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Category: International Relations
International Relations
Vaibhav puri

Role of International Institutions in conflicting resolutions

INTRODUCTION: The Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011, stands as one of the most catastrophic conflicts of the 21st century, resulting in massive loss of life, widespread displacement, and a humanitarian crisis. The war has drawn in various international actors, thus increasing the complexity of the crisis and complicating the dynamics of conflict resolution and humanitarian intervention. Amidst this turmoil, the United Nations (UN) has played a central role, attempting to mediate peace talks, provide humanitarian aid, and uphold international law. Yet, the UN’s effectiveness in addressing the Syrian crisis has sparked considerable debate among scholars, policymakers, and humanitarian organizations. This research article aims to analyse the role of the United Nations in the Syrian Civil War, exploring its strategies, challenges, and the broader implications of its actions on the ground. RELEVANCE: This research on understanding the United Nations’ role in the Syrian Civil War is crucial for comprehending the complexities of international intervention in conflicts. By examining the UN’s strategies and the challenges it faces, this research provides important insights that can inform future peacekeeping and humanitarian initiatives in similar crises like the Ukrainian-Russian War. Additionally, it contributes to the broader discourse on the efficacy of diplomacy and mediation in resolving conflicts, especially as global governance contends with mounting pressures from national interests and geopolitical rivalries. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: This paper evaluates the challenges faced by UN in facilitating the political resolution in Syria particularly, examining the influence of external powers, the fragmentation of conflicting parties and the implications of the constitutional committee’s stalled progress in the peace process. It specifically focuses on UN’s lack of enforcement mechanisms, the political deadlock within the United Nation Security Council (UNSC), and the challenges in ensuring the accountability for war crimes. THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN ADDRESSING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS DURING THE SYRIAN CIVIL WAR Major Human Rights Violations in the Syrian Civil War: The Syrian civil war has resulted in significant human rights violations and a substantial loss of life. According to the United Nations Human Rights Office, at least 306,887 civilians were killed between March 2011 and March 2021, representing about 1.5% of Syria’s pre-war population. Estimates of the total number of deaths, including combatants and non-civilians, vary. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported approximately 617,910 deaths from March 2011 to March 2024. Widespread human rights abuses have marked the conflict. All parties involved have conducted unlawful attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. The Syrian government, in particular, has been implicated in mass killings, torture, and the use of chemical weapons against civilian populations. The war has also led to a massive displacement crisis, with millions of Syrians forced to flee their homes, seeking refuge both within and outside the country. Analysis of the UN’s Accountability on War Crimes:For over 13 years, the government of Syria, its allies, and armed opposition groups have perpetrated countless attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, violating international law. Government forces have committed murder, torture, and sexual violence as a matter of state policy. All parties to the conflict continue to commit acts that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, and repeated violations of ceasefires heighten the risk of recurrence of large-scale conflict. It remains unsafe for Syrians to return to their country. As various armed groups attempt to consolidate their control over territory in a fragmented Syria, civilians are facing indiscriminate hostilities and systematic human rights violations in Syria. Detention and disappearance are used by the government and other parties as a strategy to control and intimidate civilians, confirming ongoing patterns of crimes against humanity and war crimes. Despite the ICJ provisional measures order, the Syrian government continues to perpetrate enforced disappearance, torture, and ill-treatment against detainees and deliberately obstruct families’ efforts to learn the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones. The grave situation across Syria is partly a consequence of the UN Security Council’s (UNSC) inability to hold perpetrators accountable. Since 2013, the UNSC has passed dozens of resolutions on the situation in Syria; however, none have been fully implemented, and the Syrian government has directly violated many of them. Russia and China have jointly vetoed ten draft resolutions, and Russia has independently vetoed an additional eight, shielding Syria from international accountability. To close the accountability gap, on 21 December 2016, the UNGA established an International, Impartial, and Independent Mechanism to assist in the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of atrocities in Syria. Several countries have initiated proceedings or convicted suspected Syrian perpetrators under universal jurisdiction. In June 2023, Canada and the Netherlands jointly initiated proceedings against Syria before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning alleged violations of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. On 16 November 2023, the ICJ issued provisional measures calling on the government of Syria to prevent acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, and ensure its officials do not commit any acts of torture while preserving relevant evidence. [Un report by global center] United Nations Mediation in Syria: The UN mediation efforts are generally guided by preventive diplomacy, impartiality, and consensus-building among conflicting parties. Mediation efforts are complicated in situations like civil war; it becomes more challenging due to the fragmented nature of the parties involved (Becovitch and Jackson, “Conflict Resolution in Civil Wars”). The Geneva Process:The earliest attempt of the UN was the Geneva Process in 2012. The cornerstone of the initial mediation was the Geneva Communiqué, which was adopted at an international conference by Kofi Annan. This communiqué outlined a six-point plan for peace, which included measures aimed at de-escalating violence and paving the way for a political transition. The plan, introduced by then-UN-Arab League Special Envoy Kofi Annan in 2012, emphasized the following key points: Commitment to a Syrian-led political process: Syrian government and the opposition were urged by the United Nations to engage in an inclusive dialogue to resolve the conflict peacefully. Cessation of violence: All parties

