OpenTakshashila Course
West Asia: Crossroads in Conflict
For the last quarter century, West Asia has made headlines daily. But is a region that stretches from the Mediterranean to the Arabian Sea, that bridges the Caspian and the Red Sea, and which connects the Caucasus mountains and the Arabian desert and is home to over 300 million people, solely to be defined by its conflicts?
Learn the nuances of West Asia’s history, its ideological faultlines and why West Asia matters more today than ever before in this 5-week course. Take a deep dive into the politics and society of the nations that are defining the region, and how the world’s powers have engaged West Asia for the past century.
Leave the course with an unparalleled understanding of what’s at stake in West Asia and how it is reshaping the world order.
The programme is led by Raja Karthikeya, Adjunct Fellow leading West Asia studies at the Takshashila Institution. His areas of research include geopolitics of West Asia, peace mediation, counter-terrorism, nuclear disarmament and the impact of climate change on peace & security.
Cohort 1
| FORMAT | 5 weeks · online |
| CADENCE | Sat 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM IST |
| APPLY BY | 10 June 2026 · 25% scholarship |
| APPLY BY | 24 June 2026 |
| RUNS | 11 July – 8 August 2026 |
| FEE | ₹20,000 + GST |
Who this is for
How it works
10 classroom sessions
Saturday modules (9:00–11:30 AM IST) covering the geography, peoples, ideologies, and politics of West Asia.
4 expert talks
Expert dialogue and discussion sessions (11:30 AM–12:30 PM IST) with practitioners and scholars.
Designed for working professionals
Three live webinars each week, anchored on Saturdays. 15 hours of instruction over the 5-week programme.
Certificate
Awarded upon successful completion of the course.
Curriculum
Application process
and fees
Eligibility
Ideal for policymakers, military personnel, professionals, and university students. No prior background required.
Scholarships
15% scholarship for students and Takshashila alumni. 25% early-bird scholarship for applications received before 10 June 2026.
Schedule
Saturday classroom modules 9:00–11:30 AM IST, followed by expert dialogue and discussion 11:30 AM–12:30 PM IST. 15 hours of live instruction over 5 weeks.
Cohort 1 Calendar
Five weeks of online sessions from July to August 2026. Early bird closes 10 June. applications close 24 June.
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