The People's Republic of China, founded in 1949, has always had a thirst for power and dominance. In the beginning, while it was protecting and conquering lands, it left the coasts unguarded. A brutal mistake to commit. Illustration by The Geostrata It was only in the late 1970s that Deng Xiaoping's reforms transformed the coast into China’s economic engine. Exports and the presence of ports tied China’s survival to maritime security. Yet, by the 1990s, clashes in the South C

Sometimes, one decision can alter the entire course of destiny. For Jammu and Kashmir, that decision came on 26 October 1947. On this day, Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of the princely state, signed the Instrument of Accession, choosing to join India that is Bharat, Kashmir’s home, its own civilisation. Illustration by The Geostrata The decision was made during immense external aggression at the hands of Pakistan. Within days of independence, Pakistan activated Operation Gul

In the 21st century, the world has entered a period of dramatic change in global climate dynamics. With an expanding climate crisis, unprecedented temperatures, and evolving geopolitical alignments, India, home to approximately 1.4 billion people  and a rapidly developing economy , finds itself at a momentous crossroad. Illustration by The Geostrata On the international stage, India’s approach combines its domestic policies with active participation and strategic partnership

Techniques of warfare have evolved and are no longer confined to battlefields and the use of military force. The landscape has shifted to incorporate cybersecurity, the media (including contemporary and social media), and narrative building , along with other major global threats, such as environmental and economic threats. Information and the manipulation of human behaviour hold crucial importance in contemporary warfare. Illustration by The Geostrata With the increasing int

The idea of "soft power," introduced by American political scientist Joseph Nye, is extensively applied in contemporary international relations. This strategy enables nations to advance their interests without having to utilise military force. Soft power, as it is understood today, gained prominence after the Cold War, when the United States became the sole superpower. Illustration by The Geostrata The “unipolar moment” that the U.S. experienced after the fall of the Soviet U

Folk music is a kind of traditional, often rural music that represents the cultural heartbeat of India. Anchored in oral traditions expressing the everyday struggles of human beings, folk music differs from other forms of music, like classical music, by being more rooted to the cultural realities of the rural population and the marginalised sections of society.  Illustration by The Geostrata In India, folk music is a tool of cultural identifiers of a diverse region. From the

The United States continues to maintain an extensive military presence in West Asia, which represents one of the most enduring features of post-Cold War geopolitics. Many analysts describe the American military presence in West Asia as a stabilizing influence. However, its actual effects have proven more complex than traditional narratives suggest. Illustration by The Geostrata US leaders from both Republican and Democratic administrations have used military capabilities to p

There is a monument in Geneva that depicts a giant broken chair, and it stands just across the street from the world's premier organ for international law and cooperation- The United Nations. Originally meant to symbolise the devastation caused by landmines, the chair’s broken leg today serves as a powerful metaphor for the UN itself, as its principal pillars are broken and just one push away from total collapse. Illustration by The Geostrata The Vision was noble, born from

In the 19th century, the “Great Game” was the strategic competition between the British Empire and Tsarist Russia over the domination of Central Asia. This historic competition is resurfacing in a modern form, with new players, new tools, and billions of dollars at stake. Central Asia, which had long been viewed as a geopolitical backwater, has emerged as a critical front line in the contest for supremacy among great powers. Illustration by The Geostrata Today, China, Russia,

It has been over 1,200 days, and yet, the war between Russia and Ukraine is still ongoing. The world watched the lines of battle shift, peace talks struggle, and hopes for a ceasefire fade, but the fundamental issues fueling the conflict remain unchanged. Both the guns and diplomacy persist in a costly deadlock despite the stakes and efforts of the global leaders, leaving the future of Europe uncertain. Illustration by The Geostrata One such effort unfolded on 15th August, at

A lustrous metal that has witnessed history from ancient Bharat to modern-day Viksit Bharat, from the Indus Valley Civilisation to the artificial intelligence era, gold has served as a means of family inheritance, pride, and a reliable economic asset. Illustration by The Geostrata Its nature of scarcity makes it precious, and its ability to act as a safety valve for central banks worldwide makes it unique among other metals. In the Indian economy, this lustrous metal is more

Rivers have always been the backbone of human settlements, nurturing communities and fostering trade. They provide water for drinking, agriculture, and industry, making them indispensable to the national economies. For example, the Mekong River is vital to Southeast Asian countries , while the  Nile River supports millions of people in Egypt and Sudan . Illustration by The Geostrata These rivers not only sustain life but also fuel economic growth, creating interdependencies t

The H-1B visa program started with the Immigration Act of 1990. This law created a type of visa that lets U.S. companies hire foreign workers in jobs that need at least a college degree or something similar in areas like science, technology, engineering, and math. At first, there was a limit of 65,000 visas each year. The goal was to fill gaps in skilled workers needed in the American job market. Illustration by The Geostrata Over time, most of the H-1B visas went to people f

The Indian growth story has long been an attractive prospect for foreign capital. However, in recent years, the high value exits of global investors have raised pressing concerns about the sustainability of India’s investment climate. Illustration by The Geostrata A mix of internal and external factors has negatively affected investor confidence, despite the country’s solid macroeconomic fundamentals. Chief among the concerns of the investment community are valuation pressure

The clouds of tension are looming large, and we see a storm stirring up. Now, before scratching your head, wondering what storm we are talking about and who is stirring what, let us make things clear. Illustration by The Geostrata A new chapter in US-China ties has begun, defined by increasingly hostile discourse, reciprocal sanctions, and limited people-to-people interaction. Additionally, if the current string of tensions continue, the prospect of a long-term strategic riva

In modern conflict , wars are not just fought on the battlefronts but also in the realm of public opinion . Fogging of media is the deliberate or inadvertent manipulation of military action brought about by ambiguous, partisan, or propagandistic media reporting. Illustration by The Geostrata In the era of instant information, this fog—produced by state and non-state actors, media organisations, and social media—sets the context of perception, understanding, and judgment of wa

“ Space is the ultimate high-ground. We must secure it now or risk being left blind.” This statement was made by Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit , Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, at the Surveillance and Electro Optics India seminar in June 2025 at New Delhi. Illustration by The Geostrata His words are reflective of a growing trend in the world–space as no longer a combat supporting domain but a warfighting one. Space has always been viewed as the final frontier in warfare. The

In February 2022, Russia began an invasion of Ukraine. And as a response, the West implemented extensive aviation sanctions through the governments and aircraft OEMs ( Original Equipment Manufacturers ) Boeing, Airbus, etc, by shutting down leases. Illustration by The Geostrata Russia responded by re-registering foreign aircraft in Russia. The re-registration effectively nationalised the aircraft, and termination and immediate cessation of support from maintenance to spare pa

The analysis of psychological profiling of world leaders, or for that matter, any individual, cannot be fulfilled without mentioning ‘The Father of Psychology’, Sigmund Freud. In 1932, in a letter from Albert Einstein to Sigmund Freud, under the title “Why War?” Einstein asked several crucial questions pertaining to the present world stratum.  Illustration by The Geostrata One of them is “ Is it possible to control man's mental evolution to make him proof against the psychos

India is on the path to becoming a developed nation in the coming decades. However, the overall pattern of national development takes a new twist in line with the restricted number of women in the workforce to date. Illustration by The Geostrata Instead of being a peripheral women's problem of fewer women's workforce participation, it is an economic challenge that must be addressed to ensure the nation’s growth, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability. Relatively low by