Annual Report 2007 - Observer Research Foundation

OBSERVER RESEARCH FOUNDATION has been deeply engaged
in a series of research studies and initiative in different
vital areas of national concern with the objective of offering serious
policy alternatives and recommendations to the policymakers.
Though ORF’s approach to understanding of issues is holistic and
multi-disciplinary, for the sake of convenience three broad areas
of initiatives and study have been defined and these are International
Initiative, Security Studies and National Initiative. Within
the National Initiative, the Centre for Resources Management is
presently addressing the critical energy security issues for the
country.
ORF constitutes task forces to study the various aspects of a
particular issue or conduct a research study in a specific area and shares its findings among peers
and publishing it as a book or a monograph. Interactions with scholars and visiting dignitaries
are also arranged for the benefit of academics, strategists and policymakers. These discussions are
informal and the outcome is published as a policy brief or issue brief.
INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE
While ORF is interested in the entire gamut of India’s international affairs, India’s Neighbourhood,
Eurasia, China and the United States are of special concern and study. Apart from the ongoing meetings
and discussions that are arranged on India’s foreign policy issues and understanding of international
relations, during the year under review, ORF has focused on the following specific and significant
research projects that are critical and important.
STUDIES &
INITIATIVES
INDIA’S NEIGHBOURHOOD STUDIES PROGRAMME
Task Force on India’s Neighbourhood – Towards a new policy framework
The ORF Task Force on India’s Neighbourhood Policy will study India’s policy towards its immediate
neighbours—Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar to set down an agenda
to resolve both bilateral and multilateral issues against the backdrop of an emerging global, economic
and political order.
India, being the larger and more powerful member of the South Asian community, has the responsibility,
and the opportunity, to set aside historical mistakes and work towards evolving a
constructive and cooperative neighbhourhood policy, and thereby set new benchmarks of regional
cooperation.
The project has been studying the challenging task before India to align its national interests
Annual Report 2007 ◆ Observer Research Foundation
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