IMPRI Desk

IMPRI Desk

The Hallyu Ascendancy and India’s Soft Power Ceiling: A Geocultural Analysis for India-South Korea Bilateral Relations

The Hallyu Ascendancy and India's Soft Power Ceiling: A Geocultural Analysis for India-South Korea Bilateral Relations

The Korean wave, etymologically known as the hallyu, refers to the soft power of the Korean popular culture that originated in Southeast Asia, first in mainland China and eventually spreading across Asia in the late 1990s. The transnational cultural influence of the K-wave in the postmodern era is one of a kind due to the decisive yet dominant nature of ‘compressed modernity’. South Korea experienced a century's worth of economic growth-led cultural influence within the span of a few decades. The phenomenon of ‘Miracle on the Han River’ transformed a war-ravaged South Korea that was one of the 25 poorest countries in the world in the 1960s into an advanced economy built on technology and innovation, with the help of the International Development Association of the World Bank. 

Trump’s “Make It in America” Push Is Falling Flat

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The most momentous event of the last week has been the Gaza ceasefire. It has brought respite for Palestinians from genocidal slaughter and famine, and brought 20 hostages back home to Israel. The peace deal is still fragile, and could unravel.

The Language of Inclusion: Intersectionality Needs Power, Not Just Representation

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Across international conferences, UN assemblies, and foreign policy statements, the language
of inclusion has become familiar. Governments and global institutions now speak of
“diversity,” “empowerment,” and “intersectionality” with confidence. On the surface, it
appears that the world has finally started acknowledging the complexity of women’s lives.
But when we look closely, a gap emerges between what is promised and what is practiced.

From Reproductive Rights to Global Responsibility: Why India’s Feminist Foreign Policy Must Center Women’s Bodily Autonomy

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The term “Feminist Foreign Policy” (FFP) is frequently discussed in various global capitals.
While countries such as Sweden, Canada, and Germany have adopted it, the discourse often
centers on issues like representation, aid, and trade. However, for FFP to be genuinely
transformative—particularly for an emerging global power like India—it needs to address a
fundamental issue: bodily autonomy.

Fixing the Future: How a Feminist Just Transition Can Deliver Real Climate Solutions

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The global imperative to transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources has never been more urgent. Driven by escalating climate change impacts and the inherent volatility of fossil fuel markets, countries worldwide are re-evaluating their energy strategies pushing for more renewable energy into the energy mix.

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