An Analytical Study of the Economic Condition of Jews in Fatimid Egypt

This study examines the economic conditions of Jews in Fatimid Egypt from the 10th to 12th centuries CE. Through an analysis of primary sources, the study provides a nuanced understanding of the economic and social factors that affected the Jewish community during this period. The study argues that while Jews in Fatimid Egypt enjoyed certain economic privileges such as their involvement in international trade networks and their exemption from some taxes, they also faced some social and political restrictions, including forced conversion and discriminatory laws in the era of some Fatimid rulers. Despite these challenges, the Jewish community in Fatimid Egypt demonstrated resilience and adaptability, developing a range of economic strategies to maintain their livelihoods and build social networks. These strategies included investment in trade and finance, engagement with the wider Muslim society, and the development of communal institutions. The study highlights the complexity of Jewish economic life in medieval Egypt, challenging simplistic assumptions about the economic conditions of minority groups in pre-modern societies.

Indian Nuclear Diplomacy Post May 1998-A Discourse Analysis

Nuclear diplomacy has been an important and integral part of international non proliferation regime ever since the onset of nuclear age. It played significant role in consensus building under difficult circumstances to achieve near universal adherence of the regime. A recent attempt in consensus building has been seen in case of India which despite initiating nuclear arms race in South Asia by conducting overt nuclear tests in May 1998, managed to get a nuclear deal outside NPT framework. Initially there was strong criticism of this deal being a serious threat to NPR but was gradually accepted as pragmatic policy. This change in international nuclear behavior is unprecedented and can be attributed to variety of factors. The study recognizes that several aspects of international environment (e.g. rise of China as challenger to U.S.) worked favorably and predispose U.S. and her allies towards India. India used the concerns raised by international environment and constructed a discourse that looked sensible and even attractive. Analysis of this discourse reveals contradictions even misleading on the part of India. This thesis explores Indian nuclear diplomacy in post May 1998 employing Carla Willig method of conducting discourse analysis. The study focuses on Indian engagement process within the realm of nuclear diplomacy and deconstructs the discourse presented in public and private sphere within the context of Indian identity and its past record of engaging NPR. It looks into the Indian discursively construction of its self image as the promoter of peace and stability not only in the region but in the entire world. How India aligned itself with the modern liberal order employing its democratic credentials and civilisational passivity of non violence and achieved desired consensus. The study reveals that this discursive construction of self image goes on in a contrasting manner especially in the private sphere, where instead of focusing on India the emphases has been on misrepresenting Pakistan and its nuclear capability. This exercise of otherising Pakistan was intended to construct a self suiting criterion to legitimize Indian nuclear weapons program and seek nuclear cooperation outside NPT framework.