Resistance literature, conflicting areas of the south Asian Sub continent Kashmir < India, Pakistan, Afganistan

Los Derechos Humanos en Afganistán

by Pablo Urech

Análisis del estado y la evolución de los DDHH en Afganistán a lo largo de varias décadas de injerencias extranjeras,... more Análisis del estado y la evolución de los DDHH en Afganistán a lo largo de varias décadas de injerencias extranjeras, gobiernos de turno y grupos radicales.

The Rise of China is likely to result in military conflicts in East Asia

by Owais Rajput

The East Asian region is the most economically dynamic in the world. China, a major nuclear power and possessing the... more The East Asian region is the most economically dynamic in the world. China, a major nuclear power and possessing the largest army in the region, is experiencing explosive economic growth coupled with an increase in military modernization; this situation has created concern among her neighbours. There is the complex pattern of rising tensions between china and Taiwan; increasing militarism in the South China Sea; ongoing hostilities between North and South Korea and anxiety over North Korea’s stability and its nuclear capability.
Thus the nations in this region face many obstacles over disputed territories that could hinder their co-operation in regional economic and security problems; these disputes remain sources of tension, suspicion, and misunderstandings. China’s rapid economic development is accompanied by an increasingly active foreign policy and growing military might. Because of the defence modernization, the increase of the defence budget and disputes in the region, for some China is a military threat.
In this paper I will look at whether the rise of china will increase the risk of conflict or whether it would improve stability in the region. I will look briefly at the disputes in this region, the arms build-up and better relationship institutions.

Hard to Reach Communities: Living in the UK, and Issues Facing British Muslims of Kashmiri Heritage Born & Bred in the UK

by Owais Rajput

In my presentation I will focus on British Muslim Communities living in UK; my main focus will be on the British local... more In my presentation I will focus on British Muslim Communities living in UK; my main focus will be on the British local community with Kashmiri heritage, as most of the time they are labelled in the media as “Home Grown Radicalised” Muslims, even if they are the fourth & fifth generation born & bred in UK.

I will also focus on Processes to Radicalisation in UK, in local communities, again particularly in the Kashmiri community.

I will also focus on design and delivery processes so far used by authorities in de-radicalisation processes and the results so far, and why we need to change those design and delivery processes, especially when we focus on the British Diaspora with Kashmiri heritage, the fourth & fifth generation born & bred in the UK.

Rationalizing Institutional Arrangements for the Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Conflicted Areas in Mindanao, Philippines

by FREDE MORENO

Postwar rehabilitation towards peace and development includes survival support components.  To deliver in this... more Postwar rehabilitation towards peace and development includes survival support components.  To deliver in this context requires both dispersed local (community, civil society and/or local governmental) and national (logistical, strategic and coordinating) domestic capacity (Green and Ahmed, 1999:202) .  The packages for social development (food, education, shelter and housing, health and other social services) needed should be at least in a broad sense be fairly well identified, agreed upon, planned, orchestrated and implemented by all agencies involved.  However, the traditional economic “spillover” orientation still prevail in the centralized government plans and budgetary allocation, thereby giving social development a second priority in the overall  initiatives for the sustainable development of Mindanao, Philippines.  This paper argues that better coordination is needed to avoid redundancy, overlaps, complexities and contradictions of functions among a large number of government organizations involved in the delivery of identical emergency relief and rehabilitation programs and services to the same conflicted areas in Mindanao.  Hence, harmonizing the work of all government agencies involved in Mindanao relief and rehabilitation efforts requires a rationalized  government’s service delivery system and one central Mindanao-wide coordinating body and more budgetary allocation for social development in order to improve interagency collaboration, monitoring and evaluation and outcome.

It’s time to bid farewell to AFSPA

by Bibhu Prasad Routray

Op-ed piece Published New Indian Express, 20 November 2011

Given that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act [AFSPA] has been in vogue for more than two decades in 20 of 22... more Given that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act [AFSPA] has been in vogue for more than two decades in 20 of 22 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, it is almost a given that the debate over its withdrawal would be prolonged. Stakeholders would make their case, arguing for and against the proposed repeal, sometimes resorting to alarming scenario building exercises. That is precisely what has happened. However, under the circumstances, the stage by stage withdrawal of the controversial Act appears to be the only sober option for the Government of India.

