The International Relations Club 2023-2024
Annual Club Report
Peace Fortnight: Discussion on "Genesis of World Peace"
Date: 14/8/23
Time: 1:30 - 2:30
Registrations:100
Attendance: 30
The International Relations Club hosted its first event of the year 2023- "Genesis of World Peace" on 14th August. The event was set in motion with the Junior Executive of our club, Mary, by asking the members of the audience the interpretation and implication of the word Peace with regard to international politics and foreign policies of various countries.
A zestful and exuberant discussion was had as a consequence of the active participation of the members of the audience.
Plethora of topics were the center of discussion that ranged from abstract concepts and theories namely evolution of Peace Treaties, modification of diplomacy and the power dynamics on the global stage to deliberating on real life events such as world war one, world war two and formation of the United Nations.
Some audience members quite spontaneously talked about the perils and the precarious nature of the policy of appeasement which has led to lethal and irreversible events that left blood stains on the human psyche, ensanguining the pages of history with it. Everyone agreed upon how appeasing a dictator doesn't placate them and a collective force of nations must emerge to check them from sparking off and pre precipitating another tragic war.
For certain people pacifism was the answer for imperturbable peace and tranquility while there were some people in the audience who were skeptical of this notion.
No discussion on peace is complete without the talk of the relevance of the United Nations. By the end of the event, this Peacekeeping organisation was declared by some as sisyphean and sterile while others hailed it as the lamb of God.
Overall, the event was conducted with impeccable brilliance by the moderators of our club. A feedback form was circulated which received were mostly positive and heartening.
Israel and Palestine: A discussion on the legitimacy of states (IRC x SSRI)
Date: 25/8/23
Time: 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM IST
Registrations: 151
Attendance:48
The event was a result of the collaborative effort of the International Relations and the SSRI Club. It was brilliantly moderated by the IRC Senior Executive,Fizra Wani and one of the SSRI executives. The event commenced with Fizra questioning the audience members about their knowledge of the topic and their perceptions regarding the geopolitical situation of this particular region in the Levantine. Many members of the audience had an unprejudiced and a non-partisan approach towards the state of affairs in Palestine, a political sentiment which was quite scarce in the previous generations. There was a discussion and a debate on the legitimacy of both Israel and Palestine. While some members spoke in favor of Israel, others had a contrary view and unabashedly supported the validity of Palestine. The content of the discussion in some parts was an apparent testament of the sort of media consumed by the people present for the event.
A proper discussion was conducted on the political events which led to the creation of Israel, such as the Balfour Declaration, Zionism, Sykes–Picot agreement and so forth.
This event was a triumphant collaboration between IRC and SSRI since it successfully functioned as an instrument that helped to bust myths about the political tragedy in the Middle East. This activity simultaneously provided a sanctuary and a safe space for the discussion of a topic that is often considered to be too scandalous and controversial to talk about, especially in the West.
India and the G20 (IRC x Political Science)
Date: 29/08/23
Time: 2 PM IST
Resource person: Mr. Samir Saran
Registrations: 131
Attendance: 95
The event commenced with an introduction regarding India and its involvement in the G20 summit. Mr. Samir Saran, our speaker for the event, talked about how the Indian presidency of G20 is unlike any other and a force to be reckoned with. He spoke of digital empowerment and India being more advanced in that scope, while also touching briefly over cyber security and sustainable development. He also focused on India emerging as a prominent leader and voice of the Global South. Lastly, he spoke of global governance and changes that India could witness in the upcoming years.
The talk was a gripping, concise, and an informative one, with a lot of new perspectives introduced. Following, was a question-answer session and the questions asked by the students were precise, to the point and captured the essence of the talk aptly. He opened the floor to questions where students asked several queries to gain better understanding. The event concluded around 3:30 PM IST. In terms of improvements, an attendance form should be circulated to keep track of the attendance of Sophia students for the purpose of credit allocation.
Diplomacy in the 20th Century
Date: 28/09/2023
Time: 5:30pm- 6:00 pm
Registration: 48
Attendance: 21
This was an online event hosted solely by IRC on 28 September. It was a general quiz regarding the topic of diplomacy in the 20th century.
The event was commenced by IRC’s Secretary, Sanjna Sen, briefing everybody about the rules and regulations to be followed while answering the quiz. The quiz was played on an interesting platform called the Quizlet. All the participants joined using the link provided in the chat box. Once everybody had clustered in the quizlet room online, they were then provided the quiz code. This was done to ensure equality of time for all the participants. All technical problems or glitches were solved before sharing the code. To ensure a smooth flow of the event the members were requested to switch off their cameras. Participants started answering enthusiastically which was visible through the shared screen by the host. The questions ranged mostly from World War-1, World War-2 and the Cold War. It ended with the 3rd position going to Anandita Anand with 5750 points, 2nd position going to Krshna with 10717 points and 1st position going to Aashna with 12041 points.
It was a well organized quiz as per the feedback form. Due ECC hours were given for participating in the quiz.
