Event description
After 1947, India became one of the leaders of the non-alignment movement that actually opened the country for influence from Moscow and Washington. My paper discusses Soviet Public Diplomacy efforts in academic exchange, sending Soviet professors to Indian universities to foster Soviet influence and promote its vision of modernity. When the first Soviet professors came they had to struggle with resistance from the administration of Indian universities that sometimes had a pro-American stance. This was particularly the case during the Sino-Indian border conflict of 1962 that may have led India to move closer to the US. The conflict also undermined the Soviet image in India because of Moscow’s association with communist China.
In line with the Graduate Institute's COVID-19 regulations, this event will take place online.
About the Brunches
The History Brunches are a series of gatherings by members of the International History Department. The concept of the Brunches is as simple as it is effective: professors, visiting researchers and students are invited to present their projects in front of a small audience. Taking place about 3-4 times per semester since 2015, the brunches have become a forum for intellectual exchange that offer presenters an opportunity to test their ideas in a friendly environment.