A snap after an exhausting lecture on the Belfast Agreement by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, David Trimble.
Meeting another Laureate
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Friday, April 25 /
A snap after an exhausting lecture on the Belfast Agreement by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, David Trimble.
Rising India: Is Soft-Power key to the sub-continents growing role?
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Thursday, April 24 /
Posted in
India
While Western eyes are naturally now on Pakistan and its current difficulties, this should not lead us to ignore its larger neighbour India and the giant leaps which it has made as a nation over the past few years. Apart from being included in the near ubiquitousacronym “BRIC” devised by Goldman Sachs, India has started flexing its muscle all over the world: scrambling for African commodities and oil; demanding a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council; and promising a space mission to moon soon. These diverse strands all can easily be knitted into a single message: a strong democratic India has assumed her rightful place in a globalised world. The impact of globalisation is echoed in every village in India and easily explains IT hubs like Bangalore and Hyderabad. India has lifted millions over the poverty line into a burgeoning middle-class; they want everything to be the same as the West, includinglabels like Abercrombie & Fitch. The West has always romanticised India but now it can put itself on display in numerous shopping mallsopening all over the subcontinent– this with the glowing consent of a 300 million strong and growing middle class.
However, what does India have to offer in return to the world? Surely, this cannot be limited to IT engineers making their annual pilgrimage to Silicon Valley or diligent employees in backroom offices number-crunching for multi-nationals. Even the members of the growing Indian Diaspora spread unevenly all over the world are hoping for something to raise their heads in pride. The answer lies in India’s growing soft power and entrepreneurial spirit. These, its citizens hope, will lead to a boom far outstrippingthe achievements brought about by the “Hindu Growth rate” mantra, which, ever since the 60s, has been fixatedly applied to the Indian economy. Harvard’s Joseph Nye is the intellectual godfather ofsoft power – a term used to describe the relative attractiveness of intangibles like culture and language. He argues that soft power will become ever more important in this new multi-polar world. Nation states, in particular India, must realise that belligerent acts born out of America’ s current “hawkish” foreign policy will only enjoy ephemeral acceptance with the American people – a fact confirmed by the very low national approval ratings of the White House current incumbent. US hegemony has only been undermined by such Neo-Con policies. India must chart its own destiny and use soft power to spread its wonderful culture. Quite rightly, Chicken tikka and not sabrerattling language is the message coming out of North Block in New Delhi. A good historical lesson comes from France. Ever since its crushing defeat against Prussia in 1870, this nation has striven to export its vibrant culture and language to the far corners of the world. No doubt, this has greatly enhanced France’s relative position in the francophone world and garnered admiration for the glorious French ideals of Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité which are still alive and well after all these years. India has not tried to imitate France directly, but through other channels it has attempted to do something similar.
However, what does India have to offer in return to the world? Surely, this cannot be limited to IT engineers making their annual pilgrimage to Silicon Valley or diligent employees in backroom offices number-crunching for multi-nationals. Even the members of the growing Indian Diaspora spread unevenly all over the world are hoping for something to raise their heads in pride. The answer lies in India’s growing soft power and entrepreneurial spirit. These, its citizens hope, will lead to a boom far outstrippingthe achievements brought about by the “Hindu Growth rate” mantra, which, ever since the 60s, has been fixatedly applied to the Indian economy. Harvard’s Joseph Nye is the intellectual godfather ofsoft power – a term used to describe the relative attractiveness of intangibles like culture and language. He argues that soft power will become ever more important in this new multi-polar world. Nation states, in particular India, must realise that belligerent acts born out of America’ s current “hawkish” foreign policy will only enjoy ephemeral acceptance with the American people – a fact confirmed by the very low national approval ratings of the White House current incumbent. US hegemony has only been undermined by such Neo-Con policies. India must chart its own destiny and use soft power to spread its wonderful culture. Quite rightly, Chicken tikka and not sabrerattling language is the message coming out of North Block in New Delhi. A good historical lesson comes from France. Ever since its crushing defeat against Prussia in 1870, this nation has striven to export its vibrant culture and language to the far corners of the world. No doubt, this has greatly enhanced France’s relative position in the francophone world and garnered admiration for the glorious French ideals of Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité which are still alive and well after all these years. India has not tried to imitate France directly, but through other channels it has attempted to do something similar.
