Photos and Videos of the events hosted by CALACS
https://www.flickr.com/photos/calacs/
Events hosted by CALACS
19th September 2018: Reporting Global and International Relations: India’s presence in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean
On 19th September 2018, Ms. Huma Siddiqui, senior correspondent at the Financial Express, was invited as a guest speaker for an interactive session co-organized by CALACS and the Jindal School of Journalism and Communications. Ms. Sidiqqui addressed a hall of scholars and diplomats including the Argentine Ambassador to India, H. E. Daniel Chuburu. The session highlighted the various aspects that go under-reported in India’s relations with Africa and LAC, and the need to engage the academic community in these regions. Argentine Ambassador H.E. Daniel Chuburu reflected upon the respect for the Indian community especially the Sikhs in Latin America. The interactive session fulfilled its aim in addressing what is news, fact checking, and reporting on international affairs with a focus on India, Africa and LAC. These aspects lie at the core of any discipline today, given the merging of domestic with the international and the need to move regions beyond biases. Link to the session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-Cp6U17h3w&t=212s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjNVbklGdTg
12th September 2018: CALACS at FICCI interactive session on India-Panama relations
On 12th September, CALACS facilitated the participation of five students in interactive session with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, H.E Mr. Luis Miguel Hincapie, on India-Panama business and trade relations. Organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the session had remarks from Indian Joint Secretary Shayamal Misra, Department of Commerce, Ambassador of Panama, Dr. Gustavo Garcia de Paredes and FICCI Deputy Secretary General and Head of International Affairs Division, Manish Singhal. The breadth and depth of the forum helped deepen the understanding of India-Panama relations and the scope for developing mutual ties between the two countries. It further helped engage JGU student community to deliberate on India’s relations with Latin America and the Caribbean.
11th April 2018: International Cooperation for Development: Perspectives from the Emerging and Developing Countries
On the 11th of April, the Centre for African, Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CALACS) organized the interactive session “International Cooperation for Development: Perspectives from the Emerging and Developing Countries”. Guest speakers Professor Kenneth King, visiting fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), and Professor Pravina King, former administrator of the Centre of African Studies at the University of Edinburgh, engaged with faculty and students in a discussion about emerging countries’ cooperation for human development resources in Africa. CALACS launched its first Working Paper Series “Beyond Aid and the Future of Development Cooperation”. The six working papers are available on CALACS website at: http://www.jgu.edu.in/policy-research
28 February 2018: #At70: India-Brazil celebrating 70 years together
On February 28, CALACS launched the essay competition #At70 on the account of 70 years of India-Brazil friendship. The essay competition is an innovative way for scholars, students, practitioners and enthusiasts to engage in a policy-based dialogue and shape the next 70 years of India-Brazil relations in areas like trade and investments; science, technology and innovation, defense; sustainable development and poverty alleviation; governance; multilateral cooperation; and people-to-people exchange. The launch of the essay competition had the presence of representative of the Embassy of Brazil in India and was followed by an interactive session by Mr. Shobhan Saxena, eminent journalist, scholar, and creator of the first and the only Indian carnival in Brazil.
BRICS Week at O.P. Jindal Global University, 21-24 August 2017
In the run up to the 9th BRICS Summit in Xiament, China (3-5 September, 2017), question marks on the future of the BRICS are reportedly raised. The Center for African, Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CALACS) at Jindal School of International Affairs has organized a week-long series of events with scholars, practitioners and government officials in the BRICS countries to discuss some of the most pressing issues to the grouping and the future of development cooperation.
21 August 2017: Round-table ‘Towards the 9th BRICS Summit and Beyond’
The first event of the BRICS WEEK was a lively round table moderated by Prof. Karin Costa Vazquez with scholars and practitioners from China (Dr.Jiejin Zhu, Center for BRICS Studies at Fudan University), Brazil (Mr. Caio Borges, Conectas Human Rights), and South Africa (Ms Faith Mabera, Institute for Global Dialogue) on the expected legacy of China’s current presidency of the BRICS; what can South African presidency in 2018 imprint for the next ten years of the grouping, and how can academia and think tanks support this process.
22-23 August, 2017: Workshop ‘What is the Future for Development Cooperation? Building Innovative and Inclusive South-South institutions.’
As influential voices in the global arena, BRICS countries also share the responsibility for implementing internationally agreed commitments on sustainable development and climate change. Institutions likethe New Development Bank (NDB) can play a central role in helping BRICS countries realize these commitments. This two-day workshop paved way to research spearheaded by CALACS in partnership with Conectas Human Rights, the Center for BRICS Studies at Fudan University, and the BRICS Feminist Watch, while offering a space for broad-based consultation and pragmatic contribution to shaping the future of international cooperation for development.
24-25 August 2017: Delhi Conference on South-South and Triangular Cooperation.
