• NUS ISAS
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    Research Themes
    The following are ISAS’ six core research themes and their respective research areas:
    1.  International Relations and Multilateralism
    This research track delves into the impact of changes in the international relations of South Asian states. In particular, it assesses how the South Asian countries relate to the rapidly evolving multilateral system. With increasing attention on how multilateral organisations are still relevant and applicable to the complex international environment, ISAS seeks to evaluate what impact any revision in this order may have on South Asia, both in terms of challenges and opportunities.
    As Asia becomes more focal to the global balance of power, how do South Asian countries frame their foreign policies with one another and with major world powers? Here, ISAS seeks to critically examine how the ascendance of China factors in the international relations frameworks of South Asian countries, especially as they respond to new regional security and economic architectures and they deepen their engagement with the region, including Southeast Asia.
    Research areas:
    • Relationship between South Asian states, with special focus on collaboration among the small South Asian states on issues of mutual interest/concern
    • South Asia’s relations with the major powers, including China, and international institutions
    • Fundamentalism and extremism in South Asia
    • The Indo-Pacific, the Quad and the evolving regional security architecture
    • The Bay of Bengal, the Andaman Sea and maritime security
    • Global and regional power politics in South Asia
    • Key regional institutions and strategic connectivity
    • Vaccine politics and diplomacy
    • South Asia-Southeast Asia/Singapore relations, including geopolitics, security and defence, as well as comparative studies of small states in South Asia and Southeast Asia
    2.   Politics, Society and Governance
    This research theme tracks the fluid state of politics, governance and institutions in South Asia. As South Asian countries prepare for and undergo general elections, this theme investigates the political forces at play and assesses likely outcomes, as well as the wider impact on democracy in the region. Also, as the narrative regarding globalisation and inflows of technology and information today has changed, multipolarity, regionalism and nationalism have come into greater prominence.
    What are the pressures of regional geopolitics on domestic political actors, the effects of rising nationalisms on polarisation, and unexpected consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic? Are their political and public institutions able to withstand these pressures and societal demands? How will their societies be affected by these trends and what impact will that have on politics and democracy? ISAS seeks to draw answers to these questions as well as provide a detailed analysis of the electoral campaigns and outcomes in South Asia.
    Research areas:
    • Elections in South Asia
    • State of democratic and public institutions in South Asia
    • Political mobilisation of religion, culture and nationalist sentiments
    • Political parties in South Asia
    • Key issues in domestic politics of South Asia, including leadership transitions
    • Tensions between federal systems and the centralisation of state power
    • State responses to domestic environmental and social movements – free speech, civil protest, and law and order
    • Citizenship and identity discourses
    3.   Trade and Economics
    This research track examines South Asia’s role in the rapidly evolving global environment and how it is, in itself, impacted by these changes. Specifically, it evaluates how the global balance of economic and political power, with Asia at the heart of it, affects the South Asian countries’ foreign and domestic economic policies. Here, particular attention is given to these countries’ economic relations with one another, major global powers and with Southeast Asia. The study focuses on how trade architectures, linkages and flows will be affected by such macro changes in the global sphere and how South Asia, will respond to these.
    Internally, within each South Asian state, this research track analyses and monitors their own economic development, the challenges and opportunities of growth that these macro developments bring. Repositioning of supply chains and production networks, regional connectivity developments, and trade facilitation, including moves to embrace digital cross-border transactions, will feature prominently in ISAS research. The new trends and priorities produced by COVID-19 in this regard would be specifically noted.
    Research areas:
    • Economic outlook of South Asian states
    • South Asia and regional trade and investment architectures, including Southeast Asia
    • Impact of global and regional trade developments on India and South Asia with particular focus on COVID-19 and post COVID-19 recovery
    • Major economic developments, including reforms, policy and regulatory issues for India and Indian states
    • Economic issues in emerging South Asian states such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and potential for collaborations
    • South Asia free trade agreements, including the agreement between Bangladesh and Singapore
    4.   New Technologies
    Like elsewhere in the world, South Asia is not immune to the unprecedented levels of technological advancement and transfer seen. What opportunities and challenges do these trends present to the South Asian countries? While the largely information technology-proficient labour force in many South Asian countries may benefit from such inflows, these societies will also have to address the disruption technology brings. How do their policies and regulations adapt to these advancements and innovations? What can South Asian countries learn from and collaborate with traditional economic partners, including Singapore, as well as deepen these relationships?
    There is no doubt that technology will also have an impact on society, politics and governance in South Asian states. This research track by ISAS aims to address these questions and shed light on what are, to a considerable extent, new research puzzles, thus aiming to build the new and growing body of literature on these subjects.
    Research areas:
    • Digital Economy/E-commerce – Policy, regulation, and international collaboration
    • Data – Governance, regulation, and the geopolitics of data
    • Social Media – Impact on society, politics, and governance
    • FinTech – Policy, regulation, and international collaboration
    • Smart Cities – Policy, regulation, and international collaboration
    • Artificial Intelligence – Governance, policy, regulation, and international collaboration
    • Water resources, environment, and sustainability
    5.   South Asian Diaspora
    Increasingly, we see major powers leveraging their diaspora to advance their own gains and interests. With a large migrant population around the world, how do South Asian countries react to this strategic gain? On the contrary, if there is a reverse migration trend in South Asia, how will this affect remittances and development? How do political actors in South Asian countries rally their diaspora? Will religious and cultural affinities be the main tools for such engagement, or will there be other mediums that come into the fore?
    Research areas:
    • South Asian diaspora, migrations and transnationalism
    • Migrant remittances in South Asia; international migration, reverse migration and development in South Asia
    • Hindutva nationalism in the diaspora
    • South Asia-Southeast Asia/Singapore relations
    6.   Sustainability and the Environment
    Like other parts of the world, challenges relating to climate change, ecosystem changes, accumulation of hazardous wastes, deforestation, desertification, pollution of air, land and water resources, scarcity and degradation of marine resources severely affect South Asia. In recent years, competition, contests and disputes over shared waters have increased. Transboundary air pollution has risen, mainly between India and Pakistan. South Asia also covers diverse climatic zones and experiences a range of climate change impacts. Changing hydrological and land resources specifically impact food security and ecosystem resilience. Reducing carbon emissions will lead to governance and institutional challenges that must be mapped out and addressed.
    Several countries like India have instituted ambitious renewable energy technologies to provide low-cost power that could also generate co-benefits including growth, industrial competitiveness and environmental welfare. Environmental transitions in South Asia will have to balance trade-offs incumbent under economic development and environmental welfare. Such transitions will also involve adapting political institutions, devising new rules, regulatory structures and deploying technologies to achieve sustainable development.
    Research areas:
    • Environment – national and state/provincial policies and regulations in South Asia
    • Pollution – air and marine pollution in South Asian countries
    • Water – transboundary and inter-state river water disputes, urban water quality management, floods and droughts
    • Sustainable and renewable energy – solar power, emergence of electric vehicle industry and use of renewable energy by urban households and industry
    • Sustainable trade practices – cross-border trade rules and sustainable development goals, and circular economy
    • Waste management – electronic and chemical waste management in South Asian cities
    • Green technologies – decentralised energy grids, battery storage, carbon capture and storage and geo-engineering
    • Climate governance – climate financing, renewable energy policies and climate adaptation
    • Cooperation and competition among states in sustainable development