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January 21, 2025 No Comments
International Relations
Tanuj Samaddar

NORMATIVE DISRUPTIONS IN THE INDO-PACIFIC

In this geo-political context of dynamism the Indo-Pacific region indeed becomes a crucible of multifaceted normative disruptions that center on the intricate interplay between complex power dynamics, other economic stratagems and sociopolitical paradigms to create a landscape which in nature is transformative. The article presents a systematic and theoretical analysis of the paradigmatic shift from the erstwhile Asia-Pacific framework to the emerging Indo-Pacific construct holding that such a transition is not a simple superficial rebranding but a deep metamorphosis underscored by the ascendant influence of the United States and its allies.
This treatise studies the geopolitical ramifications of Belt and Road Initiatives and its concomitant implications in terms of regional stability as a whole so that the precarious state of balance surrounding India’s current strategic posture has been defined despite its tumultuous neighbourhood. This further questions the effectiveness of QUAD as a normative mechanism in bringing about an inclusive and rules-based order yet still dealing with the tensions inherent in the neoliberal economic imperatives versus the exigencies of national sovereignty.
This paper navigates through the convoluted hallways of food security climate change and socio-economic disparities and holds that the future of the Indo-Pacific is irrevocably entwined with the resiliency of the constituent countries This exposition strives to contribute to the growing body of literature on the Indo-Pacific paradigm and provides a richly textured analysis that cuts through the old-fashioned dichotomies and speaks to the rapidly changing geopolitics.

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January 21, 2025 No Comments
International Relations
Samriddhi Shet

Global Counterterrorism Policies with special emphasis on the Sub-Saharan Region

Global counter-terrorism policies in Sub-Saharan Africa focus on combating groups like Al-Qaida and Boko Haram through military intervention, capacity-building, and socio-economic initiatives. International coalitions and local governments collaborate to dismantle militant networks, address root causes like poverty and governance challenges, and enhance security for long-term regional stability.

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January 18, 2025 No Comments
International Relations
Abhishek Kulkarni

French Colonial Legacy in Africa: A Deep Dive into Françafrique and Post-Colonial Influence

Discover the enduring impact of French colonial legacy in Africa, exploring Françafrique, migration patterns, military interventions, and cultural assimilation. This in-depth analysis reveals how historical ties continue shaping security, economics, and cultural identity, highlighting both resistance and influence in post-colonial Africa’s evolving relationship with France.

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January 18, 2025 No Comments
International Relations
Manjiri Phansalkar

