scholarly journals Situation Analysis of Nation Building Efforts in Sri Lanka: From Early Years of Independence to Contemporary Days

2021 ◽  
Vol 01 (01) ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Kamran Fiaz
Keyword(s):  
Civil War ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Political Representation ◽  
Nation Building ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Smooth Transition ◽  
National Unity ◽  
National Integration ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Displaced Populations

Despite the smooth transition of power from the British colonists to the Sri Lankan Sinhalese in 1949, Sri Lanka inherited considerable challenges. There has been conflict between the Sinhalese and the Tamils post-independence which led to a long and brutal civil war from 1983 to 2009. After the culmination of the civil war, Sri Lanka confronted numerous obstacles in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the country. Drawing from Birch’s model of national integration, this study attempts to examine the diverse political, economic, and social challenges facing Sri Lanka. The review shows that Sri Lanka needs critical nation building in the following areas: (i) Infrastructural development, (ii) Resettlements and rehabilitation of displaced populations (iii) Ethnic and religious integration, (iv) Equality in political representation, (v) Educational and employment policies, (vi) Gender equality policies, and (vii) mental health interventions for children and women. The role of international bodies, like the United Nations Human Rights Council, and neighboring countries is key to creating pressure for national integration and growth. There is fear that if national unity is not at the forefront of state and international policy for Sri Lanka, conflict and instability may arise again.

scholarly journals Ethno-Nationality and Violence in Sindh: A Case Study of MQM

2019 ◽  
Vol IV (III) ◽  
pp. 501-509
Author(s):  
Sanaullah ◽  
Fakhr ul Munir ◽  
Hina Malik
Keyword(s):  
South Asian ◽  
Political Representation ◽  
Ethnic Identification ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
National Unity ◽  
National Integration ◽  
New States ◽  
History Of ◽  
Culture And Language

Regionalism has oftenly expressed itself in terms which are opposed to national unity and integrity and challenged the legitimacy of the state while the rulers see it as a threat to development, progress and unity that is the why a regional issue of socio-political representation of Muhajirs has been projected in this paper. As in other states of South Asian region, factors of language and geography contributed a lot in ethnic identification in Pakistan as well which gave birth to various conflicts among different identities in different times and making the process of national integration vulnerable. Two Nation Theory and became successful in the existence of Pakistan but usually culture and language do not support only the development of a single ethno-nationalism aspirations in new republics. Clifford Gertz calls it as �old societies and new states�. One of endeavors by an ethnic federation is the re-orientation of ethnic based collective action into non-violent politics. Unity among all peoples, linguistic or racial groups must be obtained and can be found within diverse ethno-cultural environment of Pakistan. Sindh has had long history of ethnic struggle.

Governance by Perpetual Conflict: How Early Colonial Political Practices Undermine Democracy in Post-Civil War Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-184
Author(s):  
Binendri Perera
Keyword(s):  
Civil War ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Democratic Governance ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Similar Form ◽  
Early Colonial ◽  
Presidential System ◽  
Post War

Abstract The 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established a semi-presidential system within the country with constitutional provisions for a powerful executive presidency. Three decades later, practices of the presidents in the post-war period show commonalities with the Sinhala monarchy that prevailed in early colonial Sri Lanka. To substantiate this argument, this paper focuses on four kings from the Sithavaka and Kandyan kingdoms who reigned in Sri Lanka during the Portuguese colonization and the early years of Dutch colonization, i.e. from 1521 to 1687. These kings governed by feeding off perpetual conflict, using such as a political tool to retain their dictatorial authority and political relevance. Despite being formally constrained by the 1978 Constitution, presidents in the post-war period engage in a similar form of governance. However, this local conceptualization of the executive as a monarch clashes with the substantive democratic rationality of the office of president, which requires constitutional and political checks that apply beyond elections. Due to this clash between governance by perpetual conflict, which gains legitimacy from and has been instituted since Sri Lanka’s early colonial past, and democratic governance, the establishment of democratic constitutional norms within the country has been unstable.

African Personal Dictatorships

1985 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Decalo
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Civil War ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
International Conflict ◽  
Political Order ◽  
Smooth Transition ◽  
National Integration ◽  
Original Analysis ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
Developed Nations

Nearly two decades ago Aristide Zolberg suggested that the most visible feature of independent Africa might well be instability and not stability, cleavage and conflict rather than unity and consensus. This observation holds equally true today. The elusive formula assuring the establishment of a viable and integrative political order has eluded many African states. Their failure politically to institutionalise themselves and to forge ahead in the direction of national integration and socio-economic development has been documented in the voluminous literature that has sprung up since Zolberg's original analysis. Ravaged now by natural disasters, international conflict or civil war, and military coups, early expectations of a relatively smooth transition from colonialism to meaningful independence have been dashed. While striking exceptions do exist, neither the richer nor the more developed nations are necessarily assured of stability and unity, given the continental context of scarcity and conflict.

