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Strategic Analysis:
A Monthly Journal of the IDSA
Editorial
By K Santhanam
*
From the Editor's Desk
After a long innings, Air Cmde (retd) Jasjit Singh has laid down office as Director, IDSA and Editor of Strategic Analysis on July 31 2001 1 . On behalf of IDSA personnel and the strategic analysis community of India, I would like to place on record our appreciation of his dedicated services.
As incoming Director and Editor of the Institute's journal 2 , it would be my endeavour to raise the articles and publications to new, higher levels of scholarship and professionalism. I look forward to continued cooperation and support from all of you.
As Editor, I have formed an internal, interim Editorial Committee for "adequate" scrutiny of submitted articles and clearing them for publication. The composition is given in this issue 3 . This is an interim measure while transitioning to a more advanced "referee system" as followed by journals of international standing and repute 4 .
August 2001 marks the 56th anniversary of the atomic attack on Japan. As such, it is rather appropriate that Prof Matin Zuberi has an article in the present issue of Strategic Analysis on decision-making in USA and Japan leading to this tragic event. It would help us understand this march to folly. Similarly, Shalini Chawla's article on Pakistan's defence spending and Kulbir Krishen's on policing the Indo-Bangladesh border are also very topical and may be read with extra interest.
It is my considered view that articles published in our journal range from "Opinions" to "Commentaries" and "Detailed Research". Well-wishers of IDSA in the profession of strategic analysis have also observed that "quality" is as important as "quantity" in our publications. 5 Many have also commented on the need for more academic rigour I would welcome suggestions from readers about balancing these two parameters.
A critic wrote about a musical concert: "Music was provided by the pipe band of Victoria School and the brass band of the first battalion Gordon Highlanders. "There was a complete absence of wind". Secondly, while watching the filming of The Last Supper, Sam Goldwyn asked a junior: "Why only 12?" When told that 12 was the original number with Christ around, Sam said, "Well, go and get thousands" 6 . I wonder whether these episodes of "wind" and "Sam-like proliferation" have any relevance at all to the output of IDSA.
Possibly, a "Letters to the Editor" feature could capture your views/suggestions on these and similar aspects. I also would believe that this type of feedback may be healthier than panning in the national press based on singular episodes which are not representative of the Institute as a whole.
K Santhanam
Editor
Aug 1 2001
Endnotes
Note *: Editor Back
Note 1: To avoid "excessive referencing", the relevant orders are not cited here.Back
Note 2: As in reference 1, above.Back
Note 3: Editorial Advisory Committee (Interim): C. Uday Bhaskar; Sujit Dutta; R R Subramanian; V K Shrivastava Back
Note 4: Professional refereeing is common knowledge; also watch this space. Back
Note 5: Private information from personal meetings of the author, June 1 - July 31 2001, New Delhi. Back
Note 6: To avoid "excessive footnoting", reference details are not provided here. Can be, if requested. Back