Sri Lanka in the Modern Age


Book Description

On the ethnic relations and politics in post 1978 Sri Lanka.




Sri Lankans' Views on English in the Colonial and Post-Colonial Eras


Book Description

This book evaluates the views of different ethnic groups towards the English language in Sri Lanka for a period of almost two centuries. While a few studies have addressed the subject of English in Sri Lanka in a general way, there has been no research showing the specifics of English usage in the major ethnic communities of the country. This text considers notions and attitudes towards English that prevail in Sri Lanka today among writers, language planners, teachers and students, habitual speakers, and infrequent users, as well as elite and non-elite groups in the country. The book also examines colonial and postcolonial writings in three communities, namely the Sri Lankan diaspora and the Tamil and Sinhala communities.




Settlers in Contested Lands


Book Description

Settlers feature in many protracted territorial disputes and ethnic conflicts around the world. Explaining the dynamics of the politics of settlers in contested territories in several contemporary cases, this book illuminates how settler-related conflicts emerge, evolve, and are significantly more difficult to resolve than other disputes. Written by country experts, chapters consider Israel and the West Bank, Arab settlers in Kirkuk, Moroccan settlers in Western Sahara, settlers from Fascist Italy in North Africa, Turkish settlers in Cyprus, Indonesian settlers in East Timor, and Sinhalese settlers in Sri Lanka. Addressing four common topics—right-sizing the state, mobilization and violence, the framing process, and legal principles versus pragmatism—the cases taken together raise interrelated questions about the role of settlers in conflicts in contested territory. Then looking beyond the similar characteristics, these cases also illuminate key differences in levels of settler mobilization and the impact these differences can have on peace processes to help explain different outcomes of settler-related conflicts. Finally, cases investigate the causes of settler mobilization and identify relevant conflict resolution mechanisms.




Tamil/Transnationalism a Convenient Concept


Book Description

The book speaks about the origin, growth and expansion of Tamil nationalism. There were three different players, namely, the middle class Tamil professionals with political aspiration, the Tamil businessmen with capital and lastly, the Tamil criminlas with skills in underworld operation. The leadership of LTTE was a manifestation of joint operation carried out by the above three. The real victims of this war is the working class of Sri Lanka. The role of India in the war is not confined to Sri Lankan modern politics, but it certainly examplifies the omnipotent role of India in the region.




Peaceful Intervention in Intra-State Conflicts


Book Description

Have we reached an end to the era of peaceful third party intervention in conflict management and resolution? In the 1990s, with the ending of the Cold War, the intervention of third parties as a non-violent means of negotiating settlements of intra-state conflicts gained prominence but the emphasis in the twenty-first century has been increasingly on military responses. Peaceful Intervention in Intra-State Conflicts: Norwegian Involvement in the Sri Lankan Peace Process is an in-depth, impartial discussion on the background, decision making processes and procedures and related actions in the Norwegian facilitated peace process in Sri Lanka that gradually shifted towards a military solution. It provides the reader with evidence based comprehensive analysis on the attempts of peaceful third party intervention in a complex ethno-separatist intra-state conflict.




International Relations Theory and South Asia (OIP)


Book Description

Bringing together scholarship from several South Asian countries, this volume understands conflict resolution and cooperation building in the region. The essays cover three inter-related issues-security; political economy-domestic politics; and the construction of identities and normative frameworks. They employ broader social-science theorizing, particularly in relation to political economy, to go beyond conceptualizations based on international relations theory. The volume takes a fresh look at the inter-relationships between issues and their analyses and eschews stand-alone topics such as Kashmir, nuclear policies, or regional cooperation. Combining theory with fieldwork, it provides diverse perspectives and arguments for a more nuanced picture of international relations in South Asia.




To End a Civil War


Book Description

A fascinating inside look at what it takes to bring irreconcilable foes to the conference table and the pressures of brokering peace in an ethnically riven society at war with itself




Buddhism, Modernity, and the State in Asia


Book Description

Leading scholars working on Buddhism and politics in South and Southeast Asia add to current discussions regarding 'Engaged Buddhism' and the recent work on protests. The writers have mostly established themselves in their fields, offering a diverse approach and country-by-country coverage.




The Story of India and Srilanka and the Tamils


Book Description

There was never an armed secessionist movement in the Tamil regions of India, whereas in Sri Lanka the discriminatory regimes and failed political struggles of Tamils led to an armed uprising… The Indian administration was incorrectly led to believe that the rise of armed movements in Sri Lanka would lead to rise of secessionist movement in Tamil Nadu… The armed movement(LTTE) in Sri Lanka was built of a Portfolio of skills for over two decades – transcontinental organization, technological excellence, combative mind-set, international network with - governments, civilians, media, underworld, capabilities to manufacture battlefield weapons, on-field battle strategy, financing models, stealth operations, covert intelligence operations unit, sleeper cells, political lobbying, publicity and propaganda skills, lightning fast manoeuvrability across combat regions and sourcing & supply chain management of arms & ammunitions… The Author describes the events leading up to the military defeat of the LTTE that began at least twelve years ago in Mozambique where the LTTE stole arms & ammunitions purchased by the Sri Lankan Military. The event alerted the Western Powers to sit up and mark the LTTE in the danger lists as a non-state actor that had acquired abilities to strike with a transcontinental infrastructure and unbelievable stealth.