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112. Ethnic Politics: An Issue to National Integration (The Case of Pakistan)
- Author:
- Rehana Saeed Hashmi
- Publication Date:
- 07-2014
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- South Asian Studies
- Institution:
- Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab
- Abstract:
- National integration has remained an evolving pursue in all the post-colonial divided societies. Although various approaches and strategies of national integration have been opted , but the situation remained complex. The state of Pakistan is also facing problems in the creation of national integration. These problems are due to conflicting socio-political fibre of Pakistani Society which was not handled properly. The diverse fibre of Pakistani Society was based on its ethnic composition. The state adopted an authoritarian policy to expand and consolidate its power and position. While responding authoritarian policy, ethnic groups provoked ethnic politics and started movements for the preservation of their identity. With due course of time, these ethnic movements become a challenge to the national integration. The study has its focus on various approaches to national integration. The research has also highlighted that although federalism is the best suited system for plural societies but effective working of federal institutions is required. For the creation of national integration, assimilationist strategy should be avoided and a pluralistic approach must be incorporated. Central government’s role as facilitator can diffuse the tension and brighten the process of national integration.
- Topic:
- Politics, Authoritarianism, Ethnicity, Assimilation, Federalism, Integration, Pluralism, Identity, and Society
- Political Geography:
- Pakistan and South Asia
113. The Effect of Syria Crisis on the Transformation and Integration of the Middle East
- Author:
- M. Murat Erdoğan
- Publication Date:
- 03-2013
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- BILGESAM (Wise Men Center for Strategic Studies)
- Abstract:
- The Arab spring could be seen as an integral part of a world in transformation. The technology and information revolutions and interconnectedness between cultures make it impossible for tyrants to rule for lifetime while subjugating the people to servitude with no chance for their freedom. Despite the unique characteristics of each country, the common theme of the protests in the Arab world has been largely shaped by the continuing economic inequality and rising social injustices. The Arab youth charge the authoritarian governments as the main source of their socioeconomic problems, lack of freedoms, and injustices and, desire change in the current political systems. Syria has a central position connecting the Arab states to Turkey. As a pioneering state, Turkey needs a democratic Syria to contribute to the transformation of the Arab world. It could be said that the fall of Assad regime and the establishment of a democratic government in Syria can contribute to Turkey’s initiatives for the transformation and regional integration in the Middle East.
- Topic:
- Democratization, Democracy, Syrian War, Crisis Management, and Integration
- Political Geography:
- Middle East and Syria
114. SACU Revenue Sharing Formula: Towards a Development Agreement
- Author:
- Masedi Motswapong and Roman Grynberg
- Publication Date:
- 07-2012
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis
- Abstract:
- The South African Customs Union (SACU) Revenue Sharing Formula (RSF) has been revised substantively twice; once in 1969 and in 1994-2002 since the creation of the customs union in 1910 and each time the changes in the treaty were a reflection of the historic changes occurring in Southern Africa. The apartheid regime created a RSF that served to increase the share of revenue of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland (BLS), leaving the South African share as a residual of revenues. As this made South Africa a residual claimant it was unsustainable and required reform in the post-apartheid era. The 2002 formula increased the share to the Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BNLS) and removed South Africa as a residual claimant but did not change the fundamental economic relationship between members. While the International Monetary Fund (IMF) supports orthodox fiscal adjustment imbalances this paper argues that the order of magnitude makes those adjustment implausible and a new political arrangement is needed between South Africa and Lesotho and Swaziland to create a viable way forward for Southern African Development Community (SADC). It is argued that even in the case of Botswana and Namibia a new developmental formula, based on investing SACU revenues for regional and national development projects is needed to relieve those countries that have suffered the effects of polarization.
- Topic:
- Development, Regional Cooperation, Regional Integration, Economic Development, Integration, and Economic Cooperation
- Political Geography:
- Africa, South Africa, and Botswana
115. The Contribution of Turkish-Serbian Relations Towards Improving Security in the Western Balkans
- Author:
- Athina Tesfa-Yohannes
- Publication Date:
- 09-2011
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- BILGESAM (Wise Men Center for Strategic Studies)
- Abstract:
- In recent years, economic relations between the two countries have been on the rise with renewed Turkish investment in Serbia, free trade agreement, and a visa-free regime. Turkey’s relations with Serbia have gained momentum and will have likely positive effects on three particular integration issues that pose significant security risks within the Western Balkans, given the fragility of the region. These issues are the integration of ethnic Serbs in Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Republika Srpska, the integration of ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo, and integration of ethnic Bosniaks and Albanians in southwestern Serbia. Turkey and Serbia’s strengthening relations will mitigate security risks which may arise as a result of these integration-related issues.
- Topic:
- Security, Bilateral Relations, Free Trade, and Integration
- Political Geography:
- Turkey, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Serbia, and Balkans
116. The Integration of the Turks into German Society: Turks on Their Way to Parallel Societies or to True Integration?
- Author:
- Moritz Orendt
- Publication Date:
- 09-2010
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- BILGESAM (Wise Men Center for Strategic Studies)
- Abstract:
- Created as a nation-state in the beginning, Germany is not very prepared to deal with an increasing amount of people with different ethnic background. The largest group of non- German people is the Turkish one. Influenced by the media, many people doubt the possibility of true Turkish integration into the German society coexistence for mutual advantage in Germany. The subject of this essay is the examination of Turkish integration in Germany. First, the history of Turkish migration to Germany will be scrutinized in order to understand how the people, who live there now, initially came to Germany. Second, Turkish life in Germany will be examined and what moved them to stay. Third, we will look at the concept of integration and how it could be measured as objective as possible. Forth, the integration of the Turks in Germany will be evaluated referring to the concept from the section before. Finally, some proposals will be introduced in order to improve the Turkish integration which is actually in a bad shape.
