Concept Note:

The ‘Vishwa Mitra Initiative’ symbolizes India's proactive role in fostering comprehensive global security and strategy. At its core, the Vishwa Mitra Initiative reflects India's multifaceted approach to addressing contemporary security challenges, encompassing diplomatic engagement, strategic partnerships, and capacity-building efforts. Through this initiative, India seeks to collaborate with nations across the world to tackle diverse security threats, including terrorism, cyber warfare, maritime security, and non-traditional challenges like climate change and pandemics.

While strengthening diplomatic outreach, strategic partnerships, capacity building, technology and innovation and humanitarian assistance are some of the key elements of India’s Vishwa Mitra initiative, the conference aims to invite abstracts on the following

sub-themes:

1. Questioning the Notion of ‘Third World’: From Geographical to Political Discourse - Diplomatic engagement and cooperation at regional and international front
2. Voices from the Margins: Writing Back to the Empires – Responding Critically to Western Perceptions, Stigmas, Identities and Notions
3. Is War an Absence of Peace? Changing Ideas of Peace and War in Conflict Resolution Initiatives - Global South Efforts at conflict resolution and peacebuilding
4. Aiming Strategic Autonomy: Its Relevance and Challenges - Towards regional stability and development
5. Money, Market and Monopoly: Emphasis on Economic Integration and Trade Relations - Emphasis on economic integration and enhancing trade relations with strategic Partners
6. Cultural Diplomacy: From Consumer to Manufacturer of Soft Power - Cultural Diplomacy and Soft Power
7. Presence of the Absence: Diaspora and its Relevance in Nation-building - Diasporas Connect
8. From Techie to Technological Innovators: Striving for Technological Innovations and Capacity Building - International and Regional Cybersecurity and Digital Cooperation
9. Addressing the Gray Rhinos: Call for environmental sustainability and Climate Change - Call for Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change
10. Vishwa Bandhutva: Facilitating Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Assistance - Facilitating Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Assistance

The scholars are encouraged to submit their abstracts on topics beyond the ones mentioned above.

Overview of the Knowledge Partners

Amity Institute of International Studies

Amity Institute of International Studies is the fastest growing institution in Amity University which draws strengths from the development of niche and emerging programmes in the field of International Relations granting opportunities to the students to explore the field and attune themselves according to the domain specifics. AIIS offers to the prospective students the befitting opportunities once they complete these specially designed programmes successfully in private, public sector and the Government. The students going through the academic rigour and the exposure and opportunities provided by the institute, the graduates are likely to be equipped to handle intricacies of the international relations, making them suitable to build their career in Civil Services and international organizations, in Media, MNCs and NGOs. 

The institute is well networked with various renowned organizations in India and abroad the professional network of key officials and academicians. The institute engages top academicians, experts in the field and specialized organizations to design the best syllabus, making those relevant and responsible to the current needs and time. The institute has the advantage of drawing best expertise in the field that are currently available within the system of Amity University, Noida, to groom the students making them best professionals in the field. The institute offers the academic programmes with latest pedagogical support and by offering specialized workshops, webinars, conferences etc., and also individual experts and professionals in the field for the students to gain unlimited exposure. 

The institute is supported by qualified Director, Senior Professors, Assistant Professors, Distinguished Visiting Professors, Professors of Eminence in the field, experts, Research organizations and non-teaching and administrative staff. The institute provides a highly conducive environment and offers counselling and mentor support. The institute provides open and easy access to the students to interact with the higher authorities to address any of their academic and non-academic issues providing the much sought-after comfort level to the students to enjoy the study and in the professional development. 

School of International Studies, Central University of Gujarat

The School has been conceptualised to encourage diversity in the constitution of knowledge of international affairs in India. Its current focus is on creating new and relevant knowledge in the core IR areas such as International Politics and Security Studies. In the coming years, the School intends to pursue research in history, theory and sociology of modern India's international relations and all areas of Security Studies. Aware of the Gujarat's historical connections with the larger world, it will pursue research on maritime influences on India's trade, culture and security. These relatively new areas would be pursued alongside more conventional research areas such as International Relations Theories, International Organisations, International Trade and Development, International Law, and Globalisation. Among geographical area studies, the School's immediate area of focus is the India immediate and extended neighbourhood. Programmes and the Centres of the School are interdisciplinary to the extent possible in the Indian context. All programmes of the School equally emphasise theory and policy and train students to contribute meaningfully to the society, country and the world at large.

