In this interview, Hindol Sengupta speaks with Ambassador (Retd.) Prabhat Shukla, drawing on decades of diplomatic experience, unpacks some of the most pressing geopolitical shifts shaping the world today. The discussion moves across global fault lines, from the evolving idea of a new world order to the strategic recalibration underway within institutions like the United Nations and NATO. Ambassador Shukla offers a candid assessment of Donald Trump’s approach to global power, challenging the notion of eccentricity and instead framing it as deliberate disruption with long-term consequences. The interview also explores: - The future of multilateral institutions and whether they are headed toward collapse, reinvention, or irrelevance - The strategic implications of Greenland, the Arctic, and shifting Western priorities - West Asia after Gaza, including the limits of the Abraham Accords, Turkish interventionism, and regional fragmentation - The Horn of Africa, Somaliland, and the dilemmas surrounding international recognition - The United States, Jamaat, and the Bangladesh question - what Washington may really be seeking in South Asia - Whether a long-term containment strategy toward India is quietly taking shape - Japan’s demographic crisis and the puzzling lack of deeper India–Japan people-to-people engagement 📌 Watch till the end for a nuanced discussion on what the next decade of global politics may look like and where India fits into it. Chapters - 0:00-1:04 Opening 1:14 -9:55 Exploring the New World Order 11:08 - 14:58 Trump, NATO, and the United Nations 15:37-17:24 Greenland: what changes if the U.S. takes control? 17:58 - 19:55 If Russia signs on: divergence at the United Nations 20:44-24:17 If the Board of Peace works, will China follow? 25:14-27:33 Trump’s World Order 28:35 -33:57 A “Muslim NATO”? Security and power in West Asia 34:47- 35:44-India, Somaliland, and the politics of recognition 36:58- 41:10 The U.S., Jamaat, and the Bangladesh question 41:46 - 48:10 India’s position in the changing world 48:11- 48:30 Closing #Geopolitics #InternationalRelations #IndiaForeignPolicy #NewWorldOrder #GlobalPolitics #Diplomacy #WorldAffairs #StrategicAffairs #UnitedNations #NATO

Please note - This video is audio only The India International Centre (IIC) hosted a book discussion on Seeds of Hate: Bangladesh’s Extremist Surge, an edited volume examining the rise of Islamist extremism in Bangladesh, with particular focus on Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and other radical organisations. The book is published by Grin News, the publishing arm and sister platform of Global Order. Edited by Shahriar Kabir and Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, the book brings together scholars, journalists, and policy experts to analyse how ideological radicalisation, political shifts, and regional dynamics are reshaping Bangladesh’s internal security and its implications for India and South Asia. The discussion featured distinguished speakers from the fields of diplomacy, journalism, strategic affairs, and regional studies, offering diverse perspectives on extremism, democracy, state institutions, and India-Bangladesh relations. This discussion on Seeds of Hate: Bangladesh’s Extremist Surge examines how Islamist extremism in Bangladesh has evolved from a political force into a deeply entrenched ideological ecosystem, with serious consequences for democracy, internal stability, and regional security. The book argues that extremist organisations most notably Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh have not operated on the margins, but have systematically embedded themselves within political institutions, education systems, and civil society. This process, rooted in unresolved historical grievances from the 1971 Liberation War, has been sustained through ideological indoctrination, strategic political alliances, and transnational networks of influence. Speakers emphasise that the rise of extremism in Bangladesh cannot be understood solely through the lens of electoral politics or governance failures. It represents a broader ideological struggle, one that seeks to rewrite history, undermine secular and pluralistic foundations, and normalise radical narratives within mainstream discourse. The discussion highlights how democratic mechanisms have at times been exploited by extremist actors to gain legitimacy, while violence, intimidation, and targeted attacks against minorities, journalists, and secular voices have served as tools to silence opposition.  From India’s perspective, the panel underscores that Bangladesh’s internal trajectory has direct strategic implications. Political instability and ideological radicalisation across the border affect border security, regional counterterrorism efforts, and India’s broader neighbourhood policy. The speakers caution that complacency, both within Bangladesh and among regional stakeholders, risks allowing extremist narratives to harden into permanent political realities. Ultimately, Seeds of Hate is presented not merely as a diagnosis of extremism in Bangladesh, but as a warning. It illustrates how ideological radicalisation, when left unchecked, erodes democratic institutions from within and why confronting it requires historical honesty, intellectual courage, and sustained regional cooperation. Chapters - 00:00 – 4:46 - Introduction to the book and speakers Dr Usha Mujoo Munshi, Chief Librarian, India International Centre (IIC) 4:49 – 5:56- Keynote Address Hindol Sengupta, Co-founder, Global Order 5:57– 11:56 - Editor’s Address Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury 11:57 – 28:15 - MJ Akbar, Former MoS External Affairs, Author & Senior Journalist 29:00 – 46:57 - Pankaj Saran, Member NSAB; Former High Commissioner to Bangladesh & Russia; Former Deputy NSA 47:26 – 1:06:54 - Dr Anirban Ganguly, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation 1:07:10 – 1:20:03 - Dr Smruti Pattanaik, Research Fellow, IDSA & noted Bangladesh expert Buy the book here: https://www.grinmedia.in/product-page/seeds-of-hate-bangladesh-s-extremist-surge?srsltid=AfmBOorT-KjbL6ez646PFad9mVXimZGBkU9ZGQRBlOXkA8qGoyOZueg3 #bangladesh #globalorder #extremism #jamaateislami #bookdiscussion #newvideo #southasia #india #booksthatmatter

