National Democratic Alliance Archives - Dr. Siegfried O. Wolf

24 April 2015; Siegfried O. Wolf

Source: Blue Chip, Issue 119, Vol. 2/4, pp. 59-61, Islamabad, Pakistan.

More than two centuries old, the media sector in India is intrinsically tied to the political trajectories of the country. Even before the country gained independence in 1947, the print media especially, being largely associated with the freedom struggle against the British colonial ruler, turned into a crucial actor in the political arenas of urban India. Quite from the beginning of the country’s state and nationbuilding, the press served as a platform for individuals as well as whole movements to articulate their ideas, protests, and/or demands for social, economic and political improvements. The media earned a high reputation for being a major element of resilience of India’s democracy. Continue reading “India’s General Elections 2014 and the Role of Media: New Course or Entrenching Old Patterns?”

18 July 2014; by Siegfried O. Wolf
Source: SADF Bulletin Think South Asia, No. 14, South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF), Brussels; Belgium, pp. 11-13.

Aside significant changes in the foreign policies of Bangladesh and India since gaining independence in 1971, two major keystones can be identified: First, Dhaka’s concerns regarding India’s intention to establish itself as a regional hegemon. Second, New Delhi’s worry that Bangladesh is in the midst of turning into a hub for militancy, supporting separatism in India as well as serving as a sanctuary for Islamic fundamentalism which could destabilize the whole region. As such, the bilateral relations between these two South Asian countries have always been strained. Continue reading “India-Bangladesh Relations: Torn between religious extremism?”