Former United Nations Under-Secretary General, Shashi Tharoor, candidly points out to Afghanistan as a thankful recipient of Indian soft power. India has no troops deployed in the country; at best she has
been a bystander in the “War on Terror.” But what is happening in its backyard must please India a lot: Bollywood and Indian soap operas are achieving what the Soviets and now the US backed coalition have been unable to do – make Afghans part with their guns and sit in front of the television. Indian soap operas, in particular the ones where an evil Motherin-law terrorises the whole family, are a big hit and when broadcast in the evenings, dubbed into Pashto and Dari, Kabul streets come to a standstill. Such examples of India’s growing soft power are rarelymentioned, but its growing significance and “soft” effects on the ‘War on Terror’” have won India many plaudits in Washington
and London.
Another recent development in the Indian automotive sector has put a smile on millions of faces while sending shock waves throughout corporate boardrooms all over the world. Tata’s “NANO” may not make millions like its well-fed Apple cousin, but as Tata’s “Peoples car” it may actually end up changing
the lives of millions. Priced at only £1250 pounds before tax, the Nano will become the cheapest car in the world.
Indigenously designed over five years by Indians, it has given a dramatic warning that India understands the needs of the masses better than most. This car meets all environmental emission standards and most safety standards. Tata plans to export it to other developing countries in South America and East Asia in the next three years. This will enable Rising India, millions of families to buy a car as their counterparts in the West have done for more than a half century. Tata’s profits may not in the end be so great but demand will be brisk. The effect of this venture are likely to be two-fold for India
– first, it should empower the masses with mobility;
second, it will unleash the unlimited e n t r e p r e n e u r i a l potential in India like never before. (Tata has already collected over 200 patents for this one project.) No wonder, Indians and Tata are excited. What was once labelled a cul-de-sac might just prove a viable vehicle venture.
Wow, even I am excited! With a student bank balance, £1250 could only buy me an add-on stereo system in a Lexus, but now I can aspire to my first car well before my first cheque arrives. India’s contribution to development in the end will be judged by its soft power and delicious chicken tikkas; I can just hear the world’s stomach rumbling.
This article was first published in the Netherhall Newsletter, March 2008.
been a bystander in the “War on Terror.” But what is happening in its backyard must please India a lot: Bollywood and Indian soap operas are achieving what the Soviets and now the US backed coalition have been unable to do – make Afghans part with their guns and sit in front of the television. Indian soap operas, in particular the ones where an evil Motherin-law terrorises the whole family, are a big hit and when broadcast in the evenings, dubbed into Pashto and Dari, Kabul streets come to a standstill. Such examples of India’s growing soft power are rarelymentioned, but its growing significance and “soft” effects on the ‘War on Terror’” have won India many plaudits in Washington
and London.
Another recent development in the Indian automotive sector has put a smile on millions of faces while sending shock waves throughout corporate boardrooms all over the world. Tata’s “NANO” may not make millions like its well-fed Apple cousin, but as Tata’s “Peoples car” it may actually end up changing
the lives of millions. Priced at only £1250 pounds before tax, the Nano will become the cheapest car in the world.
Indigenously designed over five years by Indians, it has given a dramatic warning that India understands the needs of the masses better than most. This car meets all environmental emission standards and most safety standards. Tata plans to export it to other developing countries in South America and East Asia in the next three years. This will enable Rising India, millions of families to buy a car as their counterparts in the West have done for more than a half century. Tata’s profits may not in the end be so great but demand will be brisk. The effect of this venture are likely to be two-fold for India
– first, it should empower the masses with mobility;
second, it will unleash the unlimited e n t r e p r e n e u r i a l potential in India like never before. (Tata has already collected over 200 patents for this one project.) No wonder, Indians and Tata are excited. What was once labelled a cul-de-sac might just prove a viable vehicle venture.