By invoking the example of Mir- Hossein Moussavi, who was widely portrayed as a reformist despite having served as justice minister under Ayatollah Khomeini, Abhijit Iyer-Mitra punctures the myth of “reformist” presidential candidates in Iran. In a system where all candidates are pre-selected by the regime, ideological divergence is illusory; the only real distinction lies in the degree and style of repression they are willing to administer. Consequently, the Iranian political framework admits no genuinely reformist presidential contenders. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FxFWgXW-FM

Abhijit Iyer-Mitra highlights Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri's breakdown of the R2P doctrine's five pillars as strictly sequential: diplomatic intervention first, then aid and assistance, escalating only if prior steps fail, with military intervention as the absolute last resort. The West treats them as simultaneous to justify invasions, but Puri's stance ensures no legitimate R2P invocation without exhausting peaceful options, making unauthorized actions illegal under UN sovereignty. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FxFWgXW-FM

Abhijit Iyer Mitra argues that Western-backed regime change operations are often publicly justified in moral or humanitarian terms, but those explanations mask very different strategic motives. The rhetoric of “we are bombing you because we love you” is meant to make such intervention palatable, while the real drivers are interests. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FxFWgXW-FM

Abhijit Iyer Mitra argues that Iran functions as a “democratized dictatorship”. Power filters down to the street level through clerics and informers embedded in everyday life. This dense network enables constant, long-term surveillance and social monitoring. According to him, this grassroots control structure is a key reason the Iranian regime has proven resilient and capable of surviving internal dissent. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FxFWgXW-FM

In this compelling interview with Ishan Dhar, Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies discusses why regime change in Iran isn't necessarily in India's interest, how the American challenge to Denmark's sovereignty in Greenland may be connected to the European Union attempting to checkmate President Trump's pressure tactics on Ukraine, and the precedent set by the American capture of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro. The conversation also focuses on the future of India's strategic autonomy within this context. Chapters - 0:00 - 1:12 Opening 2:02 - 11:16 Regime change in Iran might not be in India's interest 12:00 - 33:40 Prospects of regime change in Iran 34:23 - 42:43 What is President Trump's objective in annexing Greenland? 43:06 - 56:31 Are Europe's existential fears of Russia misplaced? 57:11 - 1:01:17 Is India's strategic autonomy under threat? 1:01:56 - 1:06:34 The precedent set by the American capture of Nicolas Maduro 1:06:35 - 1:06:55 Closing #venezuela #usa #iran #iranprotests #interview #foreignaffairs #explorepage #news #globalorder

The inaugural Bibek Debroy Memorial Lecture celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Bibek Debroy, the prominent scholar known for his translations of Indian epics and contributions to economic policy. The event featured heartfelt tributes from his wife, Suparna Banerjee, and Shaktikanta Das, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India, who highlighted Debroy's impact on India's economic transformation and the importance of self-reliance in the current global landscape. The lecture emphasized India's journey towards becoming a credible economy through stability, structural reforms, and strategic initiatives. Chapters 00:00 - 07:56 - Inaugural Bibek Debroy Memorial Lecture 07:57 - 18:15 - Celebrating Bibek Debroy's Life and Legacy 18:14 - 50:59 - Shaktikanta Das: A Tribute to Bibek Debroy 51:00 - 54:28 - India's Economic Transformation and Future #BibekDebroyMemorialLecture #ShaktikantaDas #IndianEconomy #EconomicReforms #AtmanirbharBharat #PolicyDialogue #ThoughtLeadership