Course Catalog
"The Indo-Pacific—far beyond a term, and more than a “geopolitical construct”, as some might argue—is emerging as the epicentre of global conversations about power, security, and geoeconomics." "Stretching across vast, interconnected waters—from Africa’s eastern shores to the western Pacific—the Indo-Pacific is a region rich in natural resources, with crucial sea lanes, strategic choke points, and vital underwater cables. It has become not only a pivotal center for global trade and security but also a hotspot of geopolitical rivalry, emerging as one of the most consequential regions shaping 21st-century geopolitics."
"This is why the Indo-Pacific matters more than ever, and this course is your guide to understanding the region and exploring how it’s reshaping our world."
Course Development Team
Project Director
Dr Happymon Jacob
Dr Happymon Jacob is the founder and director of CSDR. He directs CSDR’s research and activities across divisions. He is an Associate Professor of Diplomacy and Disarmament at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University(JNU). Dr Jacob has held various academic and research positions and is an accomplished author, having written the books ‘Line on Fire: Ceasefire Violations and India-Pakistan Escalation Dynamics’ (OUP, 2019) and ‘Line of Control: Traveling with the Indian and Pakistani Armies’ (Penguin Viking, 2018).
Research Director
Dr N Manoharan
Dr N. Manoharan is Director, Centre for East Asian Studies, Christ (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru. He earlier served at the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), PMO, and Ministry of Defence, Government of India. He was South Asia Visiting Fellow at the East-West Center Washington and is a recipient of Mahbub-ul Haq international award for research. His areas of interest include internal security, terrorism, Sri Lanka, Maldives, human rights, ethnic conflicts, multiculturalism, and security sector reforms.
Project Manager
Dr Gaurav Saini
Gaurav Saini is co-founder of CSDR and leads product design and partnerships. Dr. Saini holds a PhD in International Politics from the Centre for International Politics, Organization, and Disarmament at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.
His research interests include foreign policy, strategic culture, defense industry, regionalism, and conflict resolution. Currently, he is an Emerging Quad Think Tank Leader, a part of the U.S. State Department’s Leaders Lead on Demand program.
Project Associate
Amba Wattal
Amba Wattal is a Program Associate for Indo-Pacific Affairs at CSDR, where she manages a diverse array of activities and initiatives within the Indo-Pacific Circle- a platform committed to advancing indigenous knowledge production and exchange
across the region.
Amba holds a Master’s degree in International Studies from Symbiosis International University, Pune, a Master’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Rights.
Project Associate
Ashwin Dhanabalan
Mr. Ashwin Dhanabalan is a Doctoral Scholar of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung(KAS) and Coordinator Projects, Centre for East Asian Studies (CEAS), Christ University, Bengaluru. He has also been invited to various discussions and dialogues, including the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung-A ‘Rising Leader’ 2024, the Australia-India Leadership Dialogue 2022 as an ‘Observer’, the Western Sydney University's Partnerships with Impact dialogue aimed at promoting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a ‘Delegate’.