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The Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace & Conflict Resolution (NMCPCR), Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) in collaboration with International Centre for Peace Studies, New Delhi organized a day-long graduate conference on “World Order in Disarray: Perspectives on Shifting Geopolitics” at the university's Mir Anis Hall on April 25, 2025 . The conference which aimed at mapping the shifting geopolitics in the current world order saw enthusiastic participation from faculty members, post-graduate students and PhD scholars from various departments of JMI. Hon'ble Registrar of JMI, Prof Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi was the keynote speaker on the occassion.
This conference covered the rupture and the disorder in world order in three broad thematic sessions, examining how power, resistance, identity, and sovereignty are being contested and reimagined in the contemporary world order.
The event witnessed 23 academic paper presentations discussing the age of uncertainty and transformation in the emerging global order confronting unprecedented challenges. The papers majorly covered the complex interplay of theoretical world order and empirical expressions of it through competition, cooperation, and conflict further illuminating the pathways through which a more just, inclusive, and sustainable international system might be imagined.
The conference commenced with the welcome address by Dr Binish Maryam from NMCPCR reiterating the concept of the program and its academic and institutional relevance for an in-depth scholarly engagement. This was followed by an address by Prof. Abuzar Khairi, Hon'ble Director of the NMCPCR who delivered his introductory remarks on the critical challenges emanating from the ruptures in the world order amidst wars and instability in the international structure. Prof Khairi impressed upon the students and scholars the need for such academic deliberations.
In his keynote speech, Prof Mahtab Alam Rizvi spoke extensively on the significance of understanding the complexities of the Westphalian Order and the challenges to territorial sovereignty arising out of shifting geopolitics. Hon’ble Registrar in his opening remarks shared his intellectual thoughts on the interlinkages between great power rivalry, the rise of non-state actors and challenges of technology and post globalization and their impact on nation-states. He argued that the disarray is not restricted to a state-centric world order but also to the rise of non-state actors fostering a host of challenges.
The conference then moved to the main academic sessions, namely, (a) War, Hegemony, and Strategy – World Order Between Theories and Praxis; (b) Beyond the Westphalian Order – Locating the Global South in a Multipolar World and (c) Gender, Conflict, and Rupture in World Order – Feminist Perspectives. The academic sessions centered on the enduring tensions between realist theories of power and the complex realities on the ground . Papers were presented on the Russia-Ukraine war, evolving strategies of India and China, and the future of global order, oscillating between visions of unipolar dominance and multipolar balancing.
Further sessions covered the shifting conversations toward the structural inequities in international relations and the resurgence of agency from the Global South. Lastly, the discussion also posited on intersectional critiques, emphasizing gendered lenses of war, order, and diplomacy. These sessions were chaired by PhD scholars. Students further participated through questions and answer sessions and shared their views, comments and engaged with the paper presenters on their respective themes.
In addition to the academic session, the conference hosted a special session on academic writing titled, ’How to Publish a Research Paper?'. This session was delivered by Dr Waseem Malla from the International Centre for Peace Studies, New Delhi. He provided a critical overview of the do’s and don'ts of writing research papers. He offered his insights on the practical aspects of publications, the peer review process, structuring the paper for clarity, navigating issues of plagiarism, citation and ethics in publishing.
Prof Ajay Darshan Behera from MMAJ - Academy of International Studies delivered the valedictory remarks. This session was chaired by the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Md Muslim Khan. Prof Behera, an expert on International Relations, shared his critical insights on the evolving contours of world order – by shifting alliances, technological disruptions and contested sovereignties. He brought the theoretical significance of understating the current rupture. He also engaged with students and responded to the questions posed by them. The session was concluded by Prof Muslim Khan’s brief note on the significance of such conferences for budding scholars. He thanked Prof Behera for his engaging remarks.
The conference ended with a vote of thanks by the convenor of the conference, Dr Premanand Mishra, faculty member of NMCPCR. He offered his gratitude to the Hon'ble Registrar and other dignitaries who graced the event. He further thanked the speakers and the staff for their untiring efforts which ensured that the conference was a grand success .
The conference was graced by notable attendees from across the university, including, Prof Humayun Akhtar Nazmi from the Centre for West Asian Studies. Prof Amarjeet from the North East Studies, Dr Etee Bahadur from the Jawaharlal Nehru Studies Centre and Mr. Syed Abdul Rashid, Head of the Security JMI, New Delhi
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