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To read an article on Sri Lankan Presidential Election by Ms Ancy Joseph, Research Assistant, CSA click here

Latest Publication- Emerging Challenges to Energy Security in the Asia Pacific. Click here for details

The International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND) was established by the Australian and Japanese Governments to contribute to the global effort against nuclear proliferation and to build new momentum towards disarmament. Lt. Gen. (Retd) V.R. Raghavan, President, CSA is an Advisor and Consultant to the Commission. To read more click here

Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan on Peace-Building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka addressed the Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2009. You can read his address here.

Read the Bulletin ' on Japan and Asian Security and India as a Superpower

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Recent Events

Roundtable Discussion
Review of British Strategy in Afghanistan
Current Political Developments in Sri Lanka
December 2, 2009

Since the Obama Administration took office in early 2009, there have been several discussions and debates about the new administration's approach towards Afghanistan and the region's security and what steps key US allies such as the United Kingdom will take. Against the backdrop of the steadily diminishing legitimacy of the Afghanistan government, increasing corruption and the unpopularity of the Western military presence within NATO countries, the strategies of the US and the UK have been viewed critically by several scholars and strategic thinkers. CSA held a roundtable discussion with Mr. Nigel Casey, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Delhi and Mr. Mike Nithaviranakis, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Southern India on December 2, 2009. The diplomats discussed the situation in Afghanistan and UK's approach to the changing security environment and the challenges ahead in the region. The select audience at the discussion also had the opportunity to listen to Mr. N. Sathiyamoorthy's (Director, ORF Chennai Chapter) review and assessment of the political developments in Sri Lanka

Public Lecture
The Obama Administration: New Faces, Debates and Trends in US Foreign Policy
October 15, 2009

"The Obama Administration is continuing the Bush Administration’s focus on a good relationship with India, as well as China, in recognition of the shift in economic dynamics toward Asia." noted Dr. Rodney Jones, who is a Program Officer for USIP, Washington DC. Talking at a Public Lecture titled "The Obama Administration: New Faces, Debates and Trends in the U.S. Foreign Policy" organized by CSA and U.S. Consulate General, Chennai on Thursday, October 15, 2009, Dr Jones, discussed the US Af-Pak strategy. He felt that the US should not appear to be dithering in its strategy as it would "essentially (encourage) your enemies to work harder against you” dismissed concerns about the willingness of the Obama Administration to uphold the Indo-U.S. Nuclear Deal and said that it will be implemented in its entirety, without any dilution. Mr R. Swaminathan, IPS (Retd), President and DG, International Institute of Security and Safety Management, New Delhi gave an Indian perspective on Obama’s foreign policy. He noted that due to the new Presidency in the US and its change in approach towards war and international security issues, peoples and governments around the world were feeling better about the US and its President. However, the US sponsorship of the UNSC Resolution seeking to dilute the terms of the bilateral US-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation agreement raised doubts about the credibility of the bilateral agreements signed by the US. He stressed on the commonalities and convergence of interest between US and India and noted that this relationship can flourish irrespective of requirements imposed by their respective relations with China and Pakistan.

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Panel Discussion
Global Nuclear Disarmament: Opportunities and Challenges
September 4, 2009

For nearly twenty years the issue of nuclear disarmament lay dormant even as several efforts were made such as the Canberra Commission and WMD Commission. This was also the period when nuclear threats were understood as emanating from States. The reality of 9/11 brought to fore the threat of non-state actors. Understanding the behaviour of irrational individuals with nuclear weapons as opposed to states with nuclear weapons became a challenge. As a result a new cycle of ideas has emerged today pioneered by George Schultz, William Perry, Henry Kissinger and Sam Nunn (popularly known as the 'four horsemen'). These four statesmen have began to highlight the importance of reviving nuclear disarmament and more specifically the leadership that the United States should take in bringing the world to a 'Global Zero" in terms of nuclear weapons. In discussing and exploring the opportunities and challenges to global disarmament, The Centre for Security Analysis and the Delhi Policy Group organized a panel discussion on Global Nuclear Disarmament: Opportunities and Challenges in Chennai on September 4, 2009. Three eminent scholars, Lt. Gen, (Retd.) V. R. Raghavan, Amb. Satish Chandra and Prof. Rajesh Rajagopalan, participated. Noting the importance of the international community in concertedly addressing the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, the panel also recognized that disarmament is not a simple process and is fraught with challenges as no country would like to be in a disadvantageous position. As a result, what we need now is the political will of states with nuclear weapons and more specifically the United States and Russia. Another important point that the panel raised was that the talks on nuclear disarmament should also include reduction of conventional arms.

Seminar
From Winning the War to Winning the Peace: Post War Rebuilding of the Society in Sri Lanka
August 28-29, 2009

“Peace is not a relationship of nations. It is a condition of mind brought about by a serenity of soul. Peace is not merely the absence of war. It is also a state of mind. Lasting peace can come only to peaceful people.” said Sri Lanka' s Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe at the Seminar “From Winning the War to Winning Peace: Post Conflict Rebuilding of the Society in Sri Lanka" organized by the Centre for Security Analysis and the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies in Colombo on 28-29 August 2009. Delivering the Keynote address, the Minister delved on the important challenges that the Government faces in rehabilitation and resettlement, and said that "it is necessary that we give these [Tamil] people the freedoms that are the right of people in all other parts of the country. Similarly, it is necessary that the political solutions they need should be brought closer to them faster than any country or Government in the world would bring. However, it cannot be an imported solution. It is necessary that we find a solution that is our very own. It should be a solution acceptable to all sections of the people"

The subsequent sessions at the seminar addressed three dimensions of the post war situation in Sri Lanka- namely economic reconstruction, socio-ethnic cohesion and political accommodation- with an aim to highlight the immediate, medium term and long term measures that would benefit policy makers and civil society leaders in Sri Lanka. The proceedings of the seminar will be published as an edited volume.

Click here to read the full speech by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe. To see the seminar programme click here.

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Conference
Peace and Conflict Resolution: Emerging Ideas
August 1, 2009

"Anger and hatred, arguments and differences, rivalries and quarrels are not inherited or innate. They are learned and they are learned because they are taught. Children who see hate, learn hate and those who see sharing and love, will learn sharing and love" said Mr. Wilf Wilkinson, Past Rotary International President at the conference organized by Rotary International District 3230 in collaboration with the Centre for Security Analysis (CSA) and the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) on 1st August 2009. Mr. Wilkinson who was the Chief Guest at the Conference conferred Rotary's Lifetime Achievement Award on Mr. S.C. Chandrahasan, Founder, Organization for Eelam Refugee Rehabilitation (OfERR). Mr. Chandrahasan accepted the honor on behalf of the 540 volunteer full time workers of OfERR and said that it was "an appreciation of a vision, a vision of hope which necessitates that we work for peace". The other dignitaries at the conference were Mr. M. J. Akbar, who delivered the keynote address and Dr. Volker Bauer from HSF who explained the mission of his organization and its aim to support a discourse on conflict resolution. Lt. Gen. (Retd.) V. R. Raghavan, President, CSA introduced the conference themes to the audience. In his concluding remarks the General noted that peace today is enabled by the civil society, communities and an engaged citizenry who are more aware today than ever before. "Our children know much more than we knew at their age and they will be the builders of peace". He asserted that anything that we can do to enable them to understand the dynamics of peace and conflict resolution will be the harbinger of peace in the years to come. Click here to access the Conference Programme. The proceedings of the seminar will soon be published as an edited volume.

For details of more events click here