Syed Jaleel Hussain | Jamia Millia Islamia (original) (raw)

Uploads

Papers by Syed Jaleel Hussain

Research paper thumbnail of To Be or Not to Be: Great Power Dilemmas and the Iranian Nuclear Programme

Journal Of Asian Security and International Affairs, 2022

This article looks at the competing dilemmas faced by the great powers and the reasons for their ... more This article looks at the competing dilemmas faced by the great powers and the reasons for their eventual cooperation concerning Iran's nuclear programme. The great powers were divided between those who wanted a total roll back and those who supported meaningful and verifiable limits. Using the levels of analysis framework, the article looks at individual actors, structural factors and the domestic interconnections that sustained the Iranian nuclear crisis and propelled its eventual resolution in the form of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Research paper thumbnail of Culture, Religion and Strategy: The 'Islamic' Contours of Iran's Nuclear Thinking

Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, 2022

This article proposes a fresh explanation of Iran's nuclear programme by using the framework of s... more This article proposes a fresh explanation of Iran's nuclear programme by using the framework of strategic culture. The core argument of this article is that Iran's strategic restraint in not overtly weaponising its nuclear programme is primarily driven by its strategic culture despite the continuously deteriorating regional security situation and a deeply hostile neighbourhood. This has incentivised a 'Shia way' of looking at and practising a strategy that sees nuclear weapons as fundamentally un-Islamic. Instead of weaponisation, Iran has shown remarkable flexibility to accept restrictions on its nuclear programme under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Security-based realist explanations fail to account for such behaviour and can be better explained using a cultural framework. The strategic culture-based framework also explains the reasons behind Iran's policy of nuclear hedging and its acceptability by major sections of the political elite in Iran.

Research paper thumbnail of Insecurity, Identity and Resistance : Contours of Shia Political Discourse in Kashmir

Economic and Political Weekly, 2021

Shias constitute an influential minority of the Kashmiri population, having a considerable influe... more Shias constitute an influential minority of the Kashmiri population, having a considerable influence on the nature of sociopolitical changes in the state. Ranging from external influences to contested histories, there are several reasons behind the Shias’ ambiguous political outlook regarding the overall Kashmir question. The analytical category of “perceptual ambivalence” is proposed to understand the nature of contemporary
the political discourse of Shias in Kashmir and their political disposition.

Research paper thumbnail of Brokering Peace in Nuclear Environments: U.S. Crisis Management in South Asia

Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of Iran's Nuclear Program: A Study in Proliferation and Rollback

Research paper thumbnail of Nuclear Strategy in the Modern Era: Regional Powers and International Conflict

Journal of International & Area Studies, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Nuclear Strategy and Regional Stability in Southern Asia

Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, 2017

The essay aims to explain interconnections between international security, domestic politics and ... more The essay aims to explain interconnections between international security, domestic politics and nuclear strategy of China, India and Pakistan. Most of the scholarship has been unable to probe the deep interconnections that inform the nuclear strategy of these three countries. The literature is based on a generalisation of the superpowers' Cold War nuclear experience and an analysis of the other nuclear powers' arsenal is made through the conceptual and theoretical categories offered by such literature. This article argues against using cold war experiences as a basis for conceptualizing regional powers' nuclear strategies. It begins with a discussion on Posture optimization theory, applying it to understand nuclear strategies of the three Southern Asian nuclear powers and seeks to understand the nature of strategic competition between them and its effect on their respective nuclear postures.

Research paper thumbnail of Review: India’s Grand Strategy

Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Steps for Peace in Kashmir

Journal of Defence Studies, 2018

This article looks at the essential conditions for a durable peace in Kashmir and argues that the... more This article looks at the essential conditions for a durable peace in Kashmir and argues that the Valley has been most peaceful only during an active, on-going peace process. The lack of effective and continuous engagement with key stakeholders, especially the people of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), has fostered a sense of deep alienation and enduring distrust. It further argues that counterinsurgency operations need to be simultaneously augmented by an active peace process engaging all stakeholders. This would mean a dialogue between the Centre and the J&K and Mainstream and Separatist parties as well as between the different regions of the state. The different political attitude in the Valley, Jammu and Ladakh can serve as a roadblock to a lasting peace if a dialogue is not underway. It recommends urgent steps that must be taken to regain the confidence of people and move closer towards resolution of the conflict.

