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Parama Sinha Palit

Parama Sinha Palit is a scholar of international relations based in Singapore. She holds a PhD from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), India and specializes in study of foreign policies of India, China and other rising powers with particular focus on soft power, diplomacy, culture and communication in shaping foreign policies. Her book Analysing China’s Soft Power Strategy and Comparative Indian Initiatives (2017; Sage), discusses historical underpinnings and contemporary application of Chinese soft power in various parts of the world, along with similar Indian efforts.

Her later work explores comparative dimensions of Chinese and Indian engagement policies in Southeast Asia. Parama’s current research combines theoretical and applied strands of international relations, communication studies and diplomacy to explore the role of social media in external outreach of the Indian state with various actors including the Indian diaspora. The research also compares similar use of social media by US, China and other countries.

Parama is affiliated with the Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) as an Adjunct Senior Fellow in the South Asia Programme. She is also affiliated as a Senior Fellow with Praman — a policy research and management network in India. She had earlier worked for major Indian research institutes and think-tanks like the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) and the United Services Institution (USI) and was also with the National University of Singapore (NUS), apart from being a Research Associate with the China in Comparative Perspective Network (CCPN), a UK based academic society. Parama has several academic publications to her credit, including in peer-reviewed journals. She comments regularly for Asia Dialogue of the China Policy Institute of the University of Nottingham and has several years of experience of field work in India, China and Southeast Asia. She is proficient in multiple South Asian languages and functional Mandarin.

As an affiliate researcher of SASNET, Parama writes extensively for SASNET outlets and participates in its projects that connect to international relations of India and South Asia. She looks to highlight lesser-known nuances of India’s contemporary external engagement to the Nordic scholar and policy communities. She is interested in engaging with students at Lund University on South Asia, and the SASNET research network, for visualizing long-term academic projects.

 

Publications

Books

  • Analysing China’s Soft Power Strategy and Comparative Indian Initiatives (New Delhi: Sage, 2017)
  • India and China: National Image-building in Southeast Asia (New Delhi: Pentagon Press, 2018)

Working Paper/Monograph

Journal Articles/ Academic Papers/Commentaries/Blogs

  • “China-Africa ties and the China-Africa Cooperation Forum”, 3 October 2018
  • “Xi-Modi meet at Wuhan: Informality defines new engagement”, 17 May 2018
  • “China’s confused communication: intentional or underdeveloped?" 21 March 2018
  • “Australia’s China Quandary”, China Policy Institute (University of Nottingham), 4 December 2017
  • “China-India Communication: A Doklam Dividend”, China Policy Institute (University of Nottingham),10 October 2017
  • “China’s cultural diplomacy: Historical Origin, Modern Methods and Strategic Outcomes”, China Currents, Vol. 12, No. 2; 13 January, 2014
  • “Asia in the 21st century: India, China engages Southeast Asia”, Malaysian Journal of International Affairs (MJIA), Vol. 1; December, 2013
  • “Strategic Influence of Soft Power: Inferences for India from Chinese Engagement of South and Southeast Asia” (co-authored), ICRIER Policy Series, No. 3; August, 2011
  • “Cultural Diplomacy for Engaging South Asia: Indian and Chinese Experiences”, ICFAI University Journal of International Relations, Hyderabad, Nos. 3 & 4; 2009
  • “Role of Indian Diaspora in Increasing Strategic Influence in a Globalised World”, (co-authored), Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 13, No. 1, Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (BILIA), Dhaka; January-June, 2009
  • “India, China and US-Key Variables in Indian Ocean”, Journal of Indian Ocean Studies; December, 2006
  • “Shared Security Interests”, Asian Affairs, Brunel Academic Publishers Ltd.: UK; June 2006
  • “The ‘Singh Doctrine”, (co-authored), Armed Forces Journal, Army Times Publishing Co., 6883: VA 22159, USA; May 2006
  • “Asian Conundrum: US-India-China Triad”; Asian Affairs, Brunel Academic Publishers Ltd.: UK; March 2006
  • “Changing Dynamics in Indo-US Relations: A Perspective”, Border Security Force (BSF) Journal, Tekanpore, Gwalior, India; June 2005
  • “US ‘Foothold’ Abroad: Implications for Asia”, Asian Affairs, Brunel Academic Publishers Ltd.: UK; June 2005
  • “New US Administration and Its Approach to Foreign Policy”, Strategic Analysis, IDSA; October-December 2004
  • “The 9/11 Report: Reaffirming Pakistan-Terrorism Nexus”, Strategic Analysis, IDSA; July-September, 2004
  • “US-Iran: The Changing Dynamics and the Likelihood of a Conflict”, Strategic Analysis, IDSA; January-March 2004
  • “Dilemmas in the American Policy towards Taiwan”, Strategic Analysis, IDSA; October-December 2002
  • “Vajpayee-Bush Joint Statement: Looking Beyond”, Strategic Analysis, IDSA; November 2001
  • “The Kashmir Policy of the United States: A Study of the Perceptions, Conflicts and Dilemmas”, Strategic Analysis IDSA; September 2001 (The paper has been recommended as reference material
  • by the Joint Forces Staff College (Norfolk, National Defense University, USA, for its students)

Chapters in Books

  • “Diaspora and Community: The Indian Presence in Hong Kong” In Tai Wei Lim, Tuan Yuen Kong (eds.) Studying Hong Kong: 20 Years of Political, economic & Social Developments. Singapore: World Scientific, 2018
  • “Soft Power through education: Indian and Chinese strategies in South and Southeast Asia”, In Chitty, Naren (ed) China, USA and the World – Theatres of soft power. Project 211 National Key University in Beijing; 2015
  • “Soft Power through education: Comparing China and India”, In Xiangqun, Chang (ed) Society Building: A China Model of Social Development. UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2014

Book/Article Reviews

  • “Global expansion of China’s media for soft power promotion”, Global Media and Communication (UK), 2018
  • “Comparative analysis of Chinese and Indian Soft Power Strategy”, Asian Politics & Policy (APP), 2016
  • ‘China’s Transformation: The Success Story and the Success Trap’, SAGE (India), 2016
  • “China’s SAARC membership”, International Journal of China Studies, University of Malaya, 2015
  • “Communicating India’s Soft Power: Buddha to Bollywood”, vol. 88 (2) Pacific Affairs, University of British Columbia (pp. 345-7), June 2015
  • “A Glimpse of Confucius Institute in the Mekong Region” Issues and Studies: National Chengchi University, Taiwan 2013
  • “Changing Dynamics of China's Relationship with Nepal: The Post-Monarchy Period” for the South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies: Monash University, 2011

Parama Sinha Palit

Parama Sinha Palit

E-mail: psinhapalit [at] gmail [dot] com (psinhapalit[at]gmail[dot]com)