Papers by Abhishek Choudhary
Decolonizing Environmental Politics: Relationality and Cosmopraxis in the Sundarbans Region, Bangladesh
Asian Politics & Policy, 2025
The paper seeks to bridge the gap between environmental policy formulation and actual practices o... more The paper seeks to bridge the gap between environmental policy formulation and actual practices of the Sundarbans region in Bangladesh through a metatheoretical intervention within a decolonial framework. Ontologically, it foregrounds relationality and examines the implication of such ontological position. Epistemologically, the paper advocates standpoint epistemologies. With an effort to decolonize environmental governance, the paper specifically focusses on the epistemic erasures of traditional resource users in the Sundarbans. It engages with the ways in which specific communities engage with the mangrove forest ecosystem. Methodologically, the paper borrows the framework of Hybrid/Plural Climate Studies and Cosmopraxis. Cosmopraxis has the potential of countering epistemic erasures done by modernity and colonization of the lifeworld. Empirically, the paper examines the case of select communities in the Sundarbans, Bangladesh where their reciprocal and relational engagement with the nature goes beyond spirituality and shows an implicit presence of cosmopraxis.
Indian Studies Review, 2024
The term Halal has religious roots but Halal Economy has emerged as a powerful political and iden... more The term Halal has religious roots but Halal Economy has emerged as a powerful political and identity question in political discourse. With the rise in identity consciousness and its global manifestations due to fast and intense communication networks, the term has acquired a significant political lexicon for mobilization and assertion of Islamic identity across the world. The people of Islamic faith have started looking for Halal products not only in Islamic countries but in non-Islamic countries too. This has given birth to a new kind of de-secularization of the market which so far was bereft of such tendencies. The quest, demands and emphasis for Halal products have forced the market to make such products available for the customers. This has helped in Islamization of the market and consolidation of the Islamic identity. But at the same time, it also has generated counter-reactions amongst the non-Islamic populace which has gradually started not just opposing it but also looking for similar symbols in their religion and culture which could emerge as counter to the Islamization of the market. The demand for the Swastik symbols in India is aimed at and attuned to the same. This paper examines its historical evolution and analyses how and why there has been rising demand for Halal products and how it has given rise to opposition of such intervention in the market.
Springer, 2018
Global justice is a theoretical stand that addresses the issue of just distribution of benefits a... more Global justice is a theoretical stand that addresses the issue of just distribution of benefits and burdens across the world and looks at the viability of the institutions required to secure such a just distribution.
Indian Studies Review, 2024
Through its creative engagement with representation, the 'aesthetic approach' in International Re... more Through its creative engagement with representation, the 'aesthetic approach' in International Relations (IR) not only promotes political discourse but also awakens a profound awareness of our world's realities in an innovative and far-reaching way. This paper attempts to explain the interplay of aesthetics, performativity, and soft power projection focusing on Bollywood's role in shaping India's impact in South Asia. The paper reflects the broader geocultural concept of India beyond its mere 'territorialized' idea, which tended to intensify particularly after globalization. Theoretically, enfolding a constructivist approach in IR, which underscores the social construction of reality and the significance of ideas, beliefs, and identities in contouring international relations, it analyzes two Bollywood movies: "Pardes" and "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge". It explores how these cinematic productions lay symbolic representation, retention of cultural practices, and values that reflect the strategic autonomy of India while preserving diplomatic ties globally. Methodologically, by engaging with themes of tradition, modernity, and diaspora, the paper uses discourse analysis to examine how Bollywood has influenced the maneuvering of India's soft power in its foreign policy discourse by fostering unity and familiarity among audiences.
Indian Studies Review, 2024
India has always been the embodiment of cultural heritage and stands tall as a testament to the r... more India has always been the embodiment of cultural heritage and stands tall as a testament to the resilience and diversity of its true multicoloured culture and traditions. India's extensive cultural heritage, ranging from the profound spiritual teachings of ancient texts such as the Vedas, Mahabharata, and Ramayana, to the intricate artistry of classical dance forms like Bharatnatyam and Kathakali, as well as diverse religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, has collectively woven a rich tapestry of history, tradition, and innovation. India has harnessed its rich cultural heritage for centuries to constructively cultivate and fortify relationships with neighboring and other nations. A deep, longstanding cultural and historical bond connects India to the countries of South and Southeast Asia, stemming from ancient trade networks, religious interactions, and cultural exchanges. The paper serves as an introduction to various aspects related to India's culture-based foreign policy in South and Southeast Asia.
