All Things Policy
Episodes
Ep. 217: Why is China Powerful?
06 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Takshashila researchers Manoj Kewalramani, Anirudh Kanisetti and Shibani Mehta unpack our latest research: a report to India's Parliament about China'...
Ep. 216: The Tragedy of the Trans Bill
05 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Transgender Persons Bill that has been passed by Parliament has been widely decried by activists, but met with societal and political indifference...
Ep. 215: Talking Nukes with Vipin Narang
04 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Are new developments eroding the credibility of India’s no first use policy? Is North Korea going to spark a crisis in the new year? In this episode...
Ep. 214: Extinguishing the Crop Burning Problem
03 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Annual stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is a major cause of pollution in North India and a serious public health crisis. While the problem is wel...
Ep. 213: The Primacy of Bengaluru?
02 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do hi-tech industries create regionally unbalanced development? If so, is it a problem governments can address? In this episode, Pranay Kotasthane and...
Ep. 212: Russia’s Military Renaissance
29 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The post-Soviet military of Russia has evolved into a fighting force for the 21st century. How has Russia achieved this and how do the Russians spend ...
Ep. 211: Algorithms at War
28 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What do dolphins, artificial intelligence, and brain-machine interfaces have to tell us about the future of war? Manoj Kewalramani, Anirudh Kanisetti,...
Ep. 210: China’s Undersea Adventures
27 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How does China plan to use its expanding submarine fleet? And what does it mean for India? Aditya Ramanathan, Pranav RS and Suyash Desai dive into the...
Ep. 209: Reading The Economist: From East Asian Politics to Technology Prejudices
26 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The US-South Korea alliance is on shaky ground. China is looking to expand its nuclear arsenal. The parallels between Sri Lankan and Indian politics. ...
Ep. 208: Auditing India’s Foreign Policy
25 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s Ramnath Goenka Lecture last week was hailed by some as a landmark speech. But did it really lay out a new ...
Ep. 207: New Thinking on Old Nukes
22 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Since the first mushroom cloud erupted over Hiroshima, there’s been a strong belief that nukes have fundamentally changed international politics. Bu...
Ep. 206: China’s Awful Secret
21 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A New York Times report based on leaked internal Chinese documents sheds fresh light on the unprecedented crackdown on ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. ...
Ep. 205: Toot or Dare
20 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Why have Indian Twitter users started moving to Mastodon? What is the so-called Fediverse, and will it replace Twitter? Utkarsh Narain, Anirudh Kanise...
Ep. 204: Reading the Economist: From Warships to Netflix
19 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
An unwieldy coalition is set to rule Spain but will it last? What good are aircraft carriers in today’s world? How are online platforms like Netflix...
Ep. 203: India’s Genome Project
18 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The IndiGen project will map genes across India's ethnic groups to discover clinically actionable genetic information. Shambhavi Naik, Pranay Kotastha...
Ep. 202: Forever Young
15 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
New technologies are pushing the boundaries of how long humans beings can lead healthy lives. In this episode, Manoj Kewalramani, Shambhavi Naik, and ...
Ep. 201: The Real Nehru
14 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Was Jawaharlal Nehru a starry-eyed foreign policy optimist? Did he have a more realist strategy than we like to think? And how did his actions shape t...
Ep. 200: Can We Stop A Climate Disaster?
13 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How will climate change transform societies and economies? What solutions do we have ready right now? Australian climate change scholar Prof Tim Flann...
Ep. 199: The Looming Shadow of Nuclear Weapons
12 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Why are nuclear arms control agreement between the US and Russia falling apart or under pressure? What new dangers do they pose? And what can be done ...
Ep. 198: The Politics of Afghanistan: The Elections
11 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How is the post-election politics shaping up in Afghanistan? What is the prospect of peace after the Presidential elections in September? Pranay Kotas...
Ep. 197: The Counterinsurgency Puzzle and the Utilities of Force
08 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How should great powers support local governments fighting insurgencies? And is the Indian Army’s Cold Start doctrine still relevant? In this episod...
Ep. 196: Assuring Retaliation: Why India's Nuclear No-First-Use Doctrine Makes Sense
07 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Dr Manpreet Sethi, distinguished fellow at the Centre for Air Power Studies, tells Aditya Ramanathan and Pranav RS why nuclear no-fir...
Ep. 195: Keepin’ it Real: Realism in Indian Foreign Policy
06 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What is realism in international relations? Where are the Indian realists? And what do they think of the India-China relationship? Prof. Rajesh Rajago...
Ep. 194: China and the Bomb
05 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
China’s nuclear arsenal has evolved and expanded since its first nuclear test in 1964. In this episode, Sankalp Gurjar talks to Pranav RS and Suyash...
Ep. 193: Predictably Indian
04 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Standard economic wisdom tells you people are self-interested, rational actors. But behavioural science says otherwise. How can we better understand t...
