USI Gold Medal Essay Competition

Subjects for 2012

Group 'A' : Open to All Officers
Military Diplomacy and its Employment to Enhance Global Cooperation against Sub-conventional Conflicts

1. Diplomacy can be defined as the art of managing international relations. Traditionally, it has been conducted by career diplomats. However, since the end of World War II diplomacy between nation states has increasingly come to be conducted through multifarious channels and some of these are not very visible; military diplomacy being one such mode. While there is no formally accepted definition of military diplomacy, it comprises defence activities such as high level engagements, bilateral meetings, training/visits/personnel exchanges, opening of military bases, regional defence forums, outreach, confidence and security building measures as also the role of military attaches and their associated activities.

2. At another level, the nature of conflict too has undergone transformation over the last few decades. Asymmetric or the sub-conventional conflicts seem to be the norm; for example: the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan/Af-Pak Region and closer home the ongoing proxy war being waged in Jammu and Kashmir with covert support from Pakistan

3. So what do we have today in the panorama of conflicts and their resolution? It is the ascendency of the sub-conventional over the conventional but with the involvement of the military as the prime instrument for its resolution. However, of late we have seen that a large civilian component comprising the UN agencies, diplomats, administrators, police, NGOs, ICRC, human rights activists, private security companies and a host of other organisations are also working in tandem with the armed forces in the conflicts areas. It is important that their work is synchronised with the operations by the Armed Forces for conflict resolution, stability and capacity building.

4. Then we have the military to military cooperation by way of dialogues, training programmes, joint exercises, intelligence sharing, arms transfers, UN Peacekeeping operations, participation in arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament programmes, all of which enhance confidence building. In this field, port visits by naval warships to foreign countries as also coordinated naval patrols and anti-piracy operations have traditionally played an important role.

5. Military diplomacy can also be used to convey tough messages to the warring factions or to an adversary. It may be recalled that on numerous occasions, the Chairman Chiefs of Staff of the USA or the Commander of their Central Command went to Islamabad, Kabul and to some European capitals by themselves or with the Secretary of Defence and conveyed their government's viewpoint to the political/ military leadership of the countries concerned. The presence of a top military leader at such parleys is meant to convey a tough message. India, with its expanding reach and status must make military diplomacy part of its foreign policy toolbox and create the wherewithal to put this into effective practice by looking beyond the traditional level of bilateral joint exercises and exchange of military advisers.

6. Keeping in view the current developments regionally and globally, carry out an analytical study of military diplomacy in its various forms and the role it can play to enhance global cooperation in preventing / resolving sub-conventional conflicts. The limitations of military diplomacy and its symbiotic relationship with conventional diplomacy may also be examined. The analysis should also look at India specific scenarios and suggest ways and means to synergise military diplomacy with the Country's foreign policy, especially in conflict prone areas. Case studies may be cited to highlight some important aspects, as required.

7. Candidates are cautioned not to confuse military diplomacy with the exercise of military power (military operations) but try and relate the same to soft power of the state.

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Group 'B' : Open to All Officers upto 10 Years of Service
Geo-Strategic Importance of India's Island Territories and Implications for National Security

1. It is generally well known that the British had planned to sever the Andaman & Nicobar group of islands from India before the grant of Independence. However, alertness and quick thinking by our national leaders put paid to their plans. What is important is the rationale behind such thinking; obviously it was the geo-strategic importance of these islands in the post-colonial world.

2. India's forward presence in the Indian Ocean is enabled by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the East and by the Lakshadweep Islands in the West. The 800 kms long Andaman & Nicobar archipelago is located about 1200 kms from the mainland but is merely 90 kms from Indonesia and 40 kms from Myanmar. The Lakshadweep Islands are located 200-400 kms away from the Kerala coast. These archipelagos have bestowed upon India thousands of sq kms of territorial waters and EEZ. While strategically located, the distance from the mainland has contributed towards their vulnerability to both conventional and non-conventional threats. Following the Sino-Indian War of 1962, the security of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands was reviewed and the responsibility of defending these islands assigned to the Indian Navy. This led to the establishment of INS JARAWA at Port Blair in 1964 which was rechristened as FORTAN in 1981. Later, the tri-service Andaman & Nicobar Command was formed.

3. Today, however the island territories have assumed a different kind of importance for India and are not merely a piece of some outlying territories which have to be defended. They play an important role in military, diplomatic and anti-piracy operations and are located astride the vital East - West Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs) in the Indian Ocean. The Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands sit at the gateway from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean. The years just gone by (2010-11) saw for the first time forays by the Chinese Navy into the Indian Ocean. There were also reports of Chinese presence in Myanmar's Coco Islands, just 40 kms from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. These are ominous signs from security point of view. Similarly, the increasing incidents of piracy in and around the Lakshadweep Islands, taking place in the Eight Degree Channel (Vangaaru Channel) which separates the Minicoy Island from the Maldives are a serious cause of concern.

