ISDP Voices

“Life, if you looked about you, bore no resemblance not only to the lies that streamed out of the telescreens, but even to the ideals that the Party was trying to achieve.” – George Orwell, 1984 In today’s world, freedom of expression is deteriorating in many nations. The V-Dem Democracy 2023 projects this trend (see graph); […]

Iran and Pakistan are neighboring Islamic Republics. Both countries share a border of about 900 kilometers stretching from the Balochistan province of Pakistan to the Sistan-Balochistan province of Iran. On January 16, 2024, Iran surprisingly attacked Pakistan and launched missile and drone strikes into Panjgur town of Balochistan province. As a result of the strikes, two children were killed, […]

French President Emmanuel Macron was in India as a chief guest of the 75th Republic Day celebrations. India celebrates this day to mark the nation’s transition to a republic in 1950 when the Constitution of Independent India was adopted. A French leader being invited as the Guest of Honor for the Indian Republic Day marks […]

On November 3, 2023, the latest film in the Godzilla franchise, Godzilla Minus One, was released in movie theaters across Japan. A resounding success in Japan, the film has also exceeded expectations in America, where it has set box office records for the U.S. release of a live-action Japanese film.   Storytelling on Screen A […]

How are India-China relations poised for 2024? For India and China, passive-aggressive tensions, primarily due to India’s projected global rise and current security-focused bonhomie with the U.S., have certainly shaped the year gone by, as evidenced by Chinese President Xi Jinping ignoring the G20 summit held in India or India intensifying its crackdown on Chinese […]

India landed the leading role on the world stage in 2023, playing host to the G20 Summit in New Delhi  as it took on the Presidency and arguably became the leading voice for the emerging Global South. Last year was one of firsts for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who saw his country overtake China as […]

The United Kingdom has been exploring viable options to partner with like-minded countries as part of its Indo-Pacific Strategy. With the introduction of ‘Tilt to the Indo-Pacific’ in September 2021 under the Boris Johnson Administration, the UK has flagged its interests in the region as part of its post-Brexit foreign policy. The UK’s main interests in the […]

Taiwan’s 2024 presidential election is fast approaching, with its citizens scheduled to go to the polls on January 13. Following several twists and turns in the past few months, the playing field looks to be set with candidates and their respective running mates having formally applied for candidacy. Irrespective of the final outcome, developments ahead […]

The year 2023 has seen significant developments for Finland on the global stage, setting a benchmark for going forward in 2024, a year that also starts with the Presidential elections.  Finland’s foreign and security policy has faced “a historic turn”, as highlighted by Finland’s President, Sauli Niinistö in his New Year’s speech on January 1 itself. Russia’s […]

The objective of providing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for 1 billion people as set by the Triple Billion target may not to be accomplished by 2025. This estimate is a cause of concern as it indicates that many people still struggle to access quality and affordable primary healthcare. The current context of COVID-19, conflicts, climate […]