Journal of Polity and Society

The Dynamics of Russia – North Korea – China Trilateral Balancing

Venkataraman Manickam — 2025-05-20

The recent visit by North Korean President Kim Jong Un to Russia and the Summit meeting with President Putin followed by a proposed defence agreement aimed at arms and ammunitions supply has raised several interesting questions as to how this would affect the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and more importantly how this will play out in the larger Indo Pacific region. In particular, Russia has reportedly agreed to sell satellite technology, and North Korea in turn has agreed to supply ammunitions to Russia despite threats of further sanctions from the West. What is obvious in this development is the apprehensions on the part of the Western countries that are eager to end the war. But what is not obvious is why Russia did not bank on its traditional partner China which is a much more closer ally than North Korea and which is even more antagonistic to the West, particularly the U.S. Other compelling questions are: how China would take such development given North Korea considered to be under its own sphere of influence and hence the suspicions over the motivations of such an entente between Russia and North Korea; why Pyongyang in turn looks to Russia when it has been a traditional ally of China and finally what possibilities exist for all the three countries aligning together against the West despite differences. Was this summit meeting a reaction to the trilateral meeting that took place in August 2023 between U.S. – Japan and South Korea? The aim, hence, is to inform the motivations behind this relationship and how this could be understood. The article tries to answer the above issues by tracing the background relations and describing and analyzing how the possibility of China-North Korea-Russia trilateral relations as against the existing U.S. – Japan – South Korea combination will play out and its repercussions on the Indo-Pacific region. It argues that Russia seeking defence relations with North Korea ‘other than China’ will have serious repercussions on the security and stability of the larger Indo-Pacific region.

Challenges of Environmental Governance in Afghanistan Under Taliban 2.0

Mohammad Reza Rafat — 2025-05-20

Afghanistan, a country with a rich tapestry of natural landscapes and diverse ecosystems, has faced numerous challenges over the past few decades, with environmental governance being one of the most critical yet often overlooked issues. Following the collapse of the Taliban 1.0 regime in 2001, significant steps were taken by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (IRoA) to establish institutional, legal, and policy frameworks to improve environmental governance in the country. During this period, the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) was established, and many environmental laws, regulations, and policies were formulated and implemented. Despite these efforts, the initiatives taken could not fully achieve their mandate. Consequently, environmental challenges continued to intensify, impacting people as severely as conflicts and violence. With the ascension of Taliban 2.0 to power, the governance system in the country as a whole, and environmental governance in particular, have undergone fundamental transformation. Under the regime's rule, the existing environmental protection frameworks have been severely undermined, further weakening the effectiveness of environmental governance and exacerbating environmental challenges. This study delves into the Taliban 2.0 regime's approach to environmental governance, examining the implications for Afghanistan's fragile ecosystems. By employing historical and descriptive-analytical methods, it aims to illuminate the challenges and consequences of the Taliban's environmental policies, contributing to a deeper understanding of the crisis facing Afghanistan's natural resources.

Unveiling the Roadmap to India-France Defence Ties: A Vision Beyond Legacy

Madhuri Sukhija — 2025-05-20

In the prevailing volatile geopolitical scenario, manufacturing of defence equipment and procurement are two crucial areas, at best challenges, for empowering India and also for chartering out its path for defense cooperation, keeping in mind quality, cost, amicability and the heft that such a cooperation will provide. Russia has been a steadfast partner as far as the supply of arms is concerned. There is massive intake of arms imports from Russia and it has a distinct edge not only from the sheer volume of sales but also the affordable cost.

However, keeping in mind, the need for security equilibrium as a result of tensions emanating from Russia’s close relationship with China, a staunch adversary of India, a turbulent neighborhood, the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific, are factors that have necessitated the need to diversify arms imports and bolster defence cooperation with certain powers. Building on interoperability goes without saying.

Besides Russia and the US, with which India has significant defense cooperation, France occupies a pre-eminent position. It has emerged as a key strategic defense partner and by far the closest one for India. How do we situate the strategic relationship between India and France, particularly in the field of defense and security, be it air power, marine sector and land? How best to optimize compatibilities and competencies to further enhance the defence cooperation. How significant is the defense cooperation in the prevailing global scenario? The paper documents a comprehensive matrix for the evolving defense ties between India and France and the fact that they continue to thrive.