Political Cartoons (IRC A&D)
Date: 01/11/2023 to 07/11/2023
Registration: 7
Attendance: 7
The Political Cartoons event, held in collaboration with the Art and Design Club, aimed to provide a platform for members to creatively express their views on contemporary socio-political issues through artwork. Participants were encouraged to submit their pieces via Google Forms between November 1st and November 7th, 2023.
The event called for submissions in the form of political cartoons, allowing participants to address global issues using their artistic talents. The chosen topics for artwork submission were carefully selected to encompass a range of pressing concerns:
Oil Crisis: Participants were prompted to illustrate the challenges and implications surrounding the global oil crisis, exploring its economic, environmental, and geopolitical dimensions.
Global Warming: Artists were encouraged to visually communicate the urgency of climate change and its far-reaching effects on ecosystems, communities, and future generations.
Food Security: This topic invited participants to depict issues related to access, distribution, and sustainability of food resources on a local and global scale, highlighting disparities and potential solutions.
Israel-Palestine: Artists were tasked with representing the complexities and conflicts inherent in the Israel-Palestine conflict, fostering reflection and dialogue on this long standing issue. Russia-Ukraine War: Participants were challenged to depict the consequences and human toll of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, shedding light on its geopolitical ramifications and humanitarian crises.
We had 7 artworks submitted in total and after careful consideration, three artworks were chosen as winners. Anushka Gorg (Oil Crisis), Tabassum Khan (Israel-Palestine), Sarah Colaco (Global Warming)
Event: Building Bridges
Date: 01/11/2023 to 07/11/2023
Registration: 25
Attendance: 4
The virtual presentation event titled Building Bridges aimed to provide a platform for students to delve into the intricate web of diplomatic ties that India shares with other countries. The one-hour event brought together enthusiastic participants who represented various nations, offering a unique perspective on the geopolitical dynamics of the region.
The event was structured to ensure a comprehensive exploration of India's diplomatic relations with other countries. Each participating student was assigned a specific country to represent, and their task was to present key aspects of the diplomatic relationship, including historical context, current affairs, and future prospects. The presentations were followed by a Q&A session to encourage an interactive and engaging atmosphere. Participants began their presentations by providing a historical overview of the diplomatic relationship between India and their assigned country. This included significant milestones, treaties, and historical events that shaped the bilateral ties.
The focus then shifted to the contemporary landscape of diplomatic relations. Students discussed recent developments, trade agreements, cultural exchanges, and any challenges or opportunities that currently exist in the global scenario. A crucial aspect of each presentation was the geopolitical analysis, where participants delved into the strategic importance of the diplomatic ties between India and other countries. Factors such as shared borders, economic interests, and geopolitical alliances were explored in depth.
Event: Book Discussion: (IRC x ELS)
Date: 11/12/23
Time: 2:30 PM IST
Registrations: 7
Attendance: 7
The collaboration between the International Relations Club (IRC) and the English Literature Club (ELS) brought forth an intellectually stimulating event—a book discussion on "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood. The event aimed to explore the intersection between literature and politics, delving into the dystopian world crafted by Atwood and its implications on society. The primary objective of the event was to foster interdisciplinary dialogue among students, encouraging critical thinking and analysis beyond the confines of traditional academic boundaries. By merging the realms of international relations and literature, the event sought to broaden perspectives and encourage participants to reflect on the socio political themes depicted in Atwood's seminal work.
The event commenced with a brief introduction by the moderators from both IRC and ELS, providing context on the significance of "The Handmaid's Tale" in contemporary literature and its relevance to global socio-political discourse. The moderators highlighted key themes such as authoritarianism, gender politics, and reproductive rights, setting the stage for an insightful discussion. Drawing from their expertise in international relations, IRC members facilitated discussions on the geopolitical implications of the novel. They analyzed power dynamics, state control, and the suppression of individual freedoms, drawing parallels to contemporary global events and authoritarian regimes.
The War You Don't See : Documentary Screening and Discussion.
Date: 26th January 2024
Time : 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Platform: Google Meet
Registrations: 60
Attendees: 40
The International Relations Club screened "The War You Don't See," a gripping web documentary, on Zoom. The IRC secretary, Sanjna Sen, initiated the event, which began at 4 PM. The documentary explored the frequently hidden facets of war, illuminating the influence of the media on public opinion.
A provocative story that questioned the authenticity of information provided by the mainstream media during wars surfaced as the program went on. After a certain point , the film was cut short, leading to a controlled discussion instead. This pause gave viewers a chance to think about the documentary's subject matter and posed insightful questions regarding the responsibility and openness of the media. The discussion continued, led by Sanjna Sen, with IRC executives Fizraa Wani and Shriya Ray joining her as moderators.The three effectively led the discussion, encouraging listeners to offer their thoughts on the details of the documentary. The interactive style of the program encouraged passionate debate and gave attendees a space to share their opinions and thoughts.
In conclusion, the online documentary screening was a thought-provoking and engaging event that sparked discussions about how the media shapes our perceptions of war. The success of the event was due to the powerful documentary as well as the skillful moderating of the IRC team.