| Title: | Everyday Experiences of the State in South Asia |
| Author/s: | Rajni Gamage, Ramita Iyer, Saeeduddin Faridi |
| Abstract: | The state in South Asia is a fluid and historically complex entity, with its postcolonial forms engaging differently with individuals and communities. As the state is experienced in diverse and everyday ways, it is important to critically explore its institutions, power structures and the socio-economic tensions that shape its function.
The 2023 International Conference on South Asia, hosted by ISAS, explored these everyday encounters with the state, resulting in this special report. Through six thematic chapters, the report examines how authority is perceived, the challenges of governance, the uneven delivery of services and the impact of identity politics. It also addresses state control over data, surveillance and the regulation of bodies and behaviours, highlighting the ongoing tensions between state power and individual rights. |
| Date: | 30 June 2025 |
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| Title: | Cyber Resilience in the Indo-Pacific |
| Author/s: | Karthik Nachiappan, Mriganika Singh Tanwar |
| Abstract: | The Indo-Pacific region is experiencing a significant digital transformation amid intensifying security competition, leading to heightened cyber vulnerabilities. This joint report by ISAS and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung analyses the cybersecurity landscape of Indonesia, Japan, South Korea and India, revealing varied challenges and capacities in managing rising cyber threats. While India and Indonesia grapple with surging digital transactions and associated risks, Japan and South Korea face sophisticated cyberattacks exploiting systemic gaps.
The report assesses these countries’ cyber resilience through resistance, recovery and adaptation, noting that although progress has been made in defending against and responding to cyber threats, disparities remain in long-term protection strategies. It calls for a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach and greater regional cooperation to strengthen cybersecurity infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific. |
| Date: | 15 May 2025 |
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| Title: | CHINA AND INDIA: Two Giants Shaping the Global Economy |
| Author/s: | Amitendu Palit, Alfred Schipke, P S Srinivas, Divya Murali, Tanujja Dadlani |
| Abstract: | China and India, the world’s largest and third-largest economies by purchasing power parity, play pivotal roles in global trade, supply chains, innovation and climate action, making their influence on the international order increasingly significant. Recognising the importance of understanding this evolving dynamic, ISAS and the East Asian Institute launched a joint series on 14 November 2024 titled ‘China and India: Two Giants Shaping the Global Economy’. The event featured a public session with expert insights and a closed-door workshop, bringing together specialists to examine the strategic and economic trajectories of both nations. This report captures the key takeaways from these discussions, focusing on their economic policies, industrial development and the broader geopolitical context shaping their rise. |
| Date: | 30 April 2025 |
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| Title: | INDIA-FRANCE-JAPAN TRILATERAL DIALOGUE Order and Disorder in the Indo-Pacific: Trilateral and Policy Perspectives from India, France and Japan |
| Author/s: | Yogesh Joshi, Ippeita Nishida, Céline Pajon, Devyani Chaturvedi |
| Abstract: | The Indo-Pacific region is undergoing significant geopolitical and geoeconomic shifts, driven by the intensifying competition between China and the United States (US), which has raised concerns over supply chain security and the future of regional security architecture. This competition, coupled with the return of Donald Trump as US president, has led regional powers to seek a more prominent role in shaping the region’s future. The India-France-Japan trilateral initiative offers a platform for these nations to align their strategies and address common challenges. ISAS, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation of Japan and the French Institute of International Relations organised a Track 1.5 dialogue session in 2024 among experts and officials from these three key maritime democracies in the Indo-Pacific. The event examined key shifts, such as the re-evaluation of power balances, contestation of norms and reactivation of geopolitical fault lines. The discussions also explored issues like nuclear disarmament, critical mineral supply chains, freedom of navigation and climate change, highlighting the region’s evolving security, economic and multilateral dynamics. |
| Date: | 31 March 2025 |
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| Title: | Sri Lanka After the Elections: Governance in a Time of Crisis |
| Author/s: | Rajni Gamage, Kanika Kaur |
| Abstract: | In November 2024, ISAS and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung hosted a closed-door roundtable titled ‘Sri Lanka after the Elections: Governance in a Time of Crisis’. Distinguished speakers from Sri Lanka and Singapore discussed the new government’s historic victory and challenges. They analysed several pertinent issues, including economic inequality, International Monetary Fund revenue targets, austerity measures and ethnic conflict. The roundtable also evaluated the impact of protests and patronage politics, offering insights into prospects for democratic reforms and structural change. |
| Date: | 24 February 2025 |
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