WOMEN AND CHILDREN UNDER ISIS

WOMEN AND CHILDREN UNDER ISIS __________________________________________________________________ By Manjiri Phansalkar ABSTRACT ISIS, also known as ISIL – the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (terrorist organisation) is a Sunni jihadist group with a particularly violent ideology that calls itself a caliphate and claims religious authority over all Muslims. With the quantum of attacks, incidents and undercover – sleeper cells persisting in the transient nexus of the twenty-first century, a very striking component of such an organisation is known to bear great repercussions as well as contribute significantly to its working. Women and children – generally considered to be the ‘softest targets’ in any area of conflict, are subjected to excessive torture and are awarded unforeseen, dreadful consequences on committing an apparent act of crime, which is deemed to be against the rules as dictated by their extremist law. It is such an unbecoming setting that calls for the long – due synthesis and analysis of the treatment offered to women and children under ISIS. This paper looks at three prime areas of detailed study, encountering the framework and mechanisms of ISIS, followed by the extremities experienced by women and children and finally a constructive analysis of the atrocities.  __________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION ISIS is short for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and is concurrently also known as ISIL or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Towards June 2014, ISIS chose to rename itself as the “Islamic State” accounting to the fact that it proclaimed the creation of a global caliphate. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was their leader since 2010, declared that he was the new caliph and, resultantly,  was now ruling all Muslims. ISIS, ISIL and IS appear to be mostly synonymous, however, in the particular case of ISIS, it has been long established that Abu Musab al-Zaqawi was the (extremist) founder of this organisation – in 1999 Within the next  five years, al-Zarqawi’s new group rapidly advanced in their recognition through their barbaric activities and simultaneously also chose to associate with Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda (AQI). They are known to and considered to be Islamic extremists, Islamists or Jihadists, closely linked to the dramatically popularised concept of Jihad or “struggle.” Various other terrorist organisations, such as the Taliban, Boko Haram, the Al-Qaeda, Hamas and Hezbollah have also been participating in the global realm of affairs and have been making the news for decades(especially now, considering the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza). However, ISIS appears to be in a strata of its own. In 2014, Al-Qaeda officially dissociated itself from ISIS, and subsequently became a self-sustained entity. Al-Qaeda refused to take responsibility for ISIS’ actions which they deemed to be “too extreme” in some cases. ISIS has proven to be a rather negatively growing potential in the acts of terror across the expanse of the globe, considering which, it has now become a force to be reckoned with. Women and children have always been a significant catalyst in events throughout history. In the case of women, it can be observed that women take various roles for the recruitment, and in that sense become agents for a shift towards radicalization and counter-extremism (Saltman, 2019). Women are the silent driving forces of society. Their involvements and dynamics directly impact the children of the society. Children are seen as the beacon to carrying such radicalised and extremist views forward for society. Focusing particularly on minors, adolescents, it is understood that they are indoctrinated for future jihad, emphasising the influential role that children can also play in terrorist operations (Spencer, 2016) . In this chapter, we attempt to analyse these roles and their impacts in current incidents, in relation to ISIS operations. DECODING : WOMEN AND CHILDREN UNDER ISIS While ISIS poses threats to the world in many ways that are manifested through unexpected scenarios, it is noticeable that not all of it is possible without the necessary requirement of manpower, which would / does essentially engage in acts of terror, in the name of an extremist-jihadist law. Although, from time immemorial, society has known itself to be patriarchal by nature, a similar algorithm applies to the mechanisms of ISIS as well. However, a surprising fact represents itself in the form of participation by women and children in acts of terror across the globe. Considering the popular opinion of women being the suppressed fraction of population under the ISIS, it is rather unlikely to witness women (and children) participation alongside men. Two reasons may be considered here. As a first, women may be subjected to forced participation, as a mandate enforced by the patriarchal guidance of laws, or perhaps they do so willingly, out of their personal choice. On the other hand, in the case of children, it is understandable that – a provocative environment- such as that of ISIS would demand only so much from a child so as to follow the traditions long-established by their forefathers, while also keeping in mind the fact that the children from those women who themselves indulge heinous acts of terror, are bound to bring their children up in a manner similar to theirs. In this section of examining the activities and treatment offered to women and children under the ISIS, a synthesis is observed through a framework of three sequential categories. Primarily, we dive into the ideology that ISIS aims to propagate, followed by the understanding of the linkage as established by the ISIS with women and children and finally produce a simple analysis of the  established linkage. ISIS – WHEREABOUTS ISIS follows a very extreme form of Islam known as Salafism (in Arabic al salaf al salih means the “pious forefathers”). It promotes violence and bloodshed to establish and maintain Qur’anic hegemony through a very strict adherence to the Qur’an and Shari’a law. ISIS adheres to an apocalyptic theology and believes that the Mhadi or “guided one” will soon arrive and redeem Islam. ISIS has declared jihad against all infidels. That includes westerners, Christians and Jews. But it also includes any

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December 12, 2024 No Comments
International Relations
Manjiri Phansalkar

