Department of Humanities and Social Sciences

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Joe Thomas Karackattu

Associate Professor

  • Ph.D.,in Chinese Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi
  • FoxFellow.,[2008-2009], The Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies, Yale University, USA
  • Master of Philosophy (M. Phil)in Chinese Studies, JNU
  • MA Politics(with specialization in International Relations), JNU
  • B.A. (Honours)Economics, St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University
  • +91 (44) 22574541
  • joe[at]iitm[.]ac[.]in

  Office Location

  • Room no – HSB 330A
  • E-mail : joe[at]iitm[.]ac[.]in
  • Phone : +91 (44) 2257 4541
  • Chosen as a “China India Scholar-Leader Initiative Fellow (CISLI Fellow)” 2017 by the India China Institute, New School, New York, USA (one of eight chosen globally)
  • Chosen by the India China Institute, New School, New York, USA as the ‘2015 Emerging Scholar’ from India, for research on the India-China border dispute and the origins of boundary making
  • Recipient of the Inaugural “Centenary Visiting Fellowship” (nominated award), SOAS, University of London, UK, 2013-14
  • Delivered the Second Lecture of the “CFCS Young Scholars Lecture Series”, invited by the Center for China Studies, National Chengchi University, Taiwan, 27 April 2012
  • Recipient of the 2011 “President’s Award” at the IDSA [Conferred by the Defence Minister of India] for outstanding publication in an International peer-reviewed journal
  • Awarded the INLAKS Foundation Research Travel Grant 2009, Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation, India
  • Diploma and Medal of Honor from Fu Hsing Kang College (Taipei), Taiwan
  • Awarded the ‘Ranojit Khanna Memorial Scholarship’ for the year 2000-01 by the Department of Economics, St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi

  Academic documentary (non-fiction)

  • Guli’s Children (2016; 43 minutes), has been written, shot, narrated and edited by Joe Thomas Karackattu. The non-fiction film deals with the cultural-diplomatic history of interaction between Kerala and China (12-15th century) & has been screened, on invitation, in China (Beijing & Shanghai), United States (NYU, SUNY Binghamton, DUKE & Yale University), NUS Singapore, Denmark (University of Copenhagen), France (University of Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris), apart from screenings across India (Calicut, Chennai, Kottayam, Mumbai, Delhi and Kochi). It has attracted attention for bringing out connections in human genealogy that survive between Kerala and China.
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2013) The Economic Partnership Between India and Taiwan in a Post-ECFA Ecosystem, 2013, ISBN 978-81-322-1277-5, SPRINGER
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2020): The Corrosive Compromise of the Sino-Indian Border Management Framework: From Doklam To Galwan, Asian Affairs, Routledge: Taylor and Francis, URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03068374.2020.1804726​.
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2019), “The Case for a Pragmatic India-Taiwan Partnership,” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, April 2019.
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2018) “India–China Border Dispute: Boundary-Making and Shaping of Material Realities from the Mid-Nineteenth to Mid-Twentieth Century”, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland, Cambridge University Press,  28 (1), 135-159.
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2017) “India-China Border Dispute: A Historical Enquiry on the Political Selection of Boundary Lines”, ISAS Insights, No. 433, Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2017), “Pursuing spatial agglomeration economies at the India-China border regions”, Journal of comparative politics and global governance (bijiao zhengzhi yu quanqiu zhili), Vol.2, July 2017, Political Science Institute, East China University of Political Science and Law Shanghai: Shanghai People’s Publisher