Department of Politics and International Studies, Pondicherry University

Department of Politics and International Studies, Pondicherry University encourages diversity in the constitution of knowledge of international affairs in India. The thrust areas of teaching and research include:

• Exchange programmes with prestigious foreign and Indian universities.
• Interactions with distinguished Indian and foreign scholars through seminars, conferences, workshops and refresher courses.
• Promoting teaching and research in the areas of International Relations and Area Studies in general and South and South-East Asian studies in particular.
• Policy input to the makers of India’s foreign and security policies as well as the theoretical understanding of International Relations.
• Publication of Scholarly Journals on International Studies & South Asian Studies.
• Publication of Scholarly Books on the Thrust Areas of teaching and research programmes in the Department.

Red Lantern Analytica

Red Lantern Analytica is an international affairs observer group based out of New Delhi, India, researching upon critical issues related to China, with a special focus on Sino-India relations.

NatStrat

NatStrat is an independent, not-for-profit centre for research on strategic and security issues under the aegis of the Foundation for Pluralistic Research and Empowerment, a company incorporated and registered under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013.

WoRisGo

An all-inclusive global service provider, delivering quintessential risk management solutions, governance and compliance assurance to help businesses face uncertainties with confidence. WoRisGo is a global governance, risk and compliance firm.

Objectives of the Conference

This proposal envisages for a young thinkers’ conference that would divulge into India’s raised stature as a responsible actor at the global platform. In that context, how does India leverage its Vishwa Mitra initiative to fulfil its desire to be recognised as a sane actor to voice the opinions and expectations of the Global South? What would be the specific focus of India’s foreign policy especially in the context of promoting India’s national interest and to work on areas of convergences with global partners, will form a major part of discourse. The objectives of the conference will be:

• To explore the dynamism in the domestic and external milieu of India’s Vishwa Mitra Initiative.
• To assess the evolving dimensions of the world order and its impact on the orientations of India’s foreign policy.
• To analyse the regional and Global South priorities in India’s foreign policy making.
• To evaluate a future roadmap of India’s Vishwa Mitra Initiative that can be incongruence to its foreign policy and its place in the international system.

Learning Outcomes of the Conference

• The participants would have a deeper comprehension of the changing of India’s foreign policy.
• The participants will be able to locate the goals and objectives of India’s recognition as a responsible actor in the world community in the current geopolitical context.
• The participants will acquire the skills and attributes to assess the importance of different geopolitical regions in India’s foreign policymaking.
• The participants will also be able to comprehend the ways in which a future roadmap of India’s foreign policy opportunities and challenges can be analysed.

SUB-THEMES:

Inaugural Session

Technical Session I: Questioning the Notion of ‘Third World’: From Geographical to Political Discourse

Technical Session II: Is War an Absence of Peace? Changing Ideas of Peace and War in Conflict Resolution Initiatives

Workshop by Think Tanks

Technical Session III: Aiming Strategic Autonomy: Its Relevance and Challenges

Technical Session IV: Money, Market and Monopoly: Emphasis on Economic Integration and Trade Relations

Workshop by Industries and Risk Analysis Firms

Technical Session V: Cultural Diplomacy: From Consumer to Manufacturer of Soft Power

Technical Session VI: Presence of the Absence: Diaspora and its Relevance in Nation-building

Technical Session VII: From Techie to Technological Innovators: Striving for Technological Innovations and Capacity Building

Technical Session VIII: Addressing the Gray Rhinos: Call for environmental sustainability and Climate Change

Technical Session IX: Vishwa Bandhutva: Facilitating Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Assistance

Technical Session X: Voices from the Margins: Writing Back to the Empires

Valedictory Session