Political

Diplomatic Maturity vs. Credit Poaching on the Global Stage The recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan has once again brought into focus the delicate game of global perception, and how leaders position themselves before domestic and international audiences. On Truth Social, former U.S. President Donald Trump was quick to claim credit, rushing to announce victory like a glory hungry contender at the podium eager to declare victory even before the microphones are unwrapped.  (Those who know … [Read more...] about Modi or Trump: Whose Ceasefire Version Holds?

In the aftermath of the Pahalgam massacre, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif delivered a statement loaded with strategic signaling. He accused the United States & the United Kingdom of playing a very negative role, charging them with promoting terrorism through Pakistan and hobnobbing with terrorists for three decades. Through this broadside, Islamabad signaled a sharp pivot: retaliating against American criticism and abandonment by firmly closing the door on the U.S. and instead … [Read more...] about Decoding the Signals: Insights into this week’s Pakistan-US Dynamics

From ancient Greece to modern-day politics, the fate of governments follows a cycle that philosophers have long recognized. Aristotle described a cyclical theory of political change—later termed Anacyclosis by Polybius—in which forms of government follow a recurring sequence of rise, decline, and replacement. Montesquieu, writing centuries later, warned that extreme equality could erode institutions and lead to authoritarianism. Today, these warnings feel more urgent than ever. The rise of … [Read more...] about Aristotle, Montesquieu, and the Future of Modern Democracy

On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump began his second term. He has since issued over 50 directives that have already begun reshaping economic, ethical, and social landscapes. As we analyze these directives, it is important to understand their consequences through historical parallels and philosophical perspectives. To that end, I draw on the insights of David Ricardo and Alexis de Tocqueville to evaluate the implications of these edicts. Economic Fallout: The Return of Protectionism One … [Read more...] about Trump vs. Ricardo vs. Tocqueville : The Economic, Ethical, and Social Fallout of Trump’s Directives

Let us attempt to answer this question by looking at how the three determinants of socio-political existence, Wealth, Power and Status are configured today and how these could motivate individuals and groups to vote in 2024. Wealth: For the last 3,000 years of recorded history the world has swung between concentration of wealth and dispersion of wealth. Capitalism concentrates wealth due to differences in human abilities and through the advantage which accrues to the early winner. So, the rich … [Read more...] about Elections 2024: Who do the cards favour?

Their courage unites them. Their worldview divides them. They represent a changing tide in Indian polity. Before the likes of Modi and Kejriwal came on the scene, it was felt that in Indian politics the meek will continue to inherit the world. The genuflectors will be crowned. Note how those in the prime-ministerial fray bowed to the powers that be. Except Rajiv Gandhi who came on a sympathy wave, every prime ministerial aspirant stooped to ascend. Indira Gandhi too was known as the Goongi … [Read more...] about Modi, Kejriwal and Shivakumar: What is common among them? What do they augur for Indian Polity?