Papers by Professor Anil Kumar Mohapatra
World Focus, 2022
One wonders whether there could be a relationship between religion and foreign policy of a nation... more One wonders whether there could be a relationship between religion and foreign policy of a nation. Some would agree that if a state has a particular religion to promote or patronise like the theocratic states (such as Islamic states, for example), the probability of such relationship is more. In contrast, in the case of multi-religious states or secular states, the interface between the two seems little. However, the latter view seems more a guesswork than true if one observes the behaviour or policy pronouncements of such states like the United States of America or India. The study on this aspect is a neglected one or understudied so far as the existing scholarship is concerned. In other words, an insufficient attention has been paid to undertake studies on how specific foreign policies are linked to religion in these countries. Therefore, when many authors strongly argue that there is a relationship between the two (Inboden 2008; Sandal 2016; Bettiza 2019); many others disagree on how religion influences specific foreign policy choices (Fox & Sandler, 2004; Haynes 2007). Some pertinent questions could be asked in that connection. Can the relationship between religion and foreign policy be theorized (?); and, is it possible to develop an overall approach to explain the role of religion in foreign policy (?). This article, instead of making an attempt to answer either of the two questions, focuses on how and what circumstances religion has influenced foreign policy decisions or initiatives in these two counties viz., India and the US. The case of the US, however, is taken not for a detailed comparison but to show how some specific foreign policy initiatives it has taken overtly to promote freedom of religion across the globe. It is in contrast to India where foreign policy has followed a different approach vis-à-vis religion. In India religion has influenced foreign policy both directly and indirectly.
International Relations and Diplomacy, 2021
The very name Myanmar brings to mind a precarious picture of human insecurity. It is the land whe... more The very name Myanmar brings to mind a precarious picture of human insecurity. It is the land where the world’s most persecuted minorities still struggle to survive; and, it is the theatre where the longest-ever civil war in the world has been staged since 1948. Murder of people, rape, violence, and, censorship of the press, etc., are common scenes in the country. A Nobel laureate (for peace in 1991) Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi who brought hopes to Myanmar assuring resolution of all such issues through democracy, could not do something substantial, and she is now languishing in detention. Despite international pressure and sanctions, the Military Junta (called Tatmadaw) is still in the seat of power at Nay Pyi Daw dislodging a democratically elected government led by Mrs. Kyi that won the elections held in November last year by staging a coup d’état in February 2021. However, literature in this regard (i.e. human security) is scantily comprehensive and scarcely suggestive of recourses to be taken. Against this background, this paper looks into these developments and suggests the way forward to secure the security for the insecure. This paper argues that Militarism and Majoritarian Nationalism are responsible for this state of affairs in Myanmar.
Zootaxa, 2015
A new species of short brown unpatterned moray eel of the genus Gymnothorax, Gymnothorax mishrai ... more A new species of short brown unpatterned moray eel of the genus Gymnothorax, Gymnothorax mishrai sp. nov. is described from a specimen of 324 mm total length, collected from the Bay of Bengal. The species is distinguished by having the dorsal-fin origin before gill opening, jaw pores with brown rim, two branchial pores, total vertebrae 134 (MVF: 9-59-134), three median intermaxillary teeth, uniserial maxillary and vomerine teeth. The new species is distinctly different from the other eight described species of this group. This species is also the first species of short brown unpatterned moray eel to be reported from India.
Turkish Online Journal of Qualitative Inquiry, 2021
The Pandemic Covid-19 was not more ferocious for the people of Myanmar than the developments that... more The Pandemic Covid-19 was not more ferocious for the people of Myanmar than the developments that unfolded after the coup d’état staged by the military junta on 1 February 2021. It dislodged a sitting democratic government led by the 1991 Nobel peace laureate Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi and did not allow her a second innings despite her party's landslide victory in the November 2020 elections in the country. Justifying the coup through a frivolous allegation of election fraud, it belied its role as a democracy promoter. Thus, the country plunged into uncertainty. It gave rise to a condition like ‘state of nature’ where the murder of people, repression of dissent, torture, and detention of the protesters became commonplace. That provoked international condemnation of the arbitrary act of the military officially called ‘Tatmadaw’, followed by sanctions. Against this backdrop, this paper analyses the present conditions of democracy, human security, federalism, and military rule in that Southeast Asian state; while exploring the prospects of a new Myanmar. Thus it looks into the challenges and discusses their possible solution. This paper, therefore, makes a critical, descriptive contribution to our understanding of this country that is making a difficult transition froman authoritarian regime to democratisation.
Asian Politics & Policy, 2014
Mens Sana Monographs, 2009
In the mainstream culture to identify oneself as a "feminist" has been a fashion. Feminism covers... more In the mainstream culture to identify oneself as a "feminist" has been a fashion. Feminism covers all issues degrading and depriving women of their due in society visà-vis male members and it has started a crusade against atrocities on women across the globe. It is therefore regarded as synonymous with a movement and revolution to defend and promote issues involving women. However, the concerns that feminism raises do seem alien to tribal inhabitants in the Koraput district of Orissa, because, unknowingly, they are its champions. Its principles are ingrained in their very culture. They practice and follow feminism as a matter of habit that has come to them down the ages. They do not follow it out of fear, compassion, enlightenment, education or compulsion; it is a necessity that comes quite naturally to them. It has been spontaneous and indigenous.
Uploads
Papers by Professor Anil Kumar Mohapatra