Viswapramod blog

  Psychological tools are often used in the assessment of decision making and policy paradigm of politicians, diplomats and other key decision-makers in the government. So, the political psychology in its essence studies the foundations, dynamics, and outcomes of political behavior using cognitive and social explanations. This discipline engages in the understanding of why political leaders think and behave in a certain manner and the consequences that they unleash in international affairs. Role of Ideology and its implications on decision making: To understand the psychological role, we need to delve into the impact of ideologies and beliefs that nudge the decision making in the international affairs. Ideologies are large, sprawling and complex set of assumptions. People can believe in parts of them while rejecting their other parts. An ideology is a perceptive or theory that aims to improve society or so claims its adherents. Usually ideologies end in “isms”, such as liberali...

After the end of the Second World War, which was formidably won by the Allied powers led by the USA, a new world order was created. This led to the rise of the superpowers USSR and the USA. As the world entered the cold war era, an international arms race picked up at a rocketing pace, where the superpowers of the world developed and acquired the latest weapons, with cutting edge technology. The USA being a hegemonic power in the western democratic world became a leader in military R&D and technology. With this, the national security strategy of the Americans gained new and ambitious dimensions. In 1947 President Henry Truman came up with foreign policy and national security objectives and articulated them extensively in the US congress. It later came to be known as Truman’s doctrine. The key elements of the doctrine were * Active opposition to the Soviet Union worldwide. *The USA had a much bigger and stronger role than Franklin D Roosevelt had ever imagined. * Permanent global US...

  As the world heads towards a neo-hegemonic phase dominated by China and the USA, it becomes an imperative for us to understand and analyse the future of multilateralism. In the contemporary times, the prominent multilateral institutions in the world are gradually losing their significance and relevance, like the United Nations. Inaction by the international institutions, growing discontent for international liberal order, lack of faith in dispute resolution mechanisms of international institutions and the dwindling relativism of International morality are some of the reasons for the decline in the culture of multilateralism in the world. A discussion in the international sphere, especially amongst the European and American powers is taking place with regards to the future that lies in the multilateral institutions. This is happening because of a reversal trend of multilateralism. Due to several infringements and pressure points emerging between Russia, European Union, China and...

Last month, Pakistan released its “so called” aspirational National Security policy document, in which it has attempted to project itself in a new dimension to the external world, by seemingly attempt give itself a new direction in pursuance of its national security objectives and its geopolitical Interests. Although there is no roadmap towards the execution of this policy, this gives us a sense of covert lament and appeal of the Pakistanis to a global audience to save its economic travesty which is well known to everyone. It’s perhaps a tacit acknowledgment of the fact that its highly turbulent internal developments are damaging the external relationships of Pakistan. The Key points of its national security policy are;  Economy is said to be at the core of the policy, with claims of economic resilience and vibrant economy with a geostrategic location.  It calls for opening up of trade and Investments with India.  Its foreign affairs section has been divided into five parts 1...

 In the Middle East, Qatar has been acquiring a very significant role in the past few years, often for its geostrategic significance and sometimes infamously for its institutional terror linkages. A year ago the sanctions imposed by GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) accusing Qatar of funding terror organizations and excessive media intervention, were lifted. Its role in Afghanistan was really a game changer. For more than a decade now, it has provided an international and diplomatic base to the Taliban, in its county. It has hosted and facilitated the US-Taliban peace deal, which led to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. It is quite evident that Qatar has managed to emerge from its isolation and assert its place in not just the regional environment, but also in the global power dynamics. Recently the United States has designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally. This move clearly has paved way for a greater security co-operation and investments at a time when President Joe Biden is se...