Global justice is a theoretical stand that addresses the issue of just distribution of benefits a... more Global justice is a theoretical stand that addresses the issue of just distribution of benefits and burdens across the world and looks at the viability of the institutions required to secure such a just distribution.
Personality, Cognition and International Negotiations: The Case of The Simla Agreement
World affairs: The Journal of International Issues, 2016
The role of cognition and emotion in international negotiations has been largely ignored and is t... more The role of cognition and emotion in international negotiations has been largely ignored and is typically considered a psychological variable. It is however an important factor when looking at the processes of international negotiations and the case of the Simla Agreement between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the 1971 war alludes to this argument. Its perceived successes/failures are indicative of the role of cognition acting between the two sides during and after negotiations. Cognition and emotion are central to an individual's behaviour towards his environment and personal individual traits play a decisive role in shaping negotiating processes. This paper analyses literature based on exploratory methodology and highlights the psychological aspect underpinning the Simla Agreement. The data for research are mainly drawn from secondary sources including extant literature, newspaper articles and reports.
Book Review: Poverty and the Millenium Development Goals: A Critical Forward68.1438 CimadamoreAlberto D.; KOEHLER Gabriele; POGGE, Thomas, eds. — Poverty and the Millenium Development Goals: A Critical Forward (Zed Books, 2016). Political Studies Review15(4), Nov. 2017: 648–649
International Political Science Abstracts, 2018
Jadavpur Journal of International Relations, 2018
The article argues in favor of the concept of justice as a foundational norm of global politics. ... more The article argues in favor of the concept of justice as a foundational norm of global politics. It looks at the puzzle that why order is preferred over justice. The disregard toward justice is seen as a tool of convenience for fulfilling hegemonic aspirations and avoiding any normative commitment. The order versus justice debate has been in the discipline for long, where different theoretical tradition has offered differing preferences. The article takes a critical–theoretical viewpoint and argues for a more active involvement with the notion of justice to have a humane understanding of international politics. It challenges the cosmopolitan idea of global justice as being a mere reflection of hegemony. The theories of justice rooted in liberalism end up providing another set of meta-narrative. The prescription, thus, is against the creation of a world government. Instead, it argues for installing an ethical and emancipatory dimension to the project.
Contemporary South Asia, 2018
Human Rights Review, 2018
Tolerance, Secularization and Democratic Politics in South Asia
Tolerance, Secularization and Democratic Politics in South Asia, 2018
Think India, 2019
The paper analyses the concerns arising from a moral perspective in the context of a renewed arms... more The paper analyses the concerns arising from a moral perspective in the context of a renewed arms race in South Asia. It challenges the idea that possession of nuclear power could in any way contribute to any sort of balance. The emulation of so-called great powers and expecting that balance would arrive as it did in the case of the US and the erstwhile-USSR during cold war is detrimental to the temporal and spatial uniqueness of South Asia. Deterrence, based on rational choice theory, does not apply to the South Asian context due to ambiguity owing to mutual mistrust especially in the case of India and Pakistan. Also, it no longer only sates that are sole actors in the international arena. One cannot expect the non-state actors to behave in a rational manner. Furthermore, the idea of ‘credible minimum deterrence’ itself is questionable as it is a flexible posture adjusted to relative prowess and ambiguity in policy further aggravates the situation. The paper argues from a consequen...