Key Words: Defence, Cooperation, India, France, Strengthening,

India’s Deepening Love Affair with Israel: New Aspects of Cooperation

Zahoor Ahmad Dar — 2025-05-20

This article explores the transmuting dimensions of India-Israel relations, with a special focus on the efforts and new developments that have taken place under Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure. Given India's internal foreign policy constraints and its commitment to the cause of Palestine, Israel was for some time considered impalpable. Significant cooperation between the Indian government and Israel occurred only during brief periods of non-Congress rule, starting with the governments of Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and later Narendra Modi. The relationship between India and Israel is getting closer and closer, especially in the field of Defence, where both countries are working together. The rhetorical level of cooperation is high under the government of Narendra Modi, driven by the idea of fundamentalist nationalism. This article explores various aspects of India-Israel cooperation under the Modi administration. The research paper explains India's long-term strategic aspirations in the Middle East and its bilateral ties with Israel, which are characterised by their cooperative nature.

Nepal’s Political Crisis Since 2001 and the Indian Response

Jeetendr Kumar Sharma — 2025-05-20

Nepal's political landscape, marked by coalition collapses, monarchy crises, and constitutional disputes, has been significantly influenced by its turbulent history. India's role, characterized by a twin-pillar model and diplomatic initiatives, shapes its complex relationship with Nepal. India has always been in favor of a return to democracy, but over time, its complex strategy changed as a result of geopolitical concerns and worries about regional stability. This paper aims to explore India's changing approaches to Nepal's political challenges since 2001 and also analyze India's position as a political mediator, its support for constitutional changes in Nepal, subsequent conflicts, and diplomatic initiatives to restore bilateral ties. The complex interactions between India's regional interests and Nepal's internal political dynamics can be enhanced by taking note of these dynamics.

PARTITION: THE CHANGING CONNOTATION OF SHELTER

Sudaita Ghosh — 2025-05-20

Abstract: The British period ended with a dark episode of Indian history, that was the de-territorialization the land of India. Partition brought national division along with tears and miseries of the refugee people. Uprooted from the original location escort socio-economic and political problems for the migrated people. Partition not only displaced people but also created factors of re-settlement, re-establishment and opened new pages of identity crisis and cultural discourse. Many new vistas of discussion reconstruct after partition in Indian socio-political scenario. Post partition period was more horrific. Searching shelter in unknown destination was not a lone muddle but psychology, identity all were the issues of concern for post partition beginning life for the refugee people. This paper aims to focus all these aspects of post partition conditions facing by the refugee people.

Sociology of Nuclear Research in India

Shameer Modongal — 2025-05-20

The ‘sociology of science’ underlines that the development of science and scientific knowledge is not autonomous from social influence and can be analysed using the tools of sociology. On the other hand, Indian nuclear research is considered an autonomous institute without being influenced by even parliamentary politics. This paper tries to analyse these two opposite aspects to understand whether Indian nuclear research and its knowledge are autonomous from the influence of the social milieu. Out of the general aspect of science and society in the concept of ‘sociology of science’, this paper takes a particular aspect of the nuclear programme and Indian society and analyses the relation between them. It analyses the social and religious influences on the structure, function and outcome of nuclear research in India. Sociologists consider Indian society a traditional society in which religious and other social norms have to play a significant role in daily life. The influence of religion and religious norms is reflected in government policy-making and scientific research institutions’ structure and procedures. But, since India does not have a uniform social system and values, the ideas followed by influential personalities get prominence in the final outcome. So sociology of the Indian nuclear programme needs to consider the social background of such individuals and the dominant social norms of each period. The paper concludes that the autonomy of nuclear research institutes and lack of accountability of them does not mean they are beyond the influence of social norms, but this hierarchy and uncritical acceptance itself is a product of the nature of the Indian social system.

