Deepak Nair

Dr. Deepak Nair is a Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the Australian National University (ANU), previously at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He holds a BA (Hons) in History from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and a MSc and PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science. His research focuses on microsociological aspects of international relations, including diplomatic interactions, emotions in diplomacy, and the cultural production of inaction in ASEAN. He employs ethnography, elite interviews, and historical analysis in his work.

His current projects include a book manuscript on ASEAN’s cultural production of inaction and a study on the Third Indochina War’s impact on Southeast Asia. He has received awards such as the 2020 Best Article in EJIR and the 2022 Antony Deos Young Scholar Award. He is also involved in the ANU Futures Scheme Grant project.

Research interests span microsociology, Southeast Asian diplomacy, and historical sociology. He emphasizes connecting micro-level phenomena to broader structures of class, race, and gender. His fieldwork in Jakarta’s ASEAN diplomatic enclaves and Southeast Asian ministries highlights everyday practices’ political significance.

Dr. Nair’s work bridges interpretive methods with structural analysis, examining topics like Cold War diplomacy, emotional labor in international institutions, and the role of golf in ASEAN’s Cold War strategies. His teaching and mentorship reflect his commitment to innovative approaches in international relations pedagogy.