Kin State Intervention In Ethnic Conflicts--Sumit Ganguly

I have always wondered why when it comes to foreign affairs, even otherwise eloquent and knowledgeable India-based writers tend to bring out drab, boring compilations of newspaper clippings rather than give some incisive observations and insights.

Be it C Raja Mohan or J N Dixit. Their books--whatever little I have read--are simply an experts chronicling of past events and nothing more than that.

This is in striking contrast to Indians settled abroad, like Fareed Zakaria or Parag Khanna, who could be easily some of the best writers on geopolitical matters in the world. Perhaps I have missed to many of India-based writers books on the subject.

I picked up Sumit Ganguly's book looking to change my perception. But I failed. While the book comprehensively covers the geopolitical issues of South Asia, with their history and present status, that's about it. No insights, no analysis, no learned speculation.

Conclusion: Boring, but damn helpful for reference.

Post American World--Fareed Zakaria

I picked up 'The Post American World' after thoroughly enjoying Zakaria's "Future of freedom" some years back.

Although, the author manages to keep the same liveliness of "Future Freedom", replete with anecdotes, statistics and intelligent deductions, the book does not live up to the standard of the author's seminal first offering.

In fact, some of Zakaria's deductions--like about America's credit-worthiness--fall flat right at the word go, as the recent financial bust there seems to have proven.

If you are looking for US-baiting verbiage in PAW, you would surprise those who know Zakaria and his inclinations well. The book speaks about the rise of others in a -dominated world, rather than the fall of the behemoth itself.

However, the greatest srength of Zakaria--his research that he simplifies (sometimes oversimplifies, I've felt) for his readers--still remains a huge point of attraction. Yet, I thought "The Second World" by Parag Khanna is a much better pick on issues related to geopolitical affairs in the post-US domination world.

Peace And Its Discontents--Edward Said

I have struggled to read Edward Said before. His "Orientalism" was completely Greek and Latin to me when I read it the first time in college. I had to read it again some years later to make some sense of it. I intend to read it again shortly.

So, with the same sense of dread I picked up this book two years back. Also because it was a cheap bargain on Mumbai’s streets—Rs 50 for a copy!

To my surprise, Said was completely different this time. A chance one-one-one conversation (if you can call it one ) with a fellow Orkutter prompted me to revisit the book recently. Although this time I didn’t read the entire book but only parts of it.

Said, in a clear-cut manner, rips apart the conventional wisdom with regards to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. In an absolutely unambiguous way he exposes the hypocrisy and malevolent agenda of Israel, evidently backed by big brother, and the hoax called Oslo Peace Accord between the rabid rightwinger Yitzhak Rabin and the Palestinian revolutionary-turned-thug.

Besides, Said also throws light on the attitudinal difference of the US-led West, which thinks Israel is “us” and Palestine is “them”.

A must read for anyone interested in the middle-eastern crisis.