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2016) Assessing Sino-Indian Economic Relations in an Interdependence Framework: 1992-2008, Economic and Political Studies, Taylor & Francis, 3:1, 129-159
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2015) “The US pivot and rebalancing in Asia: an economic assessment”, in The US Rebalance and the Asia- Pacific Region, Centre for Public Policy Research, 2015, ISBN 978-81-930004-2-7
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2013) “India–China economic relations: trends, challenges and policy options”, ICS Occasional Paper # 6, December 2013, The Institute of Chinese Studies
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2013) India–China Trade at the Borders: challenges and opportunities, Journal of Contemporary China, Taylor & Francis, 22:82, 691-711
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2012) “Post-ECFA Outlook for the relationship across the Taiwan Strait”, Issues & Studies, Vol 48, No 4, December 2012
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2012) “South Asian trade: Where does China fit in?”, South Asian Journal, Vol 37, July 2012: pp 91-114, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2012) “‘Social Capital’ and its Significance in Reimagining Chindia”, Strategic Analysis, January 2012, Volume 36, No 1, pp 23-29, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, UK
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2012) Review Essay of China, India And Beyond: Development Drivers and Limitations by Natalia Dinello and Wang Shaoguang (eds; 2009), Global Development Network Series: Edward Elgar: Cheltenham, UK, in China Report, 2012, Vol 48, No 1&2, pp 219-223, SAGE
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2012) “China’s economic growth: Retrospect and Outlook” in China Yearbook 2011, New Delhi: Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, April 2012
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2011) “China’s response to the global economic crisis: An Indian perspective”, China Public Administration Review, Volume 11, 2011, Beijing: Tsinghua University Press, China
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2011) “Democracy and Economics in Taiwan” in Daniel Stockemer (ed; 2011), Democratization Around the World: New Insights from South East Asia, Turkey, Kosovo, Taiwan and Ghana [Hardcover], New York: Edwin Mellen Press, pp 109-139, USA
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (with Jiyong Jin; 2011), “Infectious Diseases and Securitization: WHO’s Dilemma”, Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science, June 2011, Vol. 9, No. 2: 181-187, USA
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2009) “Fighting the recession: the Elephant and the Dragon”, South Asian Studies Quarterly, No 137: 2, April-June 2009, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2008) “The 2008 Referendum: A Test for Cross-Strait economic interdependence”, China Report, Vol. 44, No. 1 (Jan-March), 2008, SAGE Publications
  • Joe Thomas Karackattu (2017) “India and China: Getting strategy and timing right”, October 24 – November 14, 2017, China-India Brief #104, Centre on Asia and Globalisation, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore
  • Compiled Overview of glaciers, glacier retreat and subsequent impacts in Nepal, India and China, WWF Nepal Program, International, 70 p., illus. incl. 14 tables, 202 ref., March 2005
  • “Capturing the ‘market’ for recreation: Estimating entry charges for the Margalla Hills National Park in Pakistan, SANDEE Policy Brief No 5-04, South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics, October 2004
  • “Participatory Forest management: Collective Action Under Three different Institutional Regimes”, SANDEE Policy Brief No 3-04, South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics, August 2004
  • “Tank degradation and poverty reduction – the importance of common property resources in sustaining the rural poor”, SANDEE Policy Brief No 2-04, South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics, June 2004

