Global Order

There is a new regime in Nepal with a young politician determined to change the old ways. Balen Shah breakdanced and used social media, and some smart political promises and messaging, to reach the top post in the Himalayan country. Nepal is of great strategic importance to India (and China) and in this essay Dr. Shrabana Barua explains what India could expect in Nepal in coming days. #nepal #balenshah #politics #himalayas #india #china lnkd.in/gY7vzEiY

Ambassador Nirupama Menon Rao (retd.), the former foreign secretary of India, reflects on the distortions that often shape debates on India–Pakistan policy, where outrage eclipses strategy and accusation replaces argument. She makes the case for a feminist foreign policy grounded in deterrence with discipline and engagement without illusion. @NMenonRao globalorder.live/post/the-case-… #India #Pakitan #deterrence #foreignpolicy #feministforeignpolicy #policy

Rajesh Agrawal says the India–UK trade agreements create huge opportunities for a more open service economy, but emphasizes that simply signing them isn’t enough—both countries must actively promote and help businesses on each side take full advantage of these opportunities. Watch the full interview here - youtube.com/watch?v=z7ubLd…

Rajesh Agrawal highlights that during his tenure, London’s tech ecosystem rapidly grew from just a handful of unicorns in 2016 to over 100, driven by combining tech with traditional strengths like finance (FinTech), education (EdTech), and creative industries. He adds that London has become a global hub, even surpassing Hollywood in film production in recent years. Watch the full interview here - youtube.com/watch?v=z7ubLd…

In this episode, host Lakshmi Kaul, Contributing Editor, is in conversation with Rajesh Agrawal, Former Deputy Mayor of London for Business, for a wide-ranging discussion on global politics, economics, technology, and the evolving relationship between India and the United Kingdom. From his journey from Indore to the highest levels of London’s business and policy ecosystem, Rajesh Agrawal shares insights shaped by years of experience in government, trade, and international engagement. The conversation explores how global cities like London are navigating shifting economic and political realities, while continuing to position themselves as hubs for innovation, investment, and talent. A major focus of the discussion is the future of UK–India trade relations, and how both countries can strengthen economic collaboration in an increasingly interconnected world. The conversation also examines jobs, skills, and economic development, highlighting the importance of workforce readiness and inclusive growth in a rapidly changing global economy. The episode further dives into the rise of AI development in India, and the opportunities and challenges it presents for digital inclusion, especially across diverse linguistic and socio-economic contexts. This leads into a deeper reflection on digital colonialism and AI governance, and the need for fair, responsible, and globally aligned frameworks for emerging technologies. Another key theme is UK immigration policy and its impact on the Indian diaspora, particularly in the context of changing global mobility trends and talent flows. The discussion also touches upon the current political climate and perceptions of safety in the UK, offering perspective on how these factors influence confidence, investment, and migration decisions. Watch the full interview here - youtube.com/watch?v=z7ubLd… #indiauk #ukindia #globalpolitics #geopolitics #brexit #londonbusiness #ai #artificialintelligence #digitalindia #digitalinclusion #aigovernance #digitalcolonialism #immigration #indiandiaspora #ukimmigration #globaleconomy #tradrelations #ukindiarelations #leadership #policy #economics #futureofwork #education #globalskills

Bernard Haykel explains why Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders believe the Iranian regime has become an "untenable" neighbor. Characterizing the regime as a regional "arsonist" that uses extortion and military threats, such as attacking ships or firing rockets at skyscrapers, Prof Haykel argues that such instability directly sabotages the Gulf's efforts to diversify their economies and build secure, global hubs like Dubai. Consequently, many Arab nations have concluded that the regime is not a responsible actor and must be significantly weakened to ensure the long-term economic and physical security of the region. Watch the full interview here - youtu.be/00eIrh9jw6Q?si…

Bernard Haykel argues that the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s confidence in toppling the Iranian regime is fueled by an inner circle telling him what he wants to hear. Meanwhile, high-ranking members of the Israeli security establishment warn that the regime is simply too well entrenched to fall, but their warnings are being ignored by the political leadership. He adds that the Iranian regime remains united, heavily armed, and has proven it is willing to use lethal force against its own citizens to maintain power. Watch the full interview here - youtu.be/00eIrh9jw6Q?si…

Bernard Haykel outlines the key dynamics of the ongoing conflict between President Trump and the Iranian regime. He highlights two major variables that will determine the outcome, the first being President Trump’s commitment to the campaign (‘pain threshold’)and the Iranian regime’s true military capabilities (such as the numbers of drones and missiles they have left) which are very opaque. He further adds that Iran has a massive ‘pain threshold’ because its ideology is built entirely around resistance, resilience, and martyrdom. According to Prof Haykel, the regime does not care about the suffering of its own people and believes it can simply wait the war out forever. Despite their rhetoric of outlasting the conflict, Prof Haykel points out the reality that Iran and its infrastructure are being ‘systematically destroyed’, he concludes that while it's unclear how or when they will do it, but if President Trump is willing to keep the pressure on, Iran will eventually be forced to capitulate. Watch the full interview here - youtu.be/00eIrh9jw6Q?si…

Bernard Haykel explains that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other Gulf countries have shifted from neutrality, now allowing the U.S. to use their bases, airspace, and waters in the UAE and Saudi Arabia to attack Iran, contrasting their prior refusals, though it's unclear if they'll join actively with their air forces, special forces, or missiles given limited added value beyond U.S. and Israeli capabilities. Watch the full interview here - youtu.be/00eIrh9jw6Q?si…

