Full Episode Summary: In this episode of PODS by PEI, PEI's Saumitra Neupane and Nirjan Rai sit down with Sagar Prasai to break down the shifting geopolitics of 2026. From the American intervention in Venezuela to the "grinding" competition between India and China in South Asia, we explore how small states manage increasing rivalry. We dive into Sagar’s research on "bluff diplomacy," elite survival, and whether the traditional "Third Neighbor" strategy can survive a world of divvied-up regions.
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📌 Episode Chapters: 0:00 - The Donroe Doctrine: A New Global Veto? 02:45 - Sagar Prasai on the 2026 World Disorder 07:15 - Small States & the Venezuela Precedent 12:30 - The India-China "Grind" in South Asia 18:50 - Bluff Diplomacy vs. Strategic Hedging 25:10 - Domestic Politics: The "Elite Survival" Factor 32:40 - Can Nepal Maintain Neutrality?
About the Guest: Sagar Prasai is a leading expert on South Asian geopolitics and the author of critical research on how small states navigate great power competition.
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