Ep. 192: India's Military Options Against China
01 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A new paper has made some interesting recommendations for how India's armed forces can manage the challenge from China. But are they feasible? General...
Ep. 191: Digital Africa
31 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In the last two decades, Africa has seen extraordinary leaps in access to mobile phones, sparking an IT revolution across the continent. Andre-Michel ...
Ep. 190: Cameras and Control
30 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As CCTVs become more ubiquitous in Indian cities and facial recognition algorithms become more advanced, we may be moving towards a world where techno...
Ep. 189: India’s Afghan Conundrum
25 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With an election in limbo and uncertain peace talks, Afghanistan’s long war could pack some surprises for India. In this special episode, Nitin Pai ...
Ep. 188: Xi, Modi and the Prospects for India-China Relations
24 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The informal summit in Mamallapuram between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping may have generated photo ops, but does it provide a ...
Ep. 187: The Moral Dilemmas of IVF
23 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In the recent past, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or assisted reproductive technologies has enabled women of older age to bear children. What are the e...
Ep. 186: Reading the Economist: From Hungarian Politics to Japanese Royals
22 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Viktor Orbán’s setback in Budapest; Japan’s Naruhito faces royal restrictions; psychedelics could treat depression; and China’s uncomfortable t...
Ep. 185: War on the Roof of the World
21 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The 1962 war with China scarred India and had a lasting impact on its politics. But why did the war break out? How did the world react? And are there ...
Ep. 184: The Missiles of October: The Lessons of the Cuban Missile Crisis
18 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week, 57 years ago a crisis broke out in the Caribbean that brought the world closest its ever been to all-out nuclear war. In this episode, Shib...
Ep. 183: Military Revolutions and the Future of War
17 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How do countries think about revolutionary changes in the character of war? In this episode, Manoj Kewalramani, Pranav RS, and Aditya Ramanathan debat...
Ep. 182: The Military Pensions Dilemma: Investing in Human Capital
16 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Nearly 25% of India’s defence expenditure for this year will be used to service the pension bill. Is this sustainable? And how does it impact modern...
Ep. 181: Reading the Economist: Smart Cars, Inflation, and Russia
15 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Will China have autonomous cars before the West? Is inflation no longer a worry for emerging markets? And why are the EU and Russia patching up now? M...
Ep. 180: A Peculiar Alliance: The China-Pakistan Alliance
14 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sweeter than honey and higher than the mountains-that’s how China and Pakistan describe their relationship. But what really drives it? Is it just ab...
Ep. 179: A Meeting in Mamallapuram: Xi Visits India
11 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Is the informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping an empty gesture or a valuable diplomatic initiative? Our China w...
Ep. 178: Eastern Promises: Why Does the India-Bangladesh Relationship Matter?
10 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Delhi and Dhaka signed several agreements during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent visit, despite concerns about issues like the NRC. Shambhavi ...
Ep. 177: The Fake News Conundrum: Singapore’s Gambit
09 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Singapore's anti-fake news law took effect on October 02. Shibani Mehta, Rohan Seth, and Utkarsh Narain talk about what such laws might mean for free ...
Ep. 176: China’s Web of Influence and Power
07 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Much has been written about Chinese influence operations undermining democracies and impacting academic freedoms. In this episode, Manoj Kewalramani t...
Ep. 175: The Geopolitics of Online Worlds: What MMOs teach us about Economics and Politics
04 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The astonishing multiplayer world of Eve Online allows players to build, trade, become politicians, and wage war on each other. In this episode, Aniru...
Ep. 174: Fighting Together: Joint Operations in the Armed Forces
03 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Is military jointness good? Or should each service should be allowed to formulate its own strategy? Are there any lessons for India from the military ...
Ep. 173: Getting Back on Track: Improving India’s Railway Network
02 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Railway Board Chairman has recently announced plans to allow 150 private trains into the railway network. What really needs to be done to improve ...
Ep. 172: India's Economic Dilemmas: How to Fix the Slowdown
01 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
India's economy is in doldrums, but the way out is unclear. Nitin Pai and Anupam Manur join Pranay Kotasthane to discuss the options, from sweeping re...
Ep. 171: The Promise and Tragedy of China: 70 Years of the People’s Republic
30 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The People's Republic of China is celebrating its 70th anniversary on October 1st, 2019. Manoj Kewalramani and Suyash Desai talk to Pranay Kotasthane ...
All Things Policy is Moving to IVM Podcasts!
