Comment 242 – The West and Xi – South Asia’s blind spot
The masterpiece by Pierre Ryckmans (under the pen name of Simon Leys), originally written in French (1971) under the title ‘Chairman Mao’s new clothes’, was widely despised by the French intelligentsia in academia, press and politics at the time of its publication. This was so fundamentally because it contradicted...
5 ESSENTIAL TRUTHS FROM ‘PARASITE’ – F87
A note to us, European Academics and Policy Makers
Abstract
This article is a note to European academics and policy makers involved in world affairs. It uses the South Korean movie ‘Parasite’ (Joon-ho, 2019) as an analogy to make a few comments, with a slight emphasis on Bangladeshi realities.
The movie in...
SADF Webinar Series – Why Goa matters to theory
https://youtu.be/pt2wSAA4hr4
On 22 July 2020, the South Asia Democratic Forum hosted in its Webinar Series, Dr Jason Keith Fernandes from the University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE-IUL) who talked on ‘Why Goa matters to theory’. The webinar was moderated by SADF’s Executive Director Mr Paulo Casaca.
Dr Fernandes explained how Goa offers...
SADF observes Bangladesh Election 2024
BANGLADESH TWELFTH PARLIAMENTARY ELECTONS 2024
Short Report 08 January 2024
The South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF) responded to a call for an expression of interest to observe the convening of the 12th national elections of Bangladesh held on 07 January 2024. SADF formed a team of observers that attended the elections....
SADF Activities Programme 2022
Introduction
The control of Kabul and the whole of Afghanistan by the Taliban was the most important political development in South Asia (and arguably in the entire world) in 2021. Its impact is perpetuated in the present year.
The Resolute Support Strategic Assessment Capability sponsored by NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers...
COMMENT 171 – Does the US-Taliban deal serve Pakistan’s interests in Afghanistan?
On February 29, 2020, in Doha, after one year of direct negotiations between the US and the Afghan Taliban, an agreement to end the fighting between two of the major combatants in the multi-actor Afghan war was signed. It is publicly acknowledged by the parties involved that Pakistan played...
Global Friends of Afghanistan
https://www.globalfriendsofafghanistan.org/bios
FOCUS 60 – The Untold tale of an unending border
Abstract
This piece is an attempt to delve deep into the root causes of the Indo China Border dispute through the use of History and bring out some of the lesser known facts in this longest boundary dispute. This is an issue which has its roots as much in the...
COMMENT 149 – On the Asian Century, Pax Sinica & Beyond (IV): ...
Two recent events in Bangladesh moved Dhaka’s ties with Beijing - and Chinese investments in the country - to the forefront of a growing public debate. The first subject regards the violent clash last month between Chinese and Bangladesh workers engaged in the building of the $2.5 billion Patuakhali...
SADF NEWSLETTER 5 – Call For Action to FREE SHAHRIAR KABIR
In the words of Dr. Ryhan Rashid (from our podcast on 17.01.25): ‘Let me tell you about Shahriar Kabir. Shahriar Kabir has spent his whole life fighting for a secular society, fighting for minority rights, demanding justice for genocide, fending against the rise of religious extremism in Bangladesh. But...