Darshana M. Baruah

Oct 30, 2024 | lrb.co.uk | Darshana M. Baruah |Laleh Khalili

Shah S​ulaiman, the 17th-century Safavid monarch of Iran, liked to spend his time drinking wine with his many wives. He avoided war with the Ottoman Empire and was largely uninterested in the European powers. Like many potentates on the Indian Ocean rim, however, he was fascinated by the other kingdoms surrounding this vast watery realm. In 1685, he sent a diplomatic mission to Ayutthaya, the capital of Siam, where a number of Iranian merchants lived.

Aug 1, 2024 | literaryreview.co.uk | Darshana M. Baruah

The Indian Ocean is the world’s third-largest body of water, containing about a fifth of the water on the planet’s surface. Darshana Baruah’s interesting short book treats it in a holistic fashion rather than as a watery adjunct to the continental hinterlands it abuts. Oceanic islands receive attention as actors in their own right; their shifting relations with the great powers form a major theme in the book. This vast maritime domain is bounded to the west by East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

Feb 8, 2024 | carnegieendowment.org | Darshana M. Baruah |Satyendra Prasad |Denghua Zhang

This Q&A was adapted from a Carnegie China live event assessing China-Pacific Islands relations. It has been edited for clarity. Darshana M. Baruah: Within the geopolitical conversation, there is a notion that China comes with big amounts of cash and forces its development projects on countries in the Pacific.

Jan 19, 2024 | carnegieendowment.org | Darshana M. Baruah |Satyendra Prasad |Denghua Zhang

In recent years, Beijing has emerged as a key economic and security player for Pacific island nations. At the same time, Pacific island states face a multitude of challenges, from the impact of climate change to rising great power competition. How do Pacific island nations view China’s growing engagements and what are their priorities with Beijing? What are China’s goals and ambitions in the South Pacific? How will China’s relations with Pacific island countries evolve in the years to come?

Nov 29, 2023 | carnegieendowment.org | Darshana M. Baruah

In the first installment of a new collaboration between the University of California Press and Carnegie California, senior fellow Darshana Baruah speaks with Professor Christina Gerhardt about her book, Sea Change: An Atlas of Islands in a Rising Ocean. The interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Darshana Baruah: At Carnegie, I spearheaded a dedicated initiative on understanding priorities and challenges important for island nations.