To what extent would participatory democracy advance the cause of democracy in Pakistan, with particular reference to the tribal dimension?

by Latoya Mistral Ferns

Assessed Essay which I modelled the question for. This was for my International Politics of Democracy Promotion module, taught by Professor Peter Burnell. I confirm that this paper arises from my idea, and is merely backed up by secondary sources theoretically and in principle. I do believe that this can aid in spreading democracy in essence to the tribal areas of Afghanistan and possibly Libya too, given their strong tribal allegiances, potentially better than what is axiomatic of modern representative democracy, and can combine with this through asymmetric federalism, where necessary. This would make the axiom serve the people in a way that is flexible and necessary rather than people serving the axiom. Hopefully this should bring peace to these largely misunderstood areas and give them a say in their destiny. 

This paper is an enquiry into the extent to which institutionally designing Pakistani democracy, so as to optimally... more This paper is an enquiry into the extent to which institutionally designing Pakistani democracy, so as to optimally accommodate the challenges posited by the tribal regions through the implementation of participatory democracy, would advance the cause of democracy. Its speculative nature is validated and adequate given the failure of the only other ideological and axiomatic rival to liberal representative, the Great Experiment. Dearth of competition in real system terms posits the danger of democratic stagnation or decline in the face of undisputed dominance without incentive to innovate and improve. Schumpeter’s view of democracy as method rather than end demands the refining and revising of its methodology though ever-evolving and inclusionary institutional design to make it individually enabling and emancipatory. Democracy must  submit to a far more rigorous test, at both the normative level of democratic theory and in the world of practice , in keeping up to the “ordinary citizens’” expectations ‘long subordinated ideals of equality, participation, accountability, responsiveness and self-realization’.
Why have I targeted the Tribal Areas?
The Pakistani tribal areas stretch from Chitral in the northeast to Balochistan’s Mt. Suleiman’s southwest end and the Afghanistan-Pakistan 2430 km Durand line frontier, which is porous owing to the tribe’s preserved ancient ethno-tribal links and lifestyle. The centralist nature of the Pakistani state is out of touch with the tribal dimension and needs to incorporate it accommodatingly.
It would be wise to pre-empt tribal secessionist movement through regional equitable growth instead of the current unsustainable growth model that I call urban explosion, which could happen through a participatory system. 
The tribal region’s volatility owes its origin to the Cold War-era US-instigated Afghan expulsion of the USSR through using madarasahs to create radical fighters called mujahedeen. Participatory democracy would neutralize this.
There is a military anti-terror operation in Waziristan  which has led to retaliatory suicide bombs in Pakistan’s cities. The US not only supplies Pakistan with military hardware but is interested in a strategic partnership in civil sectors,  showing the US would not ipso facto be opposed to democratising the tribal areas for which the money exists in the form of the $7.5 billion Kerry Lugar aid bill to help the Pakistan balance ‘democratic imperatives with security requirements.’ 
The tribal areas have been notoriously troubled as they are thought of as non-governable, but troubles arise because the tribes feel disenfranchised.

If They Are Dead, Tell Us!” A Criminological Study of the Disappearances in Kashmir

by Teresa Crew

Published in Internet Journal of Criminology

Cradled in the lap of majestic mountains of the Himalayas, Kashmir is one of the most beautiful places on earth. This... more Cradled in the lap of majestic mountains of the Himalayas, Kashmir is one of the most beautiful places on earth. This paradise is now hell for many Kashmiris due to the prolonged war between India and Pakistan since the end of the British Empire and subsequent partition of the Indian Subcontinent.

This paper focuses on the enforced disappearances in Kashmir. The aim of this study is to further develop the study into the victims of State harm. In order to do this, Kauzlarich et al's 'Victimology of State Crime' is utilised, and their general propositions of State crime are tested with reference to the disappeared inKashmir.

This study holds with Kauzlarich et al's assertion that State crime victimology is a different phenomenon from that of street crime as victims are doubly victimised by the state - once during the actual harm inflicted and then again by the criminal justice process.Whilst the majority of Kauzlarich's propositions were consistent with the situation inKashmir, the concept of secondary victimisation was underdeveloped throughout the original Kauzlarich et al paper. This concept, in relation to Kashmir, is developed in this paper