Since then, religion has undoubtedly revived fundamentalist sentiments throughout the region. This revival was a natural and potentially stabilising factor, as it filled an ethical void that the collapse of the Communist value system had left. Detailed Paper

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RUSSIA’S OVERTURES INTO GEORGIA: SIGNS OF A NEW COLD WAR?

By

Dr. Lopamudra Bandyopadhyay

Recently, David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, speaking in Kiev, stated that Russia was “more isolated, less trusted and less respected” as a result of its actions in Georgia. Mr. Miliband placed the onus for avoiding a new Cold War firmly on President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia. “The Russian President says he is not afraid of a new Cold War. We don't want a new Cold War. He has a big responsibility not to start one,” he said. Detailed Paper

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ADVOCATING AMERICAN TROOPS’ WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ

By

Mr. Anurag Sinha

In March 2003, the Bush administration embroiled the United States in an armed intervention of Iraq, a war that leading scholars deemed “unnecessary” at the time (Mearsheimer and Walt, 2003). Under the flimsy pretext of a crisis for America’s national security in particular, and international peace and security in general, emanating from the perceived threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction – that were never uncovered (at least to any amount that could justify a full-scale war) – the President decided that armed intervention was the most prudent choice to stave off this threat. With the failure of unearthing significant WMD in Iraq, the program of the war was conveniently shifted to delivering the Iraqi people from a tyrannical ruler to democratic order. This process of deliverance, at best a “stalemate” (Posen, 2006), has seen an alarming loss of American lives and increasing entrenchment of the American commitment in Iraq, while putting severe pressures on the American economy. At this point, the United States should look for a viable exit strategy culminating in the withdrawal of its troops, and enthusiastically seek multilateral or integrational solutions to the reconstruction of Iraq.
Detailed Paper