The BRICS WEEK concluded with CALACS participation in the Delhi Conference on South-South and Triangular Cooperation, organized by the Indian think-tank Research and Information Systems for Developing Countries in partnership with the United Nations and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Prof. Karin Costa Vazquez brought her insights on some of the most pressing issues to the future of development cooperation in the panel on impact assessment in South-South Cooperation. “Southern countries took a long time to engage in discussions on monitoring and evaluating South-South cooperation. Multiple frameworks are being proposed by think-tanks,governments and non-governmental organizations. We need to find a minimum common ground and build on it,” said Prof. Vazquez. This is an urgent step to measure countries’ contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals based on the perspectives and voices of the Global South, she added.
Inaugural class of the CALACS-JSIA elective course Political Economy of Latin America, 14 August 2017
For the inaugural lecture of the elective course Political Economy of Latin America we have screened the movie ‘City of God’, the story of two young boys who grew up in a violent neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro and decided to follow different paths: one becomes a photographer…and the other, a drug dealer.The movie illustrated the main goal of the elective course: familiarize students with contemporary debates on Latin American economic and political development and its social effects. After the movie we had a lively debate with CALACS students who did internships in Brazil. This inaugural class was open to all of the JGU community.
Evaluation Workshop of India’s Development Cooperation – 14 August 2017.
The Asia Foundation and O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), through the School of Government and Public Policy (JSGP) and Jindal School of International Affairs’ Centre for African, Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CALACS), have partnered on a graduate student-led project for the development of a draft “White Paper” on the future of India’s Development Cooperation. Following the success of the inception workshop that sowed the seeds of this academic journey earlier this March, an evaluative workshop was conducted as the project is nearing its fruition. The workshop’s intended purpose was to give critical feedback on the research work undertaken by the 10 students in devising a draft ‘White Paper’ since the inception.The workshop had the much-valued presence of Mr. Sagar Prasai, The Asia Foundation’s country representative for India and Dr. Milindo Chakrabarti, visiting fellow at the think tank Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) along with faculty mentors from JGU Professor & Dean of JSGP Sudarshan Ramaswamy, JSIA Assistant Dean for Global Engagements and CALACS Executive Director, Professor Karin Costa Vazquez, Vice Dean of JSGP, Professor Vinod Vyasulu, Dr. Clarence Dias, and the students.
CALACS in the cities of São Paulo and Fortaleza, Brazil – June and July, 2017.
Ms. Amika Bawa, a master’s student from JSIA has been selected as a Research Analyst for the ‘BRICS Sustainability Index’ project, carried out by CALACS in partnership with Conectas. The project has offered Ms. Amika Bawa of a fully funded internship opportunity at Conectas Office in Sao Paulo, Brazil.Ms. Sanjana Medipally and Ms. Aakanksha Lohia – Bachelor students of JSIA were selected as the Program Officers for the ‘Doing Business in Latin America and Caribbean’ project, an initiative by CALACS in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industries and the Brasil Africa Institute. The initiative offered the students a partially funded internship at the Brasil Africa Institute offices in Sao Paulo and Fortaleza, Brazil.
CII Interactive Session with Indian Ambassadors & High Commissioners in the Latin American & Caribbean Region – May 3, 2017.
CALACS participated in an Interactive Session with Indian Ambassadors & High Commissioners in the Latin American & Caribbean region organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry on 3 May, 2017. The session focused on understanding the business opportunities, issues and concerns of doing business in Latin America and the Caribbean whilst identifying how these concerns may be addressed.
CII Interactive Session with Indian Ambassadors & High Commissioners in Africa – May 3, 2017.
CALACS participated in an Interactive Session with Indian Ambassadors & High Commissioners in Africa organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry on May 3 2017. The session focused on understanding the business opportunities, issues and concerns of doing business in Africa whilst identifying how these concerns may be addressed.
JGUMUN 2017 panel on “Human Rights for All: Gender Equality and Status of Refugees” 31 March – 2 April, 2017
A Model United Nations conference is a simulation of the proceedings that take place at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York and is regarded as a form of enriching participants with experience in public speaking and diplomacy. In pursuit of its long-term goal of promoting a global perspective, O.P. Jindal Global University organized the second edition of its Model UN conference. JGUMUN17 attracted 320 delegates from more than 60 schools and universities from across India, helping consolidate a culture of debate and active engagement of students in world affairs.
Shri Anand Sharma, Deputy Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha and Former Minister of Commerce, Government of India gave the keynote speech at the opening ceremony. He was followed by an engaging panel ‘Human Rights for All: Gender Equality and Status of Refugees’ co-organized by CALACS and the JGU MUN Society. The panel comprised diplomats from the Embassy of Brazil and the Embassy of Libya in India, Dr Clarence Dias, President of the Institute for Law in Development (New York), and was moderated by Prof. Karin Costa Vazquez, Assistant Dean for Global Engagement at JSIA and faculty advisor for JGU MUN 2017.
Inception Workshop of India’s Development Cooperation – 27th March, 2017.