International Studies, 2019
Indian Historical Review, 2017
This is a collection of articles, some published earlier, and revised subsequently, and a few new... more This is a collection of articles, some published earlier, and revised subsequently, and a few new ones, dealing with two broad themes: the Indian tradition of public debate and its role in shaping the 'conceptual structure and practice of Indian democracy'; the other one is woven around the Gandhian approach of conflict resolution based on nonviolence, a much-beaten academic track. Parekh writes on 'Indian Tradition of Public Debate', and neatly sums up the issues with appropriate examples and elaborate explanations. In writing that 'The arrival of Islam and the consolidation from the thirteenth century onwards presented a powerful challenge to the Brahmanic hegemony', Parekh misses out that it was not just the latter but also Buddhism and all other pagan/pluralistic traditions that got severe blows. In reiterating the age-old truth that 'The Muslim manner of invasion and the violence associated with it aroused fear and hostility that were hardly conducive to a dialogue' author rightly exposes the falsehood fabricated by India's 'eminent' public sector historians inspired by the likes of M.N. Roy and Nehru. As for the Sufis, often projected in our official historiography and political-cultural discourse as liberal and tolerant seekers of spiritual enlightenment, Parekh correctly observes that they were indeed driven by the 'desire to convert' as had been observed among others by Rizvi, Eaton and Goel. There are interesting passages on Swami Dayanand, Narmad and Jadunath Maharaj but missing out is Rammohan Roy's seminal Tuhfat-ul Muwahiddin (1804-05), a severe critic of prophetic belief systems.
IAFOR Journal of Politics, Economics & Law, 2016
This paper analyses cosmopolitanism from the lens of biopower. The central argument is that the a... more This paper analyses cosmopolitanism from the lens of biopower. The central argument is that the actual and prospective actions undertaken in the name of upholding cosmopolitan ideals perpetuates biopower. Cosmopolitan ideals here imply the tendency to transcend territorial boundedness. The smokescreen of justice serves to legitimate the narrow self-interest of a few powerful countries. Borrowing the notion of 'bare life' and 'docile bodies', the paper presents the argument that the selective exclusion of certain social and cultural communities transcends domestic polity. It is no longer the case that a sovereign authority in a domestic polity controls and regulates populations. Though there is no sovereign power at the international level, the hegemonic stature achieved by the liberal capitalist model is seen as analogous. The contemporary drives toward fighting with justifications that are rooted in cosmopolitan ideals clearly exemplify such a construction of an enemy by 'othering'. Such actions do not always proceed towards a spatially defined target, but are often directed towards a culturally specific racial other. The contemporary drive for cosmopolitan wars allude to such a reduction of constructed others and perpetuation of ideational hegemony. Though organisations like NATO claim to work under the authorisation of Security Council resolutions, the ultimate outcomes clearly demonstrate a hegemonic aspiration. A certain model of governance -US-style liberal democracy in this case -is seen to be more appropriate than the existing model or other alternate models. The paper, through empirical evidence, confirms the hypothesis that cosmopolitanism helps sustain a model based on biopower.
India's long road: the search for prosperity
International Affairs, 2017
India's economic resurgence has been the subject of many extravagant predictions and hopes. I... more India's economic resurgence has been the subject of many extravagant predictions and hopes. In this powerful and wide-ranging book, distinguished economist Vijay Joshi lays out a penetrating analysis of the shaky foundations of the country's performance, and charts the course that it should follow to achieve widely-shared prosperity. Joshi argues that for India to realize its huge potential, the relation between the state, the market, and the private sector must be comprehensively realigned. Deeper liberalization and more extensive privatisation will be necessary. But they will not suffice to achieve India's economic objectives. The state needs to perform much more effectively many core tasks that belong squarely in its domain. India needs more of the market as well as more of the state. The road India takes will matter not only for the lives of its billion-plus people but also for the course of global economics and politics. In the course of his enquiry, Joshi examines in depth all the critical areas of Indian development policy, including employment and the 'demographic bulge'; investment and productivity; the markets for goods, resources, and finance; macroeconomic stability; public sector banks and enterprises; the infrastructure deficit; social protection and safety nets; education and health care; environmental sustainability; international economic relations; state capacity and accountability; and corruption and crony capitalism. His design for radical reform incorporates a fiscally affordable scheme to provide a regular 'basic income' for all citizens that would speedily abolish extreme poverty. An authoritative work of tremendous scope and depth, India's Long Road will be an essential resource for anyone who wants to know where India is today, where it is headed, and what it should do to attain its ambitions.
Contemporary South Asia, 2017
Books by Abhishek Choudhary
Poverty and Inequality in a Globalising World
Routledge, 2023
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Papers by Abhishek Choudhary
Books by Abhishek Choudhary