Visit to MBIS by Dr. Sreeram Chaulia, Professor and Dean of Jindal School of International Affairs

Last Friday, MBIS was fortunate to host the Dean of the Jindal School of International Affairs, Dr. Sreeram Chaulia.

Dr. Chaulia addressed the Grade 12 History and Economics students and gave a fascinating talk on recent developments in global politics. Dr. Chaulia began by tackling the issue of democracy – or rather the increasing lack of it – in the world today. This was an interesting observation as most of us had assumed that almost all of the world is democratic, with a few notable exceptions. It turns out that 61% of the world’s people live under undemocratic regimes. Dr. Chaulia argued that many countries that hold regular elections may not be fully democratic because of systematic abuses of the elections process. As one of our students pointed out, this may be to to make the people feel free and to show the international community that a country is democratic even when this is not the case.

Dr. Chaulia also explained how economic problems can give rise to more authoritarian governments. He used the examples of the US, Hungary, Italy, Poland, the Philippines and Thailand following the financial crisis of 2008. As history students we could immediately connect these developments to the rise of fascism in Europe and elsewhere in the 1930s. The recent trend towards dictatorship seems all too familiar to those of use who recall the economic circumstances of the Great Depression and the emergence of authoritarian right-wing nationalism in Italy, Germany and Japan.

For many of us democracy is the ideal political system, one to which all freedom-loving people aspire. However, Dr. Chaulia noted that some countries such as Singapore, the UAE and Saudi Arabia enjoy above average income and – at least in the case of Singapore – seem to have happy citizens in spite of political systems that are less than fully democratic. However, these are exceptions rather than the rule.

Dr. Chaulia’s fascinating talk was followed by some equally stimulating discussions back in the history classroom. These centred around the nature of democracy and in particular its scope and application in poorer countries. Using examples such as China, Malaysia and South Korea, we discussed the controversial idea that authoritarian systems can provide the political stability necessary for the promotion of rapid economic growth. We also looked at the ways in which multi-party systems can be hi-jacked by corrupt and unscrupulous politicians, often leading to ethnic and sectarian conflict.

Dr. Chaulia’s talk was immensely valuable, not only for his intriguing arguments and perspectives, but also because of the ways in which he prompted discussion and debate among students. Most importantly, we were forced to question the oft-held assumption that the world of today is safe for democracy For that we are very grateful.

Meghan Kalvey

Human systems and economic activities	The study of how and why people construct organizations and systems; the ways in which people connect locally and globally; the distribution of power and authority.
Social organization and culture	The study of people, communities, cultures and societies in the ways in which individuals, groups and societies interact with each other.
Continuity and change through time	The study of the relationships between people and events through time; the past, its influences on the present and its implications for the future; people who have shaped the future through their actions.
Human and natural environments	The study of the distinctive features that give a place its identity; how people adapt to and alter their environment; how people experience and represent place; the impact of natural disasters on people and the built environment.
Resources and the environment	The interaction between people and the environment; the study of how humans allocate and manage resources; the positive and negative effects of this management; the impact of scientific and technological developments on the environment.

Living things	The study of the characteristics, systems and behaviours of humans and other animals, and of plants; the interactions and relationships between and among them, and with their environment.
Earth and space	The study of planet Earth and its position in the universe, particularly its relationship with the sun; the natural phenomena and systems that shape the planet and the distinctive features that identify it; the infinite and finite resources of the planet.
Materials and matter	The study of the properties, behaviours and uses of materials, both natural and human-made; the origins of human-made materials and how they are manipulated to suit a purpose.
Forces and energy	The study of energy, its origins, storage and transfer, and the work it can do; the study of forces; the application of scientific understanding through inventions and machines. (IBO, 2009)

Visit to MBIS by Dr. Sreeram Chaulia, Professor and Dean of Jindal School of International Affairs

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