On 27th March, 2017, the Jindal School of Government and Public Policy (JSGP) and the Jindal School International Affairs (JSIA) organized a one-day inception workshop intended to discuss and guide the students developing the draft ‘White Paper.’ The workshop had the presence of Mr. Sachin Chaturvedi, Director General of the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), Dr. Milindo Charkrabarti, visiting fellow at RIS and Ms. Mandakini Surie, The Asia Foundation, all whose extensive experience in development policy and practice was valuable to the discussion. The workshop was also attended by faculty mentors from JGU Professor & Dean of JSGP Sudarshan Ramaswamy, Professor Vinod Vyasulu, Vice Dean of JSGP, Professor Karin Costa Vazquez, Assistant Dean for Global Engagements JSIA and head of CALACS, and Professor Clarence Dias, an external resource person, along with the 10 student team for the project. The discussion expressed the need for articulating a different path for India, away from the traditional frameworks of cooperation. The scope and potential role for the Development Partnership Administration (DPA), Ministry of External Affairs, as an inclusive and instrumental framework in analyzing India’s development cooperation was discussed positively.
Talk by Mr. Raj Chengappa, Editorial Director of India Today Group, on Role and Impact of the Media on Foreign Policy, 6th March, 2017.
Mr. Raj Chengappa shared with us his views on media and foreign policy at a seminar talk hosted by the Center for African, Latin American and Caribbean Studies at O.P. Jindal Global University. He engaged students and faculty with touching anecdotes, witnessed as a young journalist travelling the globe.
Mr. Raj Chengappa spoke of the need to form connections between countries and its people, while questioning the need to study foreign events. Why would India be interested in the events occurring in South Africa? How would an average Indian reader engage with the economic concerns of Argentina or Venezuela? It is here that the role of media becomes apparent, to make issues of a foreign land relevant and relatable to the common man.
Foreign Relations, Mr. Chengappa pointed out, are much like human relations and thus it becomes the duty of a journalist to empower the individual through efficient knowledge dissemination. CALACS works towards taking this message forward, a step at a time, to bridge the knowledge gap when it comes to Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean countries.
Open Class: Beyond Aid and The Future of Development Cooperation by Dr. Emma Mawdsley on India’s Development Cooperation, 28 February, 2017.
Dr. Emma Mawdsley, University of Cambridge, was an invited guest for the elective course, Beyond Aid and the Future of Development Cooperation, taught by Prof. Karin Costa Vazquez at O.P Jindal Global University. Dr. Mawdsley has worked on environmental and regional politics in India, and more recently focusing her work on South–South Development Cooperation, in particular interest to Indian Development Partnerships.
Dr. Mawdsley’s lecture highlighted the generations of India’s development Initiatives – from the Nehruvian era to the Modi Effect, and the evolution of South-South cooperation itself. She also broke down binary distinctions between the West–Rest narrative and expanded upon the new power relations that surpass the ‘gift theory’ logic of development cooperation.
Development Cooperation models of India, China and Brazil were discussed while the role of Civil Society Organizations for policy level contribution was put forth.
The class, open to all students and faculty of JGU, was a step in the direction of better understanding the trends in South–South Cooperation and contributed towards the charting of a Draft White Paper for India’s Development Cooperation, Capstone Project initiative of JSIA-CALACS, JSGP and Asia Foundation.
Public Lecture: Africa and Latin America: space for dialogue and business opportunities (6 January, 2017, Jindal Global University)
The public lecture analyzed the current momentum of economic relations between Latin America (especially South America) and African countries taking into account the market potential and mutual opportunities for companies on both sides. The ensuing debate helped enhance participants’ understanding of management models already implemented by the countries of the South, where not only successful results are taken into account, but also failures and lessons learned. The public lecture was given by Dr. João Bosco Monte, President of the Brazil Africa Institute (Fortaleza, Brazil) and had the participation of 60 students from JGU School of International Affairs, Public Policy, and law, faculty members and students from the Association of African Students in India (AASI).
Special Session at the BRICS Civil Forum: Briefing for Students on BRICS Process by RIS in partnership with Jindal School of International Affairs (3-4 October 2016, India Habitat Center, New Delhi)
JSIA organized a Special Briefing on BRICS Process at the BRICS Civil Forum in collaboration with Ministry of ExternalAffairs (MoEA) and the Indian think tank Research & Information System for Developing Countries (RIS). The special session was attended by 80 JSIA BA and MA students, featured Ambassador Yogendra Kumar, Joint Secretary Alok Simri, and the Deputy Heads of Mission from the Brazilian, Russian, and South African Embassies in Delhi, and was moderated by Prof. Karin Costa Vazquez. The launch of Jindal Center for African, Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CALACS)was announced during the Special Briefing. JSIA students also participated in the other sessions of the Civil BRICSForum, enhancing their knowledge on global issues, increasing their exposure to specialists in the field, and expanding their networking opportunities. Students’ engagement was commended as a model for future Civil BRICS Fora. Academic exchanges and joint research initiatives among BRICS institutions with the aim of developing future BRICS leaders were also included in the final declaration forwarded to the Presidents of the BRICS countries during the BRICS Summit (15-16 October, Goa).