27 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Hello there! Thank you so much for tuning in to A…
Cryptocurrency Explained
27 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We all know what cryptocurrency is and how it can…
On Killer Robots and Partisan Bubbles
26 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Will lethal autonomous weapon systems make future…
A Climate Emergency: Policy Implications and Plausible Solutions
25 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The UN General Assembly has been debating climate…
Reading The Economist: The Perils of Climate Change
24 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What's happening in the world with changing clima…
Howdy Prime Minister?: Modi visits the United States
23 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Prime Minister Modi kicked off his week-long visi…
An Engine of Growth Sputters
20 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With India's automobile industry skidding off the…
Art Of The Deal In Kabul: A Businessman in Afghanistan
19 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With US-Taliban talks frozen for now, what will i…
Setting the Desert on Fire: Attack on Saudi Oil
18 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Last week's attack on Saudi oil facilities highli…
Reading The Economist: Immortality, Huawei And Apple
17 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Has Huawei made a peace offering to the US? Is Si…
Libra Raj?
16 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How much power does the newly announced digital c…
India's Podcasting Adventures
13 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What is it like to be a podcaster in India? Our o…
Speedy Redressal: Massive Fines and Road Safety
12 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How would a smart policymaker tackle the problems…
An Indian Trade Dilemma: RCEP and its Future
11 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Negotiations for the massive Asia-Pacific trade d…
Reading The Economist: Assad, AI and Mugabe
10 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Why does Bashar al-Asad’s regime have a new lease…
Space, Incorporated: Private players and Indian space policy
09 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Indian regulations actively discourage private sp…
The Future of Humanity
06 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For the first time in history, humanity can take …
On Nukes and Bystanders
05 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How does China coerce without nuclear weapons? Wi…
No Smoking: Banning E-Cigarettes in India
04 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The government has a draft ordinance proposing a …
Reading The Economist
03 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What explains the spurt in national airlines in A…
Political Resilience and the Chalukyas: Lessons from 11th Century India
30 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How and why do some polities endure, while others…
On Nations and Power
29 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Does Iran’s space programme have a military purpo…
Reading the Economist
28 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What is the role of private corporations in socie…
RBI's Massive Transfer
27 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The RBI recently transferred its excess reserves …
How China Wins Without Fighting
26 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
China's "whole of nation" approach to statecraft …
Distance from Delhi: The experience of being in Bangalore
23 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What’s it like for policy wonks to work in Bengal…
Financing India's Defence
22 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The cabinet has approved changes that will allow …
India Needs a Chief of Defence Staff
21 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi…
India's Russia Conundrum
20 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Why does Russia do as Russia does? Anirudh Kanise…
India's Economic Slump: The indicators and possible solutions
19 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Various indicators strongly suggest India’s econo…
A Medieval Trade War
16 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The 21st century isn't the first time China has b…
The Future of Jammu and Kashmir: The Way Forward
14 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What does the dramatic transformation of Jammu an…
Reading The Economist: Currency wars, space debris and microeconomics
13 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A brewing Sino-US currency war, the challenge of …
Bartering Privacy? The death of privacy and data analogies
09 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Privacy is dying. But can we use data as a bargai…
Decoding The Chinese Art Of Strategy
08 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
From Confucius and Sun Tzu to Han Fei Zi, China h…
The Clash Of The Titans: The Trade War in China's Perspective
08 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode, Manoj Kewalramani and Su…
Reading the Economist
06 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The burning Arctic, how China pursues diplomatic …
The Wealth Of Nations
05 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What does the evolution of China's political econ…
The Twilight of Arms Control: The End of the INF Treaty
02 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Cold War-era INF Treaty died this week. In it…
Politics of Afghanistan: Talking to the Taliban
01 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode on Politics of Afghanistan, Anand…
Witnessing China's Transformation
31 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On this special episode, Manoj Kewalramani and Su…
Reading the Economist
30 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
BoJo's plans to make Britain Great, Trump devalui…
Shaking up the Labour Market: Andhra Pradesh and its new labour reforms
29 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Andhra is seeking to reserve jobs for locals, whi…
The Death of Privacy: AI and Privacy concerns
26 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial intelligence poses a mortal threat to …
China's Military Ambitions: The New Defense White Paper
25 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
China has released its first Defense White Paper …
DNA Dilemmas: Genome Catalogue in India
24 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With India's ambitious plans to catalogue human g…
Ending an Estrangement?
23 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Does Imran Khan's meeting with Donald Trump on Mo…
Pacific Ream: China’s Naval Base in Cambodia
22 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
China has reportedly struck a secret deal to set …
Do these Genes Fit? DNA testing and congenital diseases
19 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As DNA testing becomes cheaper, more countries an…
The French Digital Tax: A new headache for tech giants?
18 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Is France's recently announced the GAFA (Google,A…
Parched Nation: Solving India's Water Crisis
17 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
India can manage its chronic water crisis. But do…
Reading The Economist: Annoyed Penguins, Global Recession and Happiness
16 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do travelers in Antarctica annoy penguins? Is the…
Sri Lanka's Uncomfortable SOFA: United States in Indian Ocean
15 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A political storm is brewing in Sri Lanka over mi…