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Globalization
and the Erosion of the Sovereignty of State in the 21st Century
--
Efem N Ubi
The
states of 21st century differ from the states
created and known during the Peace of Westphalia. This is
the resultant effect of the processes of the forces of globalization
and global transformation. The present changes inherent
in the international system have adversely impacted states
by gradually eroding their sovereignty and their effectiveness.
These have manifested in the form of conflict, the inability
of most states to provide adequately for the social needs
of its citizens, and above all, states' losing their autonomy
and authority. These processes of change have also brought
to the forefront alternatives like international and multilateral
institutions, most of them taking up issues that previously
preoccupied states. This paper, therefore, argues that in
recent times, factors of globalization such as information
technology (IT), markets, international and multilateral
organizations, and international humanitarian intervention
have to a considerable extent undermined the sovereignty
of states.
©
2008 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Dealing
with the Devils: The
Other Side of Bush's Afghanistan War
-- Jagmohan Meher
One
of the prime requirements of the Bonn Agreement signed by
the Afghan factions under the auspices of United Nations
in December 2001 was the disarmament of warlords and strengthening
of the central government authority. But, even after six
years, the disarmament effort is still in a moribund shape,
and thousands of men still remain armed under the shadow
of the warlords, who control large chunks of the country's
territory through their oppressive tactics, and rule their
`occupied' area with an iron fist. One major reason for
such a situation is the United States' policy of supporting
the warlords with money and weapons for its own military
and strategic reasons. As a result, the factional and regional
warlords are more powerful today than ever before, and the
country remains fragmented and the seeds of civil war look
intact. This article intends to delve into the nature of
warlordism in Afghanistan and discusses the American strategy
vis-à-vis the warlords. The last part of the study
dwells upon its implications and looks at possible options
to save Afghanistan from the clutches of the warlords. Touching
upon the historical facts in the present analysis, the study
concludes that the US policy of supporting the warlords
is misguided and detrimental to the peace process because
warlords maintain their authority only by preventing the
emergence of a functioning state.
©
2008 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
China-Africa
Relations in the New Millennium: Opportunities
and Challenges
-- Bertha Z Osei-Hwedie
China's
foreign policy agenda in Africa forms a part of its thrust
to foster cooperation among the developing countries and
demonstrate its status as an emerging superpower. The 2000
Beijing Declaration and the Program for China-Africa Cooperation
in Economic and Social Development are the basis of the
renewed relations. It has developed diverse and varied relations
with Africa in all spheres of interaction. However, Africa's
mineral and energy resources, required by China's bourgeoning
industry, are the major attraction of its re-engagement
with Africa in the 21st century. The accelerated
growth of China's trade and investment in Africa has stirred
controversy among academics and policy makers in terms of
the nature of opportunities and challenges for the continent's
development, and whether a neo-colonial pattern of relationship
akin to the one with the West is likely to develop. The
imbalance in trade and investment relations, partly due
to economic asymmetries, and China's failure to condemn
the repressive African governments and poorly managed economies
point to a foreign economic policy which is self-serving
and influenced by immediate short-term gains. China's foreign
policy has also led to a new great power rivalry in the
continent of Africa. Whether the global competition for
Africa's market will benefit the continent remains unclear
and is largely dependent on Africa's tact in negotiating
and extracting concessions from big powers.
©
2008 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Poverty
in South Asian Region: A
Comparative Study
-- Jayant Singh
At
the start of the new millennium, income and non-income poverty
remains a global problem. South Asian Region, with 22.2%
of the world's population, is the planet's poorest region
with least per capita income, as compared to Sub-Saharan
Africa, East Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean
and the Pacific regions. Low income, conflicts, illiteracy,
ill-health, gender inequality, etc., are all aspects prevalent
in South Asian Region making it a poverty-ridden area on
the world map. An integrated regional effort by all the
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
countries to accelerate the economic growth of the region
seems to be the only solution to improve the material conditions
of the people in South Asia. This paper discusses the problems
prevailing in the regions from a statistical and comparative
point of view and summarizes the efforts made by SAARC in
the eradication of poverty in the region.
©
2008 IUP . All Rights Reserved.
Larger
Implications of the Chinese Shooting Match in the Outer
Space
-- R
S Vasan
With
the shooting down of its own decrypt Chinese satellite,
China has yet again surprised observers worldwide and has
served notice that it is in the same league of US and Russia.
Not much was heard about anti-satellite weaponry since the
shooting down of the satellite by an Anti-satellite Weapon
(ASAT ) launched by an F 15 from the USAF some decades ago.
It is clear that the space again would be an arena in which
the big powers would compete for leadership and control.
This does not augur well for the peaceful exploitation of
space. This paper seeks to examine the issues that have
arisen as a result of the Chinese test, which appears to
portend danger to the rest of the world. While on the one
hand China is concentrating on its peaceful rise, on the
other hand it is doing everything within its control to
ensure that it does not lag behind US and Russia in military
as well as economic superiority. The said launch and the
newly acquired capability, coupled with high military spending
, are intended to insure China from any American, attacks
over Taiwan. This paper also examines the impact of the
Chinese action on the Indian Space program and its efforts
towards having a manned mission to `Chandrayan'. Both the
aspects of peaceful and military use of space are examined,
with appropriate recommendation for preventing the militarization
of outer space.
©
2008 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Book
Review
Occidentalism:
A Short History Of Anti-Westernism
--
Author
: Ian Buruma and Avishai Margali
Reviewed by Laurent
Metzger
The
notion of Orientalism came under fire when Edward Said (1935-2003)
published his famous criticism entitled Orientalism:
Western Conceptions of the Orient (Routledge and Kegan
Paul, London, 1978). Afterwards it was difficult to mention
Orientalism without bearing in mind Said's views on that
subject. So changes occurred. For instance, the famous Congress
of Orientalists which is convened every four years since
1873 changed its name to become the International Congress
for Asian and North African Studies. The latest congress
was held in Ankara in September 2007.
©
2005 Ian Buruma and Avishai Margalit. All Rights Reserved.
IUP holds the copyright for the review.
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