World Majority: A View from South Asia
The session was moderated by M. Antasheva, Lecturer of the School of Regional Studies of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, HSE University.
Presentations were delivered by:
- Ellina Shavlay (Russian Federation, MGIMO University) on “India’s Foreign Policy: Great Powers, Non-Alignment, and Factors in Play”;
- Irina Kolgushkina (Russian Federation, IMEMO RAS) on “India's Cooperation with Sub-Saharan African Countries in the Changing World Order: Expectations vs. Reality”;
- Boris Volkhonsky (Russian Federation, Lomonosov Moscow State University) on “Will Closer India-China Relations Lead to a More Stable Eurasia?”;
- Gleb Makarevich (Russian Federation, IMEMO RAS) on “A New Hope: The Resurgence of Pakistan's Foreign Policy After the Conflict with India”;
- Nivedita Kapoor (India, HSE University) on “Taliban 2.0: Evolution of Indian and Russian Positions on Afghanistan”;
- Ilya Spektor (Russian Federation, Lomonosov Moscow State University) on “‘Gen Z Revolutions’ in South Asia: Towards a Comparative Analysis”;
- Mariia Antasheva (Russian Federation, HSE University) on “BJP Historical Policy: Creating Indian Identity in a Multipolar World”.
The central topic of the discussion was the key trends in political development and foreign policy positioning of South Asian countries within the increasingly complex global order. Session speakers examined how the approaches of states in the region to building international relations and securing their own interests are transforming against the backdrop of shifting power balances, as well as how the formats of interaction with partners outside the region are evolving.
Special attention was paid to the transformation of India's role in the emerging multipolar world order and the reassessment of its foreign policy strategies. Session participants reviewed the evolution of Indian diplomacy, analyzed connections between traditional approaches and new initiatives in shaping regional and global politics, and examined India's positioning as a significant actor in Eurasia and in the Global South.
The discussion also covered internal socio-political processes within South Asian states, particularly the role of new social groups, as well as the significance of historical narratives and memory politics as resources for internal societal consolidation.