RESURGENCE OF INDIA’S SOFT POWER UNDER MODI REIGN

Dipikanta Chakraborty — 2025-05-20

Though the origin of the term 'Soft power' is associated with the contemporary American thinker Joseph Nye, a more intense notion of soft power can be traced back to ancient India. From the age of Kautilya, India has had a long tradition of soft power policy. With an initial subdued performance till the 1990s India larked high with its soft power policy. But the breakthrough came in 2014 when all the SAARC leaders attended the swearing-in ceremony of the Indian Prime Minister. India recouped its charismatic leadership under the reign of Modi that went astray after Nehru. India’s soft power diplomacy under Modi has extended its outreach not only in immediate but also to the extended neighbourhood through spiritualism, yoga, Indian culture, sculptures; diaspora policy and very recently vaccine diplomacy. Strained out from multiculturalism, the Indian notion of unity in diversity has outshined than before. But the religious dogmatism and communal discordance have severely hampered India’s cultural pluralism at the global level. The two terms of Modi are significantly important as the party under Modi has been committed to reorienting its foreign policy through integrated soft power diplomacy. The paper aims to analyse the growth of India’s soft power in the two terms of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Idea of One-Nation, One-Election: Its Potential Risk and Significance for India

Zheer Ahmed — 2025-05-20

The subject of synchronizing elections to the House of the People and State Legislative
Assemblies has been the subject of extensive debate for a considerable period. Simultaneous
elections, in the commonly understood meaning, refer to the occurrence of elections for the
three tiers of Constitutional institutions, namely the House of the People (Lok Sabha), State
Assemblies (Vidhan Sabha), and Local bodies, in a coordinated and synchronized manner.
This implies that a voter has the ability to cast their vote for the election of representatives
across all levels of government concurrently. The presence of an electoral commission is
necessary for the supervision of the election processes pertaining to the President and Vice
President, Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, legislative committees, state assemblies, district
assemblies, and panchayats. A significant portion of the committee’s allocated time was
dedicated to the tasks of tallying the ballots, verifying the voter registry, and delineating the
constituencies. The India’s constitution established a quasi-federal framework. Both the
Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha mandate the conduct of elections to select their
respective members. For this purpose, the Union Government has officially announced the
formation of an eight-member high-level committee, with former President Ram Nath
Kovind serving as its chairperson. The committee’s primary objective is to thoroughly assess
and provide recommendations regarding the feasibility and implementation of conducting
synchronized elections for the Lok Sabha, state Assemblies, and local authorities. The current
study examines the potential risk and significance associated with the implementation of the
‘One Nation-One Election’ concept in India.

The Rise of Caste-Based Parties in Uttar Pradesh

Anubhav Bishen — 2025-05-20

The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have dominated the space of social justice politics in Uttar Pradesh in the post-Mandal era. The SP targets the chunk of the Other Backward Class (OBC) votes, and the BSP targets the chunk of the Scheduled Caste (SC) votes. Both the SP and the BSP have been accused of bias within the OBCs and the SCs respectively, leading to Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) targeting the non-Yadav and non-Jatav votes that have splintered from the SP and the BSP respectively.

The splintering of the lower caste vote is not limited to some of it shifting to the BJP. There has been a rise of single-caste-based parties whose influence is limited to just one caste or a group of subcastes. These parties include: the two factions of Apna Dal whose support base is in the Kurmi community; Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) whose support base is in the Rajbhar community; NISHAD Party whose support base is in the communities whose traditional occupation centers around rivers, such as boatmen and fishermen; and Mahan Dal whose support base is in the Maurya, Shakya, and Kushwaha communities in Western UP.

The common feature of these caste-based parties is that their politics revolves around the social justice plank. Depending upon the demands of their support base and the needs of their specific caste group, each of these caste-based parties has adopted a different strategy. The social justice politics of these caste-based parties differs considerably from the social justice politics of SP and BSP. The strategies of these caste-based parties also differ within themselves. The paper will analyse the strategy of these caste-based parties to assess their social justice politics.

The paper will theoretically analyse how the politics of the caste-based parties fits the social justice framework. The emergence of specific caste-based parties further complexifies the caste-based social justice framework in India, making it even more difficult to separate status-based politics from identity politics. The small caste-based parties’ ambiguous relationship with the BJP and its Hindutva politics, which is often seen as in opposition to social justice politics will be brought out.

The Dynamics of Religious Culture and Gender Roles

Dr. Ankita Baruah — 2025-05-20

India's diverse cultural landscape leads to varying statuses and treatment of women across the nation. When examining women’s status in Assam, it is essential to consider the region's rich cultural heritage and diversity. The situation of Assamese women exhibits a multifaceted picture. They have made significant advancements in all areas of modern life. Today’s Assamese women are unafraid to express their opinions and actively engage with their communities to combat social issues and injustice. They, at the same time, still face numerous challenges and societal inequities. These challenges are not unique to Assamese women but are common across India, irrespective of their religious affiliations. However, there are areas like marriage and inheritance where religious beliefs continue to insert significant influence on their roles and responsibilities.