Wow, even I am excited! With a student bank balance, £1250 could only buy me an add-on stereo system in a Lexus, but now I can aspire to my first car well before my first cheque arrives. India’s contribution to development in the end will be judged by its soft power and delicious chicken tikkas; I can just hear the world’s stomach rumbling.
This article was first published in the Netherhall Newsletter, March 2008.
Cycling towards a Sustainable Energy Future
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Posted in
Energy
Last year, the Stern Review Report on the Economics of Climate Change, along with Al Gore’s “Inconvenient Truth,” sparked headlines on global warming all over the world. But it was only Al Gore who walked away with all the awards (Oscar anyone?) and, this October, the Nobel Peace Prize. As I put pen to paper, Al Gore has just made his hard-hitting Nobel acceptance speech in Oslo, while Nick Stern has had to content himself with warming a crossbencher seat in the House of Lords. I’d argue that the 600 page Stern Report did deserve some recognition, if not awards.
Commissioned by the British government, the Stern Report was comprehensive in its scope and ambitious in its aims. It rightly identified climate change as a severe global problem that needs to be met with fine tuning a set of market-based instruments together with informing the British public to make smart choices in their daily lives. However, it is no surprise that official chatter has been limited to putting climate change on the global agenda and it’s been a failure when it comes to our daily agendas. The Brown-Blair nexus, with too many rallying calls but not enough action to back them up, can be partly blamed. But the ignorance of many bystanders on the climate issue is also to blame. Awareness in itself does not guarantee action, but only when it is pre-fabricated in society’s values – our values. Only then do we see people make a conscious decision to change their sedentary lifestyles for the good of the environment and, indeed, the world. This Michaelmas term, I decided that I needed to change my lifestyle. Despite this epiphany, it became very clear from the outset that such a change was not going to be easy. More importantly, the cost involved could be a big deterrent, especially for anyone intending to survive on a student budget. Scouting for a week gave me an innumerable variety of options: energy efficient bulbs, waste-recycling, joining climate change protests with high-minded NGOs. The first two options are piecemeal solutions – let’s just say maybe that’s why they are already in effect at Netherhall. The last one, though, is another matter. Protesting the issue while freezing in Trafalgar Square seemed to me the most exciting option. Thankfully, however, LSE teaches you to be more resourceful than that, so I turned to Google for help. With its “DO NO EVIL” philosophy, Google was a natural ally in this struggle to find the right solutions for my pressing concern over my environmental inaction. As expected, Google delivered the right result with flying colours. It directed my attention to a new breed of technology making headway all over the world – behold, the time of the Electric Bicycle is with us now and it’s here to stay! An electric bicycle is not very different from an ordinary bicycle. It looks the same, handles wonderfully and gives you a feeling that only the Jetsons previously enjoyed (much to the disgust of the Flintstones).
The world of technology has moved far ahead of what most anticipated, and the pressing concern over climate change has made inventions like the electric bicycle as mainstream as ever. The principle behind the electric bicycle is simple: it merges the health and environmental benefits of cycling with a powered pedal-assist mode, which is very handy during long commutes. Oh, and did I forget to mention that it’s available at a reasonable price! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves and assume that electric bicycles will cost the same as ordinary bicycles. This may never hold true: there will always be the added cost of the electric battery. But the current generation of electric batteries last longer, weigh less and are more durable than ever before. The cost might yet prove to be the Achilles heel, but things have advanced at a remarkable pace, to the chagrin of the climate change sceptics lobby, championed by oil conglomerates. I bought my electric bicycle, “Powacycle Salisbury”, for £599. The average cost varies from £400 to £800. This exorbitant amount looks a lot smaller when you take out daily use of the notoriously crowded underground or the money that lines the Ken Livingston’s congestion charge coffers. The electric bicycle along with the conventional bicycle is among the most efficient means of transport available. Yet, many people hold unguarded reservations about electric bicycles, asking why they should pay more for something human muscle can match and outlast, and that too without the added hassle of a recharge. Such arguments can easily be dealt with right here. First, most electric cycles offer 3 modes: pedal, pedal-assist and power. Pedal-only mode turns the electric bicycle into an ordinary bicycle. Pedal-assist mode goes one better by pushing along gently as you pedal with battery power. This ensures you don’t get tired, or sweat a lot on your way to work. Perhaps no wonder this is the most celebrated mode for most cyclists. Full power allows you to cut corners or focus on the traffic during rush hour. Understandably, battery usage varies with different modes. My bicycle gives 30 miles with pedal-assist and 12 miles power only. This means I have to recharge my battery once a week traveling from Hampstead to the LSE on most weekdays and back. Secondly, electric batteries have had their own revolution of late. My bicycle is fitted with a Lithium-Polymer battery, which is efficient, environmentally friendly and keeps my bicycle lean – a respectable 22 kg. This is a far cry from the first generation of Lead-Acid and Nimh batteries, which were distinctly less environmentally friendly and had a much shorter lifecycle than Lithium-Polymer batteries.
