Shashi Tharoor on the New World Disorder, UN Relevance & West Asia Conflict | The India Story

The global order is undergoing a profound transformation. The rules that once governed international relations are weakening, and power is increasingly shaping outcomes. In this episode of The India Story, Shashi Tharoor offers a sharp and deeply informed perspective on what he describes as a “new world disorder” a world where international law struggles to hold, institutions face credibility challenges, and geopolitical tensions are redefining global dynamics. From the role and relevance of the United Nations to the growing strain on multilateralism, the conversation explores whether the systems created after World War II are still equipped to handle today’s realities. As conflicts intensify across regions, particularly in West Asia. The discussion also examines how power politics, strategic interests, and economic dependencies are shaping global responses. A key focus of the episode is India’s position in this evolving landscape. How does a country navigate relationships with competing powers? What does strategic autonomy look like in practice? And can India continue to balance principle with pragmatism in a world that is becoming increasingly polarized? #ShashiTharoor #WestAsia #IranIsrael #MiddleEast #WorldOrder #UN #IndiaForeignPolicy #GlobalPolitics #TheIndiaStory #geopolitics Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction: The New World Disorder 01:00 – From rules-based order to power politics 03:00 – “Law of the jungle” explained 05:00 – Are global rules dead? 06:30 – UN Security Council crisis 08:00 – Is the UN irrelevant today? 10:30 – Why the UN still matters 11:20 – India’s multilateral strategy 13:00 – India balancing global powers 16:00 – Power vs principles in foreign policy 18:00 – India, US & global pressures 20:00 – Trump, tariffs & India impact 22:00 – Russia oil & global economics 24:00 – West Asia tensions explained 25:30 – India’s stakes in Gulf vs Iran 27:00 – Future of warfare: drones & missiles 29:00 – Lessons from Ukraine & Iran 30:00 – Where is the war headed? 32:00 – India’s role in peace 33:00 – India’s global strategy roadmap 36:00 – Politics & Kerala elections 40:00 – Final thoughts: Optimism vs realism Follow The India Story on Instagram:   / theindiastorypodcast   Follow Vikram Chandra on Social Media: Twitter: https://x.com/vikramchandra LinkedIn:   / vikramchandra67   Follow Hook On Other Platforms: Instagram:   / hookonline_   Facebook:   / online.hook   Twitter: https://x.com/hookonline_ LinkedIn:   / hookonline