- Topic:
- Migration, Minorities, Integration, and Society
- Political Geography:
- Europe, Turkey, and Germany
117. A Way Out? Initial Steps Towards Addressing Romani Issues in Georgia
- Author:
- Giorgi Sordia
- Publication Date:
- 05-2009
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)
- Abstract:
- The Romani community are one of the least studied ethnic minorities in Georgia and issues such as their history, daily life, relations with other ethnic groups and the problems they face remain virtually unexplored. Unlike many European countries where over the past decade the protection of Romani rights and promotion of their integration into society has become systematic, in Georgia the facilitation of equal possibilities for Roms and protection of their rights exists only at a rudimentary level. One of the main reasons for this is undoubtedly the limited information on Roms and their conditions, both among the authorities and in society as a whole. The first systematic research on Roms in Georgia was conducted in 2007 and later published by the European Centre for Minority Issues. This initial publication provided a brief introduction to the history of the settlement of Roms in Georgia, their dwelling places, demographical data, social structure of the community and the economic, social and other problems facing the community. As a result of this research, the following main problems of the Romani community were revealed: extreme poverty, unemployment, poor access to education and health care, isolation from the larger population of the country and lack of official documentation. Following this initial research, the European Centre for Minority Issues has continued to study the Romani community, which has helped to provide a fuller demographic profile of the Roms, a more thorough understanding of their problems, and the collection of additional information about the community’s ethnic and cultural characteristics. At the same time, a survey—conducted with the help of questionnaires—has provided documentation on the Romani social problems, enabling us to obtain a more accurate picture of the situation of the Romani community settlements. It has also helped to identify precisely those Roms who suffer from lack of documents and what type of documents they need, and also provided us with a more comprehensive understanding of the scope of the problem of non-enrollment of Romani children in the education system. This research was conducted from mid 2008 to early 2009.2 Hence, in supplementing the data provided in ECMI Working Paper #39, this Issue Brief provides a set of additional findings relating to the demography and status of the Romani community in Georgia. With thepublication of this data, we hope to provide a further impetus to Georgian policy makers and civil society organizations in addressing some of the acute problems faced by the Roms in the country and offer insights that can be helpful to this end.
- Topic:
- Minorities, Ethnicity, Integration, Identity, Inclusion, and Protected People
- Political Geography:
- Europe and Georgia
118. The Benefits and Risks of Financial Globalization
- Author:
- Peter B. Kenen
- Publication Date:
- 07-2007
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- The Cato Institute
- Abstract:
- It is by now almost impossible to conceive of a world without a global financial system. To be sure, large numbers of low-income developing countries have little access to that system. But most middle-income developing countries, even some that still have capital controls of one sort or another, are increasingly integrated into that system, and all of the major developed countries are fully integrated.
- Topic:
- Development, Economy, Integration, and Financial Globalization
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus
119. Supporting Local Romani Coordinators: A Practical Guide to Integrating Roms in Municipal Government
- Author:
- European Centre for Minority Issues
- Publication Date:
- 03-2007
- Content Type:
- Case Study
- Institution:
- European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)
- Abstract:
- The purpose of this brief publication is to encourage replication and continuation of the pioneering work of the 3 main initiators with the European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI) as implementing agent in building the capacity of local Romani coordinators (RCs) and their nonRomani counterparts in thirteen municipalities in the Republic of Serbia. To this end, the guide brings together materials for relevant actors in Serbia and potentially other countries in the broader Balkan region interested in increasing and improving integration and contacts between Romani communities and local authorities.
- Topic:
- Minorities, Ethnicity, Local, and Integration
- Political Geography:
- Europe and Balkans
120. Roms on Integration: Analyses and Recommendations
- Author:
- European Centre for Minority Issues
- Publication Date:
- 01-2006
- Content Type:
- Case Study
- Institution:
- European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)
- Abstract:
- The data gathered through this research point out certain problems with the state of health of the Romani population in the Republic of Macedonia. A conclusion is that these problems require special attention as well as great seriousness and precision in approach in order to fully defi ne and elaborate the health-related problems Roms face. Nevertheless even the data resulting from our research sounds an alarm for undertaking concrete steps towards the improvement of the health condition of the Romani population. With regard to vaccination, it would be desirable to organize visiting-nurse service teams which would take care of the children that have been brought back from Western countries and would make sure that they are vaccinated and registered while also taking care of those who have not yet been registered. The services responsible for sending invitations to vaccination should also perform their tasks more responsibly, as a large number of families have stated that for whatever reason they do not receive such invitations. Frequently, health workers verbally pass information about coming vaccinations to the mothers. As a result, it often happens that the mothers forget the date of vaccination. It is a fact that a large number of Romani mothers have a relatively low level of education and are not familiar with the purpose of the vaccines. It is therefore necessary to find a way for them to be familiarized with the purpose as well as the timing of vaccinations.
- Topic:
- Health, Minorities, Ethnicity, Discrimination, and Integration
- Political Geography:
- Europe and Macedonia