As traditional global alliances are tested and new centers of power develop, understanding the role of emerging global forces has never been more critical. Against this backdrop, India has increasingly asserted itself as a pivotal player in global governance, leveraging its economic growth, strategic partnerships, and technological advancements to shape international commerce and relations.
Thank you for joining us for a deep dive into how India is positioning itself as a key player on the world stage. Author, politician, and former U.N. under-secretary-general Shashi Tharoor discussed India’s foreign policy, alliances, and economic expansion, highlighting their implications for global markets. Tharoor also addressed India’s approach to regional stability and security in South Asia, as well as the transformative power of technology and innovation in promoting the country’s sustainable development.
This event was co-presented by the Baker Institute, Rice Global, and the Chao Center for Asian Studies’ Liu Distinguished Visitor Series.
It was free and open to the public.
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Agenda
4:30 pm CDT — Reception
5:00 pm CDT — Introduction
5:10 pm CDT — Moderated Conversation
5:55 pm CDT — Q&A Session
Participants
Introduction
Caroline Levander, Ph.D.
Vice President for Global and Carlson Professor in the Humanities, Rice University
Featured Speakers
Shashi Tharoor, Ph.D., is an author, politician, and former international civil servant, who straddles several worlds of experience. Currently a fourth-term parliament member of Lok Sabha, representing the Thiruvananthapuram constituency in Kerala, India, he previously served as India’s minister of state for human resource development and minister of state for external affairs. During his nearly three-decade-long prior career at the United Nations, he served as a peacekeeper, refugee worker, and administrator at the highest levels, serving as under-secretary-general during Kofi Annan’s leadership of the organization.
Tharoor is the bestselling author of 26 books, both fiction and nonfiction, and the winner of several literary awards, including a Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, Sahitya Akademi Award, and Crossword Book’s Lifetime Achievement award.
Moderator
The Honorable David M. Satterfield
Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy; Former Ambassador to Lebanon and Turkey