Over twenty civilians have lost their lives since June 2010 in a series of clashes with the paramilitary and police deployed in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. Situated at the core of the conflict between India and Pakistan, the state has seen a violent insurgency over the last twenty years costing tens of thousands of casualties, as well as destroyed the economy and institutions of self-governance in the state. The current protests show that although the armed insurgency might be over a highly securitised state structure finds it difficult to deal with the demands of a civilian population. Read more

Regional blocks have been an instrument of capitalizing on benefits of reduced costs and increased cooperation for a peaceful and harmonious neighbourhood. Starting from the late 1970’s the world saw an increase of the regional groupings especially following the example of the European Union.

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Amidst all the cultural, geographical, historical, linguistic heterogeneity that define democratic India, balancing competing interests has always proved to be a formidable challenge. One particular issue has been of determining state boundaries. India’s fourth largest state of Andhra Pradesh has been the battleground for demands of separation of its sub-region Telangana since the 1940s. Read more