Research paper thumbnail of To Be or Not to Be: Great Power Dilemmas and the Iranian Nuclear Programme

Journal Of Asian Security and International Affairs, 2022

This article looks at the competing dilemmas faced by the great powers and the reasons for their ... more This article looks at the competing dilemmas faced by the great powers and the reasons for their eventual cooperation concerning Iran's nuclear programme. The great powers were divided between those who wanted a total roll back and those who supported meaningful and verifiable limits. Using the levels of analysis framework, the article looks at individual actors, structural factors and the domestic interconnections that sustained the Iranian nuclear crisis and propelled its eventual resolution in the form of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Research paper thumbnail of Culture, Religion and Strategy: The 'Islamic' Contours of Iran's Nuclear Thinking

Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, 2022

This article proposes a fresh explanation of Iran's nuclear programme by using the framework of s... more This article proposes a fresh explanation of Iran's nuclear programme by using the framework of strategic culture. The core argument of this article is that Iran's strategic restraint in not overtly weaponising its nuclear programme is primarily driven by its strategic culture despite the continuously deteriorating regional security situation and a deeply hostile neighbourhood. This has incentivised a 'Shia way' of looking at and practising a strategy that sees nuclear weapons as fundamentally un-Islamic. Instead of weaponisation, Iran has shown remarkable flexibility to accept restrictions on its nuclear programme under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Security-based realist explanations fail to account for such behaviour and can be better explained using a cultural framework. The strategic culture-based framework also explains the reasons behind Iran's policy of nuclear hedging and its acceptability by major sections of the political elite in Iran.

Research paper thumbnail of Insecurity, Identity and Resistance : Contours of Shia Political Discourse in Kashmir

Economic and Political Weekly, 2021

Shias constitute an influential minority of the Kashmiri population, having a considerable influe... more Shias constitute an influential minority of the Kashmiri population, having a considerable influence on the nature of sociopolitical changes in the state. Ranging from external influences to contested histories, there are several reasons behind the Shias’ ambiguous political outlook regarding the overall Kashmir question. The analytical category of “perceptual ambivalence” is proposed to understand the nature of contemporary
the political discourse of Shias in Kashmir and their political disposition.

Research paper thumbnail of Brokering Peace in Nuclear Environments: U.S. Crisis Management in South Asia

Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, 2020

Research paper thumbnail of Iran's Nuclear Program: A Study in Proliferation and Rollback

Research paper thumbnail of Nuclear Strategy in the Modern Era: Regional Powers and International Conflict

Journal of International & Area Studies, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Nuclear Strategy and Regional Stability in Southern Asia

Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, 2017

The essay aims to explain interconnections between international security, domestic politics and ... more The essay aims to explain interconnections between international security, domestic politics and nuclear strategy of China, India and Pakistan. Most of the scholarship has been unable to probe the deep interconnections that inform the nuclear strategy of these three countries. The literature is based on a generalisation of the superpowers' Cold War nuclear experience and an analysis of the other nuclear powers' arsenal is made through the conceptual and theoretical categories offered by such literature. This article argues against using cold war experiences as a basis for conceptualizing regional powers' nuclear strategies. It begins with a discussion on Posture optimization theory, applying it to understand nuclear strategies of the three Southern Asian nuclear powers and seeks to understand the nature of strategic competition between them and its effect on their respective nuclear postures.

Research paper thumbnail of Review: India’s Grand Strategy

Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Steps for Peace in Kashmir

Journal of Defence Studies, 2018

This article looks at the essential conditions for a durable peace in Kashmir and argues that the... more This article looks at the essential conditions for a durable peace in Kashmir and argues that the Valley has been most peaceful only during an active, on-going peace process. The lack of effective and continuous engagement with key stakeholders, especially the people of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), has fostered a sense of deep alienation and enduring distrust. It further argues that counterinsurgency operations need to be simultaneously augmented by an active peace process engaging all stakeholders. This would mean a dialogue between the Centre and the J&K and Mainstream and Separatist parties as well as between the different regions of the state. The different political attitude in the Valley, Jammu and Ladakh can serve as a roadblock to a lasting peace if a dialogue is not underway. It recommends urgent steps that must be taken to regain the confidence of people and move closer towards resolution of the conflict.