GUWAHATI: The Centre for South East Asian Studies and Department of Political Science, Gauhati University, in collaboration with Department of Higher Education, Government of Assam, organized a lecture on 'The Ukraine-Russia War: Perspectives on Global and National Implications'. It was delivered by Prof. Harsh V. Pant, Professor of International Relations at King's College, London and Director, Studies and Head of the Strategic Studies Programme at Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi. The lecture was organized at the Assam Administrative Staff College, Khanapara on Tuesday.
B. Kalyan Chakravarthy, Principal Secretary, Education, Government of Assam, delivered his welcome briefing of the event wherein he underlined the significance of the subject of discussion and the need to provide an exposure to the young students to listen to the perspectives of leading expert on such a significant issue of the present time having global as well as national ramifications.
Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta, Director (Honorary) of Centre for South East Asian Studies, Gauhati University and Advisor to Government of Assam (Education), also shared his understanding and observation on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine resulting in grave humanitarian crisis. Prof. Mahanta also highlighted several ramifications that can emanate from this crisis shaping the future global order and foreign policy formulations.
Prof. Harsh V. Pant in his keynote lecture emphasized the importance of context when it comes to foreign policy as the lines between domestic and foreign policy imperatives are getting fast disappearing. The current events in world politics show the changing nature of foreign policy and the changing dynamics of international relations. This change depicts a fundamentally transformative period in the global arena. Prof Pant stressed the fact that there has occurred an epical change in global politics. Recent events like the COVID-19 pandemic, rise of China, a struggling EU, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine all point towards a reformative era in international relations. Evolution of the global order has taken a definitive turn. India, at this point, needs to be concerned about the strategic dimension. Insulation is neither possible nor desirable. India is on a shaky ground when it comes to Russia. Isolating Russia is also not in India's interest. India's problem when it comes to working with both the West and Russia is operationally problematic at this stage. International relations works on the convergence of interests. If the West is distracted from the Indo-Pacific owing to current events, what should be India's lookout? Is there a possibility for the West to get its act together? These questions were pondered upon in the course of the lecture. Prof. Pant also analysed the challenges associated with evaluation of current global events.
The lecture was followed by an interactive discussion moderated by Prof. Jayanta Krishna Sarmah, Head of the Department of Political Science, Gauhati University. Prof. Sarmah reiterated the possible ramifications that can shape the future world politics as a result of this unremitting conflict. The interaction dealt with the issue of strategic policies vis-a-vis Russia, the question of strategic autonomy, issue-based multi-alignment among other pertinent questions.
The lecture event was attended by officials of Government of Assam, faculty members and students of different universities and colleges located in and around Guwahati, and persons from media. The lecture unfolded several pertinent issues and areas concerning the subject and provided valuable insights in understanding the lingering conflict having cross-national implications.
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