4. Keeping the above in view, carry out an in-depth analysis of the geo-strategic importance of India's island territories bringing out the implications for national security. Among other things, the following aspects must be considered:-

1. The need to re-orient our thinking from defending these islands to viewing them as the first line of defence, as also a springboard for launching operations
2. Assess the measures to counter military threats to these islands through any intervention by extra regional powers.
3. Importance for protection of SLOCs and anti-piracy operations.
4. Implications under the UN Convention for Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS).
5. Importance for India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and exploitation of sea-bed resources.
6. Interests of other powers in the Indian Ocean.
7. Effects on India's Look East Policy.
8. India's relations with Indian Ocean Rim Countries.

5. The frail ecology of these island territories may also be kept in mind while making any recommendations.

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Rules

1. Competition Group 'A' is open to all commissioned officers of the Armed Forces of India, officers of the Territorial Army and the Senior Division of National Cadet Corps, and Gazetted Officers of the Civil Administration in India including retired officers.
2. Competition Group 'B' is restricted to officers upto 10 years service.
3. Essay may vary in length between 3,000 to 5,000 words. The word length should be shown in brackets at the end of the essay. Entries violating the length are liable to be rejected..
4. Essays should be typed on one side of the paper in double space and should be submitted in TRIPLICATE.
5. Entries will be strictly ANONYMOUS. No detail pertaining to the officer is to be mentioned on the essay or in the covering letter. The officer is to select a MOTTO (which should not be more than ten words) and type it on all copies of the first page of his essay. One sealed envelope is to accompany the essay with a paper indicating the MOTTO, personal number, rank, name, date of commission unit, address and e-mail written on it. On the outside of the envelope, only the MOTTO is to be written. These envelopes will be opened during the USI Council meeting, after the judges have given their decision.
6. The essay must be an officer's personal and original effort without plagiarism and cut-paste job. Jointly written essays are not accepted.

7. Three judges chosen by the USI will adjudicate. Marks will be given on the basis of the following:-

   1. The extent to which the contribution throws fresh light on the subject.
   2. Whether in the whole or in large part it is in a form suitable for publication.
   3. Understanding of the subject.
   4. Thought, logic, development of theme.
   5. Language / expression.
8. The award of the judges will be final. They may recommend the Gold Medal to the winners and/or a cash prize of Rs.15,000/- as well as cash prize to the runners-up of Rs 10,000/-. The names of the winners of the essay competition will be published in the USI Journal. Winning Essay found suitable in each Group will be published in the USI Journal.
9. The Institution reserves the right not to make an award, if none of the essays submitted are of a standard which the judges consider adequate. Cases of plagiarism will invite disqualification.
10. Copyright of all essays submitted will be reserved by the United Service Institution of India.

11. All essays should be sent to the Director, United Service Institution of India, Rao Tula Ram Marg, Post Bag No.8, Vasant Vihar PO, New Delhi-110 057, to be received not later than 15 September 2012. The envelopes should be marked as follows:-

    • OPEN TO ALL OFFICERS : Essay Competition Group 'A'.
    • OPEN TO OFFICERS UPTO 10 YEARS OF SERVICE : Essay Competition Group 'B'.

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Stylesheet

1. General

   1. All diagrams, charts and graphs should be referred to as Figures and consecutively numbered. Tables should carry only essential data and should complement the text rather than repeat what has already been said. They should carry a short title, be numbered and carry the source at the bottom.
   2. The paper should have centre, group, paragraph and sub-paragraph headings to make it more reader-friendly.
   3. Use British spellings.
   4. Write dates by beginning with the day followed by the month and the year (e.g. 11 September 2006).
   5. In the text, write numbers in words till the number nine and then in numerals (e.g. two, four, nine; then 10,11,12 and so on).
   6. Write 'per cent' and not % or percent.
   7. Acronyms and abbreviations should carry the full form at the first mention with the acronym in bracket; and thereafter the abbreviated version.
   8. Names of books, journals, newspapers and foreign terms in the body of the text should appear in italics, eg: Asian Security in the 21st Century; Strategic Analysis; The Hindu.
   9. While referring to currency, use Rs. 2,000 crores, not 2000 crores of rupees. Similarly, $ 8.5 million, not 8.5 million dollars.

2. References / End Notes

   1. It is desirable that the author furnishes complete details of the books/journals referred to in the article as end notes. This includes full name of writer of article or book referred to, title of book/article, journal in which published (in case of articles); issue details, and page numbers. Besides end notes, if the author so desires, bibliography may also be included.
   2. While referring to a book, follow the example below:-
      Lt Gen CK Kapur, Chinese Military Modernisation, (New Delhi: Manas Publications, 2003), pp. 17-18.
   3. While referring to an article in a journal, follow the example below:-
      Lt Cdr Neeraj Malhotra, 'Pratap Singh of the Indian Legion'. The Journal of the United Service Institution of India,Vol. CXXXIV, No. 556, p.283.
   4. While referring to a website, follow the example below:-
      "Escalation Control in a Nuclear environment", Report of a seminar organised by the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies on 17 November 2004 at New Delhi. www.ipcs.org. Accessed on 08 February 2005.
   5. If two successive citations/references refer to the same source, use Ibid.
   6. If the same reference is to be cited after a few other references or citations, write the name of the author followed by the citation number e.g.: Imran Khan, note 2.

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