  Conference papers/Seminars/ Invited speaking engagements

  • Presented a paper on ‘The making of China’s boundary with India (mid 19th – mid 20th century) and its impact on shaping of material realities’ at the 9th annual international ADI conference, Asian Dynamics Initiative, University of Copenhagen 26-28 June 2017
  • Presented the paper titled, “India-China border dispute: assessing boundary-making from 1895-1914 and its impact on shaping of material realities” at India China Conversations, 16 April 2015, Fourth Interdisciplinary Symposium for Emerging Scholars on India China Studies, India China Institute, The New School, New York, USA.
  • Delivered a public lecture on ‘Making of the Boundary (and the Dispute) between India and China in the late 19th – early 20th Century’ at the Yale MacMillan Center, Yale University on April 15, 2015, USA
  • Delivered a seminar talk on “Situating the Taishang in Cross-Strait Ties”, 18 March 2015, at SOAS, University of London; Panelist at ‘Facing China and Facing the World: Taiwan’s economic future’, 19th and 20th March, SOAS, University of London, UK
  • Presented a paper on “Rebalancing of Economic Trends: Situating U.S. and China within an interdependence framework in the region” at the International Conference on ‘The U.S. Rebalance and Asia Pacific Region’, 6th & 7th March, 2015,
 Cochin, Kerala; organized by
the Centre for Strategic Studies
in association with
The U.S. Consulate, Chennai.
  • Live studio discussion (Chennai, Washington and Beijing) on Voice of America on India-China relations relating to the border standoff in the Eastern Sector in Bhutan on 23 August 2017; https://www.voachinese.com/a/voaweishi-20170823-io-china-india/3997286.html
  • Invited by the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), National University of Singapore to deliver a talk on ‘Making of the boundary (and the dispute) between India and China’ on 15 December 2016
  • Invited by the Beijing Society for Comparative International Studies for a lecture on ‘History of boundary making (and the dispute) between India and China’, 17th June 2016
  • Delivered a talk on ‘India-China economic relations: Challenges and Opportunities’ at School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, 07 January 2016.
  • Lectures on Economic interdependence and Conflict at SISU and on the history of diplomatic and cultural interaction between Kerala and China (Guli’s Children) at the Political Science Institute, East China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai on 24 June 2016
  • Speaker and Panelist on India-China relations at ‘Trade, development and global politics: can India and China speak in one voice?’, Panel Discussion organized by the Centre for Economy, Development and Law, Government Law College, Thrissur, Kerala, 30th October 2014
  • Delivered a lecture and a seminar talk on ‘India-China economic relations’ at Sichuan Academy of Social Sciences (SASS), Chengdu, China on July 8th 2014
  • Seminar talk on “China-India border trade: challenges and opportunities “, delivered at the School of International Studies, Jinan University, Guangzhou,  China, 12 April 2013.
  • Seminar talk on ‘Challenges and opportunities in India-China economic relations’ at the Nottingham University Business School China (Ningbo campus), 10 April 2013
  • Delivered a lecture at the Economics Department at Xiamen University on India-China economic relations, 23 August 2012.
  • Invited by the Guangxi Academy of Social Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi province in China (16-30 August 2012) to deliver a lecture on Sino-Indian relations; Invited to lecture at the Economics Department at Xiamen University on India-China economic relations (23 August 2012).
  • Lectures/Talks at National Chung Cheng University (Chiayi); National Dong Hwa University (Hualien); National Chung Hsing University (Taichung); National Cheng Kung University (Tainan) & Institute of International Relations (IIR), National Chengchi University (NCCU), Taipei
  • “Taishang as key non-state actors: attenuating vulnerability through local economic development in mainland China”, Invited to present at the international workshop on “Cross-Strait Relations in an Era of Technological Change: Security, Economic and Cultural Dimensions”, Tuesday, 5th March 2013 in St Antony’s College, University of Oxford, England
  • “Pursuing spatial agglomeration economies at the India-China border regions” at the XII International Scientific Meeting on Border Regions in Transition (BRIT), 12-17 November 2012, Fukuoka, Japan & Busan, Korea; Hosted by Hokkaido University, Japan / Kyushu University, Japan / Dongseo University, Korea
  • “India-China border trade”, presented at the Institute of International Relations (IIR), National Chengchi University (NCCU), Taiwan, 11 June 2012
  • “EAS at 6” under the lecture theme “Regional Institutions following EAS 2011”, presented at the IDSA-Asia New Zealand Foundation Dialogue [Track II], New Delhi, December 1, 2011
  • “India-China: Enhancing the Economic Engagement” under the lecture theme “China-India Relations: Economy and Trade”, presented at the IDSA-China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR) [Track II], New Delhi, April 21, 2011
  • IDSA Roundtable On India-China Bilateral Trade Relations: A Comparative Analysis of Strengths and Weaknesses  on March 09, 2011; Other speakers: Mohan Guruswamy, Chairman, Centre for Policy Alternatives; TK Arun, Editor (Opinion), The Economic Times; Amita Batra, Associate Professor, JNU
  • “Assessment of power relations in East Asia”, Institute for National Policy Research (INPR) and the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), Taipei, Taiwan, December 6, 2010
  • “Cross-Strait economic interdependence and vulnerability”, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, Switzerland, October 8, 2010
  • “China’s economic growth: assessing Taiwanese contribution to key sectors and regions in China, 1987-2008”, paper presented under the theme ‘China’s International Profile’ at the “60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC”; organized jointly by the University of Delhi and the Institute of Chinese Studies in New Delhi on 7 October 2009
  • “Democracy and Democratization in Taiwan”, 1st Annual Democracy and Democratization Conference, Department of Political Science, University of Connecticut, February 27-28, 2009, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
  • “Trade as vulnerability: the case of China-Taiwan economic relations [1987-2008]”, 8th Annual IGS Conference on the Asia Pacific Region, East-West Center, February 12-14, 2009, Hawaii, USA
  • Invited by the Center for South Asia-West China Cooperation and Development Studies, Sichuan University, to deliver a talk on ‘Sino-Indian ties’ to the graduate student group on India at Sichuan University, Chengdu, China on 29 December 2009
  • Selected by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India to be part of the 2008 Indian Youth Delegation to China [Beijing, Shanghai, Guiyang and Fuzhou; June-July 2008]

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Room No.: HSB 333
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
PIN Code: 600036

Tel-Phone::+91 44 2257 4500
Email: hsoffice[at]iitm[.]ac[.]in

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