Finally, while it would be premature to see electric bicycles as an unqualified success, they nonetheless represent an added opportunity for all of us to make our little contribution to the environment, while at the same time conditioning our muscles to their peak for Saturday morning football at Primrose Hill. So far, my experience has exceeded my initial expectations. I am definitely a big enthusiast about this emerging technology albeit with a caveat – those cyclists who took to Parliament Square in a pro-climate change solution will not entirely appreciate this new technology: the new generation of electric bicycles would not have saved them from the downpour that drenched them all in their tracks. Technology cannot provide all the solutions, but one small step at a time, even in the maddening downpour, can help us inch toward a sustainable energy future.
This article was first published in the Netherhall Newsletter, January 2008.
Commissioned by the British government, the Stern Report was comprehensive in its scope and ambitious in its aims. It rightly identified climate change as a severe global problem that needs to be met with fine tuning a set of market-based instruments together with informing the British public to make smart choices in their daily lives. However, it is no surprise that official chatter has been limited to putting climate change on the global agenda and it’s been a failure when it comes to our daily agendas. The Brown-Blair nexus, with too many rallying calls but not enough action to back them up, can be partly blamed. But the ignorance of many bystanders on the climate issue is also to blame. Awareness in itself does not guarantee action, but only when it is pre-fabricated in society’s values – our values. Only then do we see people make a conscious decision to change their sedentary lifestyles for the good of the environment and, indeed, the world. This Michaelmas term, I decided that I needed to change my lifestyle. Despite this epiphany, it became very clear from the outset that such a change was not going to be easy. More importantly, the cost involved could be a big deterrent, especially for anyone intending to survive on a student budget. Scouting for a week gave me an innumerable variety of options: energy efficient bulbs, waste-recycling, joining climate change protests with high-minded NGOs. The first two options are piecemeal solutions – let’s just say maybe that’s why they are already in effect at Netherhall. The last one, though, is another matter. Protesting the issue while freezing in Trafalgar Square seemed to me the most exciting option. Thankfully, however, LSE teaches you to be more resourceful than that, so I turned to Google for help. With its “DO NO EVIL” philosophy, Google was a natural ally in this struggle to find the right solutions for my pressing concern over my environmental inaction. As expected, Google delivered the right result with flying colours. It directed my attention to a new breed of technology making headway all over the world – behold, the time of the Electric Bicycle is with us now and it’s here to stay! An electric bicycle is not very different from an ordinary bicycle. It looks the same, handles wonderfully and gives you a feeling that only the Jetsons previously enjoyed (much to the disgust of the Flintstones).
