Dr Rudabeh Shahid

I am a researcher in the field of comparative politics, and my academic interests center around analyzing conflict, ethnicity, migration, and the geopolitics of South Asia with specific focus on Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar. Currently, I am a Visiting Assistant Professor at Oberlin College (USA) and I also coordinate South Asia courses at the Foreign Service Institute at the U.S. State Department, along with doing policy work as a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Washington D.C. based think tank Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center. Previously, I also held positions at the New College of Florida and the University of York in the UK.  At the University of York, I was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Leverhulme Trust-funded Rethinking Civil Society: History, Theory, Critique project and worked on a specific scheme of the project which looked at Civil Society in Post-partition India and wider South Asia.

My interdisciplinary academic and professional background has equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of the economic, political, and cultural fabrics that influence conflicts, statelessness, and migration issues. In my forthcoming keynote speech on June 25th, 2024, as a Residential Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Loughborough, I will delve into the complex tapestry of historical, political, and social issues that underpin statelessness in South Asia. I will highlight the region's critical geopolitical significance and the profound human crises it contends with, aiming to shed light on the multifaceted challenges faced by its populations. South Asia, home to a quarter of the global population, is a critical region not only due to its demographic heft but also its strategic location bordering the Indian Ocean and serving as a corridor between the Middle East and East Asia. The region hosts some of the world’s fastest-growing economies and plays a significant role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It is in this context that major cases of ethnic conflict, refugee crises, and global statelessness have unfolded.

Through my research I try to draw attention to significant historical events that have contributed to statelessness, notably the Partition of India in 1947, which resulted in one of the largest migrations in human history, which displaced 15-20 million people, creating a foundational crisis of statelessness that persists in various forms. Some cases, such as those in Myanmar and Sri Lanka, have received less attention in international scholarship, despite their significance—illustrating a crucial point of focus for my discussion. In my keynote, I will elaborate on how legacy of colonization along with post-colonial policies pursued by nation-states in the region have exacerbated ethnic conflicts, many of which have led to serious cases of statelessness. In Myanmar, the Rohingya community faced dire circumstances as they are not recognized among the "135 races" officially recognized by the government, leading to massive displacements and genocide described as a "textbook case of ethnic cleansing" by the UN. In Sri Lanka, ethnic tensions post-independence has led to policies that systematically marginalized Tamil communities, contributing to a three decade long civil war along with displacement.

The lecture will also examine the intersection of statelessness with climate change challenges, particularly highlighting the dire situations in the Maldives and Bangladesh, which stand as frontline nation-states facing existential threats from rising sea levels. The Maldives, with most islands just about one meter above sea level, is emblematic of the dramatic impacts of climate change. In a notable demonstration of vulnerability, the 2009 underwater cabinet meeting by President Mohamed Nasheed symbolized a global plea for help against impending submersion. Similarly, Bangladesh's geography, located at the delta of several major rivers and susceptible to cyclones and monsoon rains, significantly heightens its vulnerability to flooding. This, in turn, leads to increased displacement and exacerbates the potential for a future climate refugee crisis.

In my lecture, I explore the significant roles played by global powers such as the USA, China, the UK, and Japan in shaping South Asia’s geopolitical landscape. These nations have historically influenced, and sometimes exacerbated, regional tensions through strategic alliances and economic investments, evident in their varied responses to conflicts and disasters in the region. The USA, for instance, has been involved in direct military interventions, such as in Afghanistan, as well as diplomatic efforts in other areas to maintain balance, especially in response to the increasing influence of China. China's Belt and Road Initiative illustrates its strategic approach to enhancing connectivity, which raises concerns over sovereignty and economic dependence among South Asian nations. The UK continues to wield influence through its colonial legacy, employing a mix of diplomacy and development aid. Japan, as the largest bilateral donor, significantly impacts the region's development, particularly in infrastructure and emergency response, thereby molding the geopolitical contours of South Asia.

I am looking forward to this keynote lecture and I hope to discuss with you the necessity of a coordinated approach to address the deep-rooted and ongoing issues of statelessness in South Asia. We will discuss the importance of developing comprehensive national and international strategies that integrate immediate humanitarian needs with long-term geopolitical stability. Through a detailed understanding of these dynamics, I hope to engage you all with a roadmap for addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our contemporary time, advocating for a holistic approach that considers the complex interplay of local conditions and global influences in shaping policy and practice in the region.