scholarly journals The Politics of Accommodation and the Problem of National-Building in a Plural Society: The Case of Malaysia

ICR Journal ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 577-594
Author(s):  
Ruhanas Harun
Keyword(s):  
Nation Building ◽  
Ethnic Relations ◽  
Colonial Rule ◽  
Religious Groups ◽  
National Unity ◽  
National Integration ◽  
The Public ◽  
Building Process ◽  
Plural Society ◽  
British Colonial

The issue of pluralism in Malaysia has attracted keen interest among scholars and commentators from this country as well as from outside the region. It is an issue that has pre-occupied the Malaysian government since Malaysia’s independence from British colonial rule in 1957. Since then the Malaysian state has been concerned with containing and managing the ‘vulnerabilities’ that can cause conflicts among diverse ethnic and religious groups in the country. The method used to manage ethnic relations has been termed the ‘politics of accommodation’ which is essentially based on the principles of bargaining, cooperation and accommodation among different ethnic groups. It is argued that while it has contributed to the peaceful - albeit precarious - coexistence between them, it also has had an impact of delaying the nation-building process in Malaysia. The pre-occupation of the state with ‘national unity’ and ‘national integration’ and the constant reminders to the public on the importance of ‘unity’ are proof that the ‘politics of accommodation’ as a tool for keeping the country and its diverse segments together are faced with serious challenges. This article attempts to look at the functioning of the ‘politics of accommodation’ as strategy for managing politics and society in a multiethnic society and its impact on nation-building in Malaysia.  

Development and destruction of the liberal prison system in Spain: a general framework for studying the topic

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 424
Author(s):  
Luis Gargallo Vaamonde
Keyword(s):  
Civil War ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
General Framework ◽  
Belief System ◽  
Prison System ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Second Republic ◽  
Social Harmony ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Individual

During the Restoration and the Second Republic, up until the outbreak of the Civil War, the prison system that was developed in Spain had a markedly liberal character. This system had begun to acquire robustness and institutional credibility from the first dec- ade of the 20th Century onwards, reaching a peak in the early years of the government of the Second Republic. This process resulted in the establishment of a penitentiary sys- tem based on the widespread and predominant values of liberalism. That liberal belief system espoused the defence of social harmony, property and the individual, and penal practices were constructed on the basis of those principles. Subsequently, the Civil War and the accompanying militarist culture altered the prison system, transforming it into an instrument at the service of the conflict, thereby wiping out the liberal agenda that had been nurtured since the mid-19th Century.

scholarly journals Do Military Expenditure and Conflict Affect Economic Growth in Sri Lanka? Evidence from the ARDL Bounds Test Approach

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Abdul Rasheed Sithy Jesmy ◽  
Mohd Zaini Abd Karim ◽  
Shri Dewi Applanaidu
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Civil War ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Military Expenditure ◽  
Gdp Growth ◽  
Per Capita Gdp ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Gdp Growth Rate ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Bounds Test

Conflicts in the form of civil war, ethnic tensions and political discord are of enduring concern and a major bottleneck to economic development in Sri Lanka. Three decades of civil war and unethical political culture have caused severe economic problems for the country, including slower rate of growth and a huge defence expenditure. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of military expenditure and conflict on per capita GDP growth rate in Sri Lanka from 1973 to 2014 using the Solow growth model and ARDL bounds test approach. The results of the bounds test are highly significant and lead to cointegration. The negative and significant coefficients of the error correction term illustrate the expected convergence process in the long-run dynamic of per capita GDP. The estimated empirical results show that, the coefficients of military expenditure and conflict are negative and statistically significant in the short-run as well as in the long-run in determining per capita GDP growth rate in Sri Lanka. Hence, it is critically important to take necessary action to decrease military expenditure and provide an efficient political solution to the problem of minorities, specifically in the post-war period.

Sovereignty, Space and Civil War in Sri Lanka: Porous Nation

Fabrications ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-146
Author(s):  
Peter Scriver
Keyword(s):  
Civil War ◽  
Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka in 2002: Turning the Corner?

Asian Survey ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 215-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amita Shastri
Keyword(s):  
Civil War ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Peace Process ◽  
Political Structure ◽  
National Front ◽  
International Support ◽  
Major Progress

Embroiled in a civil war for two decades, a peace process was reinitiated in Sri Lanka with international support. Has Sri Lanka finally turned the corner from war? This article argues that major progress has been made by the United National Front government in opening a dialogue with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Yet, major hurdles remain: support by the Tigers for a political solution remains conditional, they have not laid down their arms, and negotiating an agreement about the prospective political structure promises to be problematic.

‘Royal science’ and civil war in Sri Lanka

2009 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohan Bastin
Keyword(s):  
Civil War ◽  
Sri Lanka
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document