In this compelling interview with Ishan Dhar, Bernard Haykel, Professor of Near Eastern Studies and Director of the Institute of the Transregional Study of the Contemporary Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia at Princeton University, examines the probable search for a U.S. off-ramp amid escalating economic warfare by Iran, the evolving alignment between the United States and Israel, and the risks of accelerated Iranian nuclearisation. He analyses the consolidation of the Islamic regime around Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran, the strategic calculus of Mohammed bin Salman and the Gulf states, and questions why Israel’s confidence in a regime-change strategy in Iran may have been misplaced, seemingly shaped in part by an insular decision-making circle around Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The conversation also explores the role of proxy actors, from the Houthis to Iraqi Shi‘i militias, the durability of Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the implications of renewed U.S. diplomacy with the Iranians under President Donald Trump. Finally, Prof. Haykel assesses how the conflict could reshape the regional order, all the while deepening political divisions within the United States. Watch the full interview here - youtube.com/watch?v=00eIrh… #usa #israeliranwar #israel #iran #straitofhormuz #oil #geopolitics #internationalrelations #interview #news #trump #geopolitics @IshanDhar @BernardHaykel

#GlobalOrderInterview In this conversation with Global Order, Dr. Gautam Sen highlights how even global leaders discussing Dhurandhar reflects the growing reach of India’s cultural narratives. He argues that while popular momentum matters, lasting national narratives must be driven by institutional effort—starting with education and state-led initiatives. Watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel - youtu.be/ZBsoO4NXacg #Dhurandhar #NationalNarrative #India #IndianCinema #Geopolitics #History #CulturalNarrative #Podcast #IndianHistory #NarrativeBuilding #PoliticalDiscourse #CinemaAndPolitics #IndianIdentity

#GlobalOrderInterview In this new episode on Global Order, Dr. Gautam Sen explores India’s cultural and civilizational anxieties in relation to China’s rise. As part of a broader discussion on national narratives, they reflect on how historical confidence and cultural self-perception shape India’s global positioning. Watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel - youtu.be/ZBsoO4NXacg #Dhurandhar #NationalNarrative #India #IndianCinema #Geopolitics #History #CulturalNarrative #Podcast #IndianHistory #NarrativeBuilding #PoliticalDiscourse #CinemaAndPolitics #IndianIdentity

#GlobalOrderInterview In this conversation on Global Order, Hindol Sengupta and Gautam Sen examine the challenges of building a cohesive national identity amid historically divisive narratives. Drawing from a broader discussion on storytelling and nation-building, they reflect on how competing interpretations of history continue to shape India’s unity. Watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel - youtu.be/ZBsoO4NXacg #Dhurandhar #NationalNarrative #India #IndianCinema #Geopolitics #History #CulturalNarrative #Podcast #IndianHistory #NarrativeBuilding #PoliticalDiscourse #CinemaAndPolitics #IndianIdentity

#GlobalOrderInterview In this conversation, Hindol Sengupta and Gautam Sen discuss the inclusive and expansive nature of Hinduism within the broader framework of India’s civilizational identity. As part of a wider dialogue on narrative-building, they reflect on how cultural philosophy shapes ideas of unity and diversity. Watch the full conversation - youtu.be/ZBsoO4NXacg #Dhurandhar #NationalNarrative #India #IndianCinema #Geopolitics #History #CulturalNarrative #Podcast #IndianHistory #NarrativeBuilding #PoliticalDiscourse #CinemaAndPolitics #IndianIdentity

#GlobalOrderInterview In his new conversation with Global Order, Dr. Gautam Sen, reflects on the need to revisit and revise history curricula to foster a stronger sense of national unity. He highlights how historical narratives shape identity, memory, and collective consciousness. Watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel - youtu.be/ZBsoO4NXacg #Dhurandhar #NationalNarrative #India #IndianCinema #Geopolitics #History #CulturalNarrative #Podcast #IndianHistory #NarrativeBuilding #PoliticalDiscourse #CinemaAndPolitics #IndianIdentity

In this conversation, @HindolSengupta and Dr. Gautam Sen explore the cultural and historical significance of the film Dhurandhar, discussing its role in shaping a new narrative for India. They delve into the challenges of constructing a cohesive national identity amidst a history of division and the impact of cinema on this process. The discussion also touches on the importance of historical figures and events in building a unified narrative, the influence of social media in democratizing discourse, and the need for institutional support in narrative building. Watch the full conversation on our YouTube channel - youtu.be/ZBsoO4NXacg #Dhurandhar #NationalNarrative #India #IndianCinema #Geopolitics #History #CulturalNarrative #Podcast #IndianHistory #NarrativeBuilding #PoliticalDiscourse #CinemaAndPolitics #IndianIdentity

Rajesh Agrawal says the UK and India are “natural partners” with a bright future, highlighting the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed under a Labour government. He also references Labour’s historical role in supporting Indian independence in 1947 and emphasizes that while the FTA is important, businesses must now actively understand and leverage it. Watch the full interview here - youtube.com/watch?v=z7ubLd…

Rajesh Agrawal, Former Deputy Mayor of London for Business, says the UK has long been a global education hub, having educated many world leaders including major Indian figures like Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, and Ambedkar. They add that this tradition continues today, with UK and other international universities now opening campuses in India due to its growing importance as a major education market. Watch the full interview here - youtube.com/watch?v=z7ubLd…

Rajesh Agrawal highlights that India has phenomenal AI and tech talent, calling it a global superpower in talent. He adds that technology acts as a great equalizer, enabling small groups of skilled people to compete with even Fortune 500 companies and empowering people across India. Watch the full interview here - youtube.com/watch?v=z7ubLd…