Globalization, as Anthony Giddens has defined, is the intensification of the worldwide social relations which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice—versa. Often perceived to be a present age phenomenon, globalization has been happening for centuries. It is intricately linked with trade dealings, whether in 1st century owing to the silk-road mechanism or in 16th century with the emergence of capitalism. It has encouraged free trade agreements between nations, development of multinational corporations, and a network for free flow of goods across the globe. This trans-national flow […]
Author: Apurvaa Pandey
Apurvaa is a double Masters in Journalism and Development Studies. She holds a BA Honors in Sociology from the University of Delhi. Currently, working as content strategist in a public relations firm, she has worked with the government and inter-government bodies. Apurvaa specializes in public affairs, sustainability and development; and from time to time contributes to foreign affairs publications. Additionally she is a regular blogger on LinkedIn and also holds a PG degree in United Nations Agencies from the IFUNA- World Federation of United Nations Association.
Impact of Climate Change on Migration
Usually, migration is understood as a movement of people, in context of various social, economic or political developments. All of which though true, discount the role of environment in larger scheme of things here. From time immemorial, the dynamics of society have been deeply engraved by the climatic dispositions of the environment. Whether it is the way one dresses, what one eats or for that matter even the way a deceased would be put to rest— in other words, local culture is deeply influenced by the environmental forces. Often, migration is thought to have stemmed from the quagmire of non-development. […]
Migration & Geopolitics
Migration crisis has been trending across the continents today, with Europe being the most visible and calamitous to a certain extent. Migration as such in itself is deeply intertwined with geopolitics— an arena where it brings out the political and geographical factors at play. It also brings out the various ambiguities, inconsistencies in the ideologies or frictions in the very social fabric— which are well expressed through organizational outfits, States or individuals. The very idea of migration as a novel concept in contemporary times is at odds with the global history of colonization, trade, employment etc. This phenomenon can be […]
Opium and Geopolitics
Opium poppies have been of much value to the world since the neo—lithic age. Today though it acts as a gargantuan ulcer in the belly of the very earth, dismantling regimes and transforming the power dynamics. It has the ability to support both—State and Non-State actors. If earlier, they were cultivated for food, anesthesia, and ritual purposes today it is a powerful mechanism for the transfer and control of wealth, power, terror and governance. This is especially true in Asia and Europe with the famed drug—led “Opium Wars” between Britain and China. Back in the 19th century, the balance of […]
Space Race and its Geopolitical Bearings
The race to be first in any field has rendered the environment, earth or space, as a battleground for all nations. Space explorations have indeed created a possibility for States to colonize not just the earth but the entire solar system. As the human society advances so does its technological abilities. Earlier we had government space programs, but today we have large corporates investing and betting big on this industry. Whether its Cassini Orbiter, which gave us an ephemeral view of the Saturn, its rings and its moons or the latest —NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, which will be the first […]
Environmental Geopolitics in 21st Century
Globalization has rendered the mankind at a disjuncture between traditional geopolitical specifications— spatial or territorial— and the new age political landscape, which is more material than moral in context of economics, society and environment. This has led to rising concerns about natural resource depletion, global warming, climate change, wildlife extinction, space colonization, rising sea levels, droughts, floods, destruction of natural habitats like forests and coral reefs etc. Mankind has definitely taken the fate in his own hands- where gluttony has taken over governance. It is interesting then to see how modern school of thought on one hands promotes environment […]
Renewables and the Power Dynamics
The past few years in the world history have been marred with geopolitical volatility. A prominent risk to the geopolitical landscape is energy crisis (including the renewables landscape). It is a proven fact that every international regime, old or modern, is based on an energy resource. While coal and steam backed the British Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries, petroleum and natural gas served as the backdrop for American hegemony from the late 19th to early 21st centuries. With sustainable development and climate change having gained momentum in the last few years, the present times will certainly be looked […]
Energy: A Basic Human Right
Energy is the key element which connects society, politics, and economies to the environment. Without natural resources the mankind would cease to exist. In present times, it is an inalienable part required to run our day—to—day lives seamlessly, particularly in form of electricity. It serves as a catalyst for the growth story of developing societies and economies. This, accompanied by rise in advanced technologies and innovative practices, further adds value to the otherwise constantly evolving standard of living. It ensures upliftment of the society from the clutches of poverty, hunger, water crisis, diseases etc.; along with economic progress and an […]
The Times of ‘Anthropogenic’ Climate Change
In 2007, a team of climate experts presented a case for assuaging the global greenhouse gas emissions, in the Fourth Assessment Report of the International Panel for Climate Change. It elaborated on the impending threats: rising temperatures, change in rainfall patterns, melting of glaciers, rise of global mean sea level among others. 10 years later the reality is no different, albeit concerted efforts on part of global community have been made. Greenhouse gas emission, the primary anti-hero of the climate story, has heightened the global warming through natural or anthropogenic processes. The main sources being increased burning of fossil fuels, Deforestation […]
Oil Market in Climate Change Discourse
The Oil-Price Shocks of 1970s and 80s catalyzed the modern energy policy world over. This time yet again, with environmental concerns gaining prominence and change in geopolitical landscape, global energy space is experiencing a watershed moment. Earlier, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change set a comprehensive, long-tenure objective to control greenhouse-gas emissions and the anthropogenic climate change; and with old players giving strong competition post their comeback in the market- the sector has been subject to tough, if not tumultuous, fluctuations. Additionally, for long, environmentalists had hoped a reversal in natural resource extraction activities, by switching to renewables- but […]