The 21st Century ― Geo-politics, Democracy and Peace

This book examines a wide range of issues that are expected to play a dominant role in shaping the 21st century. Delineating key concerns in geopolitics, democracy and peace, it studies the functions and influences of educational institutions, progressive religious and social groups, communities, international institutions such as the United Nations, and forums promoting inter-faith dialogue. The author underscores how the century may be forged by a pluralist ethos: multiple and diverse nation-states, centres of power, faiths, cultures, economies, and languages. He stresses the need to nurture moral strength and enlightened leadership for a life of compassion, peace and holistic development. Lucid and engaging, this book will interest scholars and researchers of political studies, international relations, public policy, governance and development studies.

Balmiki Prasad Singh is former Governor of Sikkim, India. Earlier, he was Culture Secretary and Home Secretary, Government of India; and Executive Director and Ambassador at the World Bank, Washington, D.C. He received his education at the Universities of Patna and Oxford, and has been recipient of several awards and fellowships, as also delivered lectures at national and global congregations. He has been Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, Asia’s Representative on Ramsar Convention, a founder member of the Development Gateway Foundation (DGF), and Member, Global Environment Facility (GEF), Washington D.C. He has held various honorary academic and governmental assignments as Chancellor, Central University of Tibetan Studies, Sarnath; Chief Editor of book series ‘Perspectives on Economics, Technology and Governance’; President, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology; Chancellor, Sikkim Manipal University; and Mahatma Gandhi National Fellow. He is the author of many books including The Problem of Change: A Study of North-East India (1987); India’s Culture: The State, the Arts and Beyond (1998); and Bahudha and the post-9/11 World (2008).