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Global Support for al Qaeda
and Osama bin Laden:
An Increase or Decrease?
-- Rohan Gunaratna and Karunya Jayasena
Radicalization of sympathizers and supporters promote extremist beliefs and
ideology-based radical movements worldwide. To be successful, operational hunt for terrorists must
be complemented with the correction of the misled ideologies. Reducing the support for terrorism is
paramount to reduce and manage the threat of terrorism and its parent, ideological extremism. There are two
causal reasons that may contribute to the decrease in support for al Qaeda and bin Laden—(1) Violence
against civilians by extremist groups has led to a considerable decline in support for suicide bombings and (2)
US humanitarian, intelligence, logistical and financial support to where al Qaeda operates is significantly
correlated to the decline in support for extremist groups and bin Laden. There are two fundamental reasons
correlated to increase the support for al Qaeda and bin Laden—(1) Opposition to US led war on terror has
dramatically increased since 2003 and many Muslims surveyed believe that US-led war on terror has contributed to
their deteriorating economy. In addition, there is little enthusiasm for drone attacks targeting extremist
leaders mainly because many civilians believe that these attacks are conducted without the approval of their
governments and (2) Lack of awareness about political conditions that give rise to terrorism and increase support
for extremist ideologies have led to the rise of extremism in the world. When people are stripped of their
human rights, alienated and are subjugated by various negative social circumstances, they are more likely to
become vulnerable candidates for radicalization and recruitment to participate in terrorism. To tip the scales in
favor of counter-terrorism efforts, there is still much to be done through a global integrated approach to
minimize supporters and sympathizers. Partnership should be built between the governments, academia and
Muslim communities. We must think beyond security measures, understand why individuals become radicalized,
and address social conditions favorable to the increase in support for extremist leaders and groups.
© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Ethnic Conflict in Nepal
-- Monika Mandal
In this paper I would like to draw attention to the ongoing serious ethnic conflict in Nepal. An `ethnic
conflict' is a dispute about important political, economic, social, cultural or territorial issues between two or
more ethnic communities. Some ethnic conflicts involve little or no violence. The violence, in this case, was
initiated not by either party to the civil war but by groups fighting on behalf of those who profess a Madhesi
ethnicity. These groups targeted both the state and the Maoists, polarizing Terai citizens along ethnic issues that
were largely unaddressed during the civil war. At present, the Madhesh part of Nepal is in a chaotic situation.
The major groups leading the movement belong to Madhesi community who are multiparty,
multiethnic, multireligious, multicaste, multilingual, multigeographical and so on. All demand an equal treatment
regarding issues such as caste, religion, or any other social, political, economic values. Apart from the Madhesi
ethnic group, other scheduled and deprived groups have also been supporting and expressing their solidarity to
this movement, asking the government to fulfill similar demands. The major demands of the conflicting
groups seem to be rational and legitimate.
© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Aid in Sino-African Relations:
An Analysis of the Promptings, Pluses
and Problems of China's Aid to Africa
-- Chuka Enuka
This paper investigates Chinese aid relationship with Africa with a view to analyze its motivations,
attendant problems and pluses. Issues that border on Sino-African relations are no doubt gaining increased
currency both in the academic and official discourses. One of the dominant factors in this over-debated
China-Africa dealings is aid which flows exclusively from China to Africa. China's rapid economic growth has
noticeably been accompanied with impressive roles in Africa manifesting in the form of aid, aid projects, and other
forms of economic assistance. This aid-giving has concomitantly been assailed with accusations. China's
intentions and practice of giving aid to Africa have been questioned especially by the West, who posit that the
Chinese modus-operandi undermine their efforts at encouraging reforms and bringing about genuine
economic development and stability in Africa. This paper, therefore, historicizes China's aid to Africa within the
broad framework of Sino-African relations, and explores its accompanying gains and pains to Africa.
© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Us Bilateral Ftas in West Asia:
A Step Towards Mefta
-- Syeeda Khatoon
The concept of regionalism does not have clear cut and widely accepted definition as it is difficult to
decide whether two or more territories fall in the same economic region. On the ground practice, the concept
is defined largely in terms of non-geographic criteria and laying relatively little emphasis on physical
location. Regionalism, the scholars commonly agree, is defined in non-geographic terms, focusing on
preferential economic arrangements that does away with the composition of states in close proximity. Since most of
the contemporary literature on regionalism focuses on Preferential Trading Arrangements
(PTAs), hence this discussion uses concept of regionalism in the context of grouping of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)
between the US and its West Asian partners into Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA) as claimed by the US
Trade Representative Robert Zoellick. `Regionalism', `regional trade agreement', and `regional trade area' refer
to the general terms that involve the commitment among a group of countries to achieve some degree
of economic integration. In brief, an important objective of this paper is to investigate the so called
hypothesis adopted for MEFTA, that is, whether the pursuit of bilateral trading arrangements between the US and
its West Asian partners helps in the formation of MEFTA and whether the MEFTA initiative plays a positive role
in increased intra-regional trade or work against it.
© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Globalization and the Political Economy
of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres: Nigeria,
Brazil, Germany and the United States
-- Kenneth Chukwuemeka Nwoko
This work investigates the impact of globalization on the political economy of the Northern and
Southern hemispheres, with Nigeria, Brazil, Germany and the US as case studies. It argues that though the
disadvantaged position of the countries of the Southern hemisphere is obvious, the advanced economies of the North are
not without their share of the frustrations and undesirable impacts of globalization on their political economy.
It also argues that until the South stops perceiving globalization as a threat rather than an opportunity,
no appreciable progress will be made in reducing the North/South economic dichotomy.
© 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
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