Medha Bisht

Dr Bisht has a Ph. D from Diplomatic Studies Division, Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she wrote her thesis on multi-stakeholder negotiations on security and development. She works at the intersection of strategy and philosophy and is particularly interested in non-western meanings and sources of diplomatic, dialogic practices in Asia. Her book, ‘Kautilya’s Arthashastra: Philosophy of Strategy’ has been published by Routledge (London and New York 2020). Interested in the concept of water governance and diplomacy, her research engagement has highlighted the micro and macro narratives related to crafting and implementation of water diplomacy, and has conceptually engaged with these narratives through scholarship available in literature associated negotiation and dialogue. She has conducted stakeholder engagements and dialogues in South Asia to identify the political, cultural, and ecological perspectives pertaining to rivers and riparian communities. She works on transnational relations and has done consultancies with UNIFEM, ICIMOD, UNDP, IUCN, OX-FAM, DFID/Asia Foundation, and Mine Action Canada, with a focus on civil society, water diplomacy, women, and governance. Dr. Bisht also co-led a Winter School on Inclusive Water Governance jointly organised by South Asian University (SAU), TROSA OXFAM, and UNESCO Chair of International Cooperation, Uppsala University supported by the Government of Sweden. She also co-authored and co-led a course on ‘Hydro-diplomacy in South Asia’ in collaboration with Dhaka University. She has published in Hague Journal of Diplomacy, Water Policy, International Studies, Contemporary South Asia, and Strategic Analysis.