Party Politics in Goa: An analysis of defection cases of splits & mergers- A case Study of Third Goa Legislative Assembly (1999-2002)

BALAJI SHENVY — 2025-05-20

Defection, toppling of Government and instability dominated Goa’s politics during 1999-2002. Indian National Congress received people’s mandate with absolute majority to govern the State and politics of Goa in the General elections held in 1999. The period- 1999-2002 witnessed various splits, mergers and formation of splinter group in the Assembly which led to the collapse and formation of the Governments and ultimately led to the dissolution of the assembly. The main objective of this research is to understand the party politics in Goa in the context of lawful defection cases leading to splits & mergers in the political parties in order to attain power. The major hypothesis developed for this research is that defection versus loyalty and ability versus incompetence to rule the State is one amongst the major issue which the Goan politics has faced during 1999-2002.

Role of Asha Workers in Combating Covid- 19 in Kerala

Devi Parvathy — 2025-05-20

Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) constitute the backbone of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). They act as interface between the local public health support system and the community on nutrition, basic sanitation and hygienic practices, healthy living and working conditions, information on existing health services and the need for timely utilization of health and family welfare services. The meticulous work carried out by the ASHA workers were widely acknowledged during the outbreak the COVID-19. The ‘trace-test-isolate-support’ strategy by the Health Department during the pandemic proved to be successful, thanks to the tireless work carried out by this ‘foot-soldiers’ in the state of Kerala. The role of ASHAs during the COVID include community awareness through inter-personal communication, support ANM/Supervisor in house-to-house surveillance including identification of High-Risk Groups and probable cases, ensure uptake of medical services in urban and rural areas, psychosocial care, removal of stigma and discrimination, reporting and feedback and dissemination of information about personal safety and precautions. Despite their yeoman service, the ASHA workers were treated shabbily by the state and the society. Their woes include heavier workload, lack of safety gear and training, low pay, stigmatization, caste discrimination, domestic abuse, etc. The present paper deals with the rights issues faced by the ASHA workers in the state.

Integrated Goods and Services Tax Apportion Between Centre and States: Kerala as a Case Study

MEENU B. NAIR — 2025-05-20

ABSTRACT

The new tax policy for indirect taxes in 2017 was a game-changer in the history of taxation in India. The amalgamation of indirect taxes led to the erosion of the state's power on taxation. The paper attempts to analyse the taxation policy of India with respect to Centre-state financial relations. It further explains the political and economic issues that led to the Centre-state disputes on IGST. The paper analyses the change in the distribution of revenue between the Centre and states after the introduction of GST by taking Kerala as a case study. The secondary data on the revenue distribution available with state and central government and the parliamentary discussions on the same are utilised for the analysis. Kerala is a consumer state. IGST act enables the state to apportion IGST. Moreover, it is the first state that revamped its department for destination-based uniform tax. The state has experienced significant decline in revenue after the introduction of GST. As per the GST Act 2016 the state is eligible to claim compensation as well. The paper discusses the conflicts between the state of Kerala and central government on distribution of IGST from 2017.

Book Review

Skand Nath — 2025-05-20

The chapter "US Vicarious Identity with Israel" in Vicarious Identity in International Relations by Browning, Joenniemi, and Steele delves into the symbolic relationship between the United States and Israel, particularly following the 1967 Six-Day War. It examines how Israel became a proxy for American identity, reflecting US aspirations of military strength and moral authority, especially during periods of ontological insecurity like the Vietnam War. Using Lacanian psychoanalytic theory, the authors argue that this vicarious identification fulfills a psychological "lack" in the American self-image, influencing US foreign policy and public perception over generations.

The chapter's interdisciplinary approach, blending international relations, political psychology, and cultural studies offers a nuanced critique of traditional realist interpretations by highlighting cultural and psychological dimensions behind the US-Israel alliance. However, while the analysis is robust, the chapter could expand on diverse American perspectives and explore the geopolitical implications of this identification more critically. This work is a vital resource for scholars of international relations and Middle Eastern studies, offering fresh insights into the interplay between identity, security, and global politics.