On 12 April 2022, the 49th Youth Academic Workshop on International Studies of Fudan University (YAWIS Fudan) was held by the Institute of International Studies of Fudan University (IIS Fudan) via virtual meeting. Assoc. Prof. XIE Chao gave a lecture titled “India’s Strategic Culture and Foreign Policy Preferences.” The 49th YAWIS Fudan was moderated by Prof. QI Huaigao, Vice Dean of IIS Fudan, and two discussants are Prof. LI Li, Vice Dean of the Institute of International Relations of Tsinghua University and Prof. ZHANG Jiadong, Director of Center for South Asian Studies of IIS Fudan. The 49th YAWIS Fudan brought an audience of faculty and students from more than 40 universities nation wide.

(Assoc. Prof. XIE Chao gives a lecture on “India’s Strategic Culture and Foreign Policy Preferences”)

XIE Chao noticed in his lecture that there is a prevailing impression on India’s foreign policy that many of its policy choices indicate short-term rather than long-term considerations, and in response to this mindset, he elaborated his understanding on how cultural lens can help predict India’s foreign policy and under what circumstances that India foreign policy will choose to focus on short and long term goals. He further talked about the mechanism between strategic culture and behavior, thus digging out India’s traditional understanding on international system and great power politics.

Prof. LI Li pointed out in her comments that strategic culture is a very open topic and there is a lack of interest on it among Chinese academic community. She further suggests that India held a dual identity as a West based on their shared values on democracy and Global South country based on third worldism. Prof. ZHANG Jiadong shared his understanding why India chose a non-aligned status based on its great power ambition and pursuit of strategic autonomy.

(Prof. LI Li, Vice Dean of the Institute of International Relations of Tsinghua University presents her comments)

(Prof. ZHANG Jiadong, Director of Center for South Asian Studies of IIS Fudan, presents his comments)

During the Q&A session, the speaker, discussants and audiences exchanges their ideas on India-China relations, India-Australia interim free trade pact and British Raj’s influence on India’s foreign policy.

XIE Chao joins IIS Fudan as Associate Professor in January 2022. His current researches touch upon India's political system, party politics and foreign policy. His broader research interests also include major power relations and international relations theories.

(XIE Chao visited a local rally event during Delhi Assembly Elections in 2020)  

(XIE Chao visited Kurukshetra, an ancient city of cultural heritage in India in 2020)

  Link to the Chinese Version: https://iis.fudan.edu.cn/b9/aa/c6840a440746/page.htm