The world of technology has moved far ahead of what most anticipated, and the pressing concern over climate change has made inventions like the electric bicycle as mainstream as ever. The principle behind the electric bicycle is simple: it merges the health and environmental benefits of cycling with a powered pedal-assist mode, which is very handy during long commutes. Oh, and did I forget to mention that it’s available at a reasonable price! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves and assume that electric bicycles will cost the same as ordinary bicycles. This may never hold true: there will always be the added cost of the electric battery. But the current generation of electric batteries last longer, weigh less and are more durable than ever before. The cost might yet prove to be the Achilles heel, but things have advanced at a remarkable pace, to the chagrin of the climate change sceptics lobby, championed by oil conglomerates. I bought my electric bicycle, “Powacycle Salisbury”, for £599. The average cost varies from £400 to £800. This exorbitant amount looks a lot smaller when you take out daily use of the notoriously crowded underground or the money that lines the Ken Livingston’s congestion charge coffers. The electric bicycle along with the conventional bicycle is among the most efficient means of transport available. Yet, many people hold unguarded reservations about electric bicycles, asking why they should pay more for something human muscle can match and outlast, and that too without the added hassle of a recharge. Such arguments can easily be dealt with right here. First, most electric cycles offer 3 modes: pedal, pedal-assist and power. Pedal-only mode turns the electric bicycle into an ordinary bicycle. Pedal-assist mode goes one better by pushing along gently as you pedal with battery power. This ensures you don’t get tired, or sweat a lot on your way to work. Perhaps no wonder this is the most celebrated mode for most cyclists. Full power allows you to cut corners or focus on the traffic during rush hour. Understandably, battery usage varies with different modes. My bicycle gives 30 miles with pedal-assist and 12 miles power only. This means I have to recharge my battery once a week traveling from Hampstead to the LSE on most weekdays and back. Secondly, electric batteries have had their own revolution of late. My bicycle is fitted with a Lithium-Polymer battery, which is efficient, environmentally friendly and keeps my bicycle lean – a respectable 22 kg. This is a far cry from the first generation of Lead-Acid and Nimh batteries, which were distinctly less environmentally friendly and had a much shorter lifecycle than Lithium-Polymer batteries.
Finally, while it would be premature to see electric bicycles as an unqualified success, they nonetheless represent an added opportunity for all of us to make our little contribution to the environment, while at the same time conditioning our muscles to their peak for Saturday morning football at Primrose Hill. So far, my experience has exceeded my initial expectations. I am definitely a big enthusiast about this emerging technology albeit with a caveat – those cyclists who took to Parliament Square in a pro-climate change solution will not entirely appreciate this new technology: the new generation of electric bicycles would not have saved them from the downpour that drenched them all in their tracks. Technology cannot provide all the solutions, but one small step at a time, even in the maddening downpour, can help us inch toward a sustainable energy future.
This article was first published in the Netherhall Newsletter, January 2008.
Top 100
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After seeing the list, there are a few names that scream out for me. Particularly the ones i read on a daily basis include: Martin Worlf, Christopher Hitchens, Fareed Zakaria, William Easterly, Jeffrey Sachs, Lomborg, Richard Dawkins, Paul Collier, Paul Krugman, Samantha Power, Richard Posner, Nouriel Roubini, Niall Ferguson, Ohran Pamuk, Robert Putnam, James Lovelock, Lawrence Summers and of course, Noam Chomsky.
Other notable names that i across occasionally include the excellent NYU anti-sachs economist - William Easterly and Vaclav Havel. I remember attending a lecture when Havel was visiting Columbia University in fall 2006 with Bill Clinton; it was memorable for its witty exchange.
So 23 names on the regular reading list - not bad at all. I am not sure if Samantha Power should be on the list; she might have been included due to the recent scandal that forced her to resign from the OBAMA campaign.
One notable omission at least in my view is Professor Dani Rodrik of Harvard. He is leading the way in better understanding institutions and governance link.
Other notable names that i across occasionally include the excellent NYU anti-sachs economist - William Easterly and Vaclav Havel. I remember attending a lecture when Havel was visiting Columbia University in fall 2006 with Bill Clinton; it was memorable for its witty exchange.
So 23 names on the regular reading list - not bad at all. I am not sure if Samantha Power should be on the list; she might have been included due to the recent scandal that forced her to resign from the OBAMA campaign.
One notable omission at least in my view is Professor Dani Rodrik of Harvard. He is leading the way in better understanding institutions and governance link.
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