GWADAR: A CHINESE GIBRALTER

“GWADAR: A CHINESE GIBRALTER” Alok Bansal. New Delhi. Pentagon Press LLP, 2023. 224 pages, ISBN 978-81-951894-8-9. Rs 995 (Hardcover) Reviewed by: Manjiri Abhay Phansalkar In the current scenario of 21st century geopolitics and geostrategy, where countries and personalities are trying to establish their foothold as a global leader, China has delicately partnered with Pakistan to attain its goals of global leadership, economic hegemony as well as establish its geostrategic supremacy by means of mobilizing and exercising the deep-sea port of Gwadar on Pakistan’s Makran coast. The text by a retired Indian Naval Captain Alok Bansal, Gwadar: A Chinese Gibraltar highlights the strategic, economic and political attributes of Chinese operation of the Gwadar port while also representing the security concerns of the bordering nations and addresses the implications and influences of the operation of the upcoming deep-water port. The book, in totality discusses the importance of the Gwadar port especially with reference to the geopolitical entities in the neighborhood. “An established South Asian expert on Pakistan and a well-known defense analyst, Captain Bansal possesses impressive academic and experiential knowledge of multiple facets of South Asian geopolitics”. His book, Gwadar: A Chinese Gibraltar introduces and discovers various facets such as geopolitical significance, geostrategic implications, economic prowess, security matters and influences on neighboring entities in a series of six compact segments. In the initial phase, the book attempts to draft out a brief context of the region of Gwadar as well as the surrounding region in reference to the erstwhile occupants, the dynamic history, demographic evolution as well as geographic features of the arena.  The author continues to bring out the significance of the Gwadar deep-sea port. This aspect is practiced in relevance with the firstly the geographical location (and the possibility of  the port being exercised as an alternative to the previously existing ports at Omara and Karachi), secondly the advancements and innovations being implemented during the development of the deep-sea port (inviting investments and partnerships from key players in the global arena) and thirdly, presenting the short comings and limitations of the operation of the port post the idealization of the state-of-the-art facilities being established at the location. Further, the book delves into the security implications for Pakistan, in both the dimensions of Internal and External Spheres. On the External Sphere of security, the main highlights are presented in the form of Maritime security-whereby Pakistan envisages a respite from possible naval blockades and trade hinderances faced by the Indian Navy. In the context of Reducing Economic Vulnerability whereupon the operation of Gwadar port in addition to the ports at Omara and Karachi provides not only an added factor of security, but also guarantees flexibility and extravagance in matters of international trade, commerce and an option of transshipment leadership Finally, merging Pakistan’s security strategies with that of China’s so as to establish safety, stability, as well as superiority in the region of tumultuous events. On the Internal Sphere of security, the author introduces the two main aspects of development of Gwadar and the impact on the region of Balochistan as well as the rection of the Balochi locals to the developments taking place on their land. It is noticeable herein, that the Balochis are particularly apprehensive of the developments on the Gwadar port, as it comes as an action to jeopardies their land so that the owners reap negligible benefits of the port. China, a decisive player in the upgradation of Balochistan via the development of the Gwadar deep-sea port is shown to have heightened importance in the book. China’s efforts to assist Pakistan in this developmental project is viewed to be firstly, an attempt to enhace its geostrategic as well as economic standing on the global sphere and secondly, allow Pakistan to establish itself as a major stakeholder in global trade while also act as a lynchpin in the commerce of the land-locked countries within the Asian continent. The author addresses the Gwadar port as a major stakeholder in China’s CPEC, i.e. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and is considered to be a leading project under China’s BRI i.e. Belt and Road Initiative. Venturing into the latter section of the book, the author attempts to bring out the primary impacts on Regional Security that majorly concern the bordering region of Pakistan, as well as the influences on the extra-regional powers. With regards to Afghanistan and Central Asian Regions (once a part of the Soviet Union), it is discovered that the Gwadar port emerges as the soul of their trade and commerce with regions outside of Asia. However, the issue of resistance by the local Baloch population remains a matter of concern for the development of the deep-sea port. In context of Iran, the Gwadar port is a clear competitor to the Chabahar port being developed by the Iranian government, in collaboration with the Indian government. Referring to the United States, the book brings out the intricacies of the global economic competition between China and the US, because of which China’s rise as a global hegemon is becoming inevitable. Also citing the intricate relationship with Russia, the Gwadar port emerges as a combined effort to exercise relations on economic forums. In the last section of the book, the author deals with the implications of the deep-sea port on India and states prime issues such as naval surveillance not only by the Pakistani Navy but the Chinese Navy as well, coupled with an attempt to jeopardies the maritime trade of the Indian subcontinent by mobilizing Gwadar as the hotspot for Asian commerce. Lastly, Chinese efforts on the Gwadar deep-sea port is visible intent to promulgate the concept of String of Pearls which aims to detrimentally harm India’s geostrategic posturing. In the concluding segment of the text, the author presents certain engaging theories and fruitful recommendations for India to effectively negate the detrimental influence of the Gwadar port on Indian trade. One striking feature is the suggestion for India to engage with Baloch nationals and promote Chabahar port over Gwadar as a preferred gateway to

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December 12, 2024 No Comments
International Relations
Sifat Patel

The Role of International Labour Law in Regulating Gig Economy Workers’ Rights

This article examines the critical intersection of international labour law and the gig economy, focusing on the urgent need for protections for millions of platform-based workers. It highlights the role of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in addressing the challenges faced by gig workers, identifying existing legal gaps and proposing essential reforms. The discussion underscores the importance of establishing equitable labour standards to ensure that gig workers receive the rights and protections they deserve in an evolving labour landscape.

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November 16, 2024 No Comments