The Research Committee on Asian and Pacific Studies (RC18), State Society, Governance in Melanesia (Australian National University) and UNDP Pacific Centre held the Pacific regional symposium on security at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand on 25-26 November 2015. The symposium was aimed to engage a diverse group of regional stakeholders on important matters of regional security to strengthen the link between research and policy making in an increasingly complex Pacific.

Researchers, experts, policy makers and key community representatives from around the region engaged in critical examination of a range of “hard”, human, and environmental security issues in the Pacific during the symposium.

A total of 45 presentations covering a range of topics were made within the three broad themes above. More than 100 experts, policy makers and researchers representing academic 3 institutions, regional organizations, international organizations, government departments, civil society organizations, community groups, military and students from around the region and internationally attended the two-day symposium.

The funding was largely from the Marsden research fund which was under the supervision of Prof Steven Ratuva, director of the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies at the University of Canterbury. UNDP also contributed by funding some participants from Fiji. There was also some contribution from the conference fees. The panel themes were: Framing regional security; Regional geo-politics and diplomacy; Human security; Media, politics and security; Peace building; Case studies session 1; Case studies session 2: French territories; Case studies 3. One of the major highlights of the symposium was the piano concert by Grammy Award winner, Prof Angelin Chang from Cleveland State University, United States.

February 21 - 22, 2014

UGC Sponsored

International Conference at Jodhpur, India

on

South Asia in Global Perspective: Democracy, Human Rights and Nation Building

The South Asian subcontinent has experienced profound social, political, economic and cultural transformation after globalisation in the past two decades. South Asia has become a primary stage of concern globally because of its important strategic location, a big consumer market for MNCs, young work force, natural resources, variety of cultural attributes and so on. These countries share a common past, heritage, similar problems and common issues and challenges. The conference emphasises three important issues in the region. First is democratic process and it's actual functioning in the region. Democratic process continues to be either torn by conflict and military interventions in politics in this region or challenged by corruption and terrorism. The instability has provided rationale for the countries to keep large armies, which have undermined democracy. Wide spread political corruption and increased instability has turned the counties towards military rule. Recent elections in some countries of South Asia signal a move towards greater and better democracy. Second is the human rights issue because it is related to the life and dignity of the individual. The international human rights movement with UNO, NGO’s and individuals has mounted transnational campaigns to promote human rights norms. Although there have been large number of human rights violation cases in South Asia,  there are some Asian values distinct from those of the West. The conscious theorizing about tolerance and freedom is substantial and important part of our traditions. Third is Nation Building as this is a dynamic and continuous process. It involves development of behaviours, values, language, institutions and physical structures that elucidate history and culture, concretise and protect the present and ensure the future identity and independence of a nation. The countries of South Asia have been shaken by ethnic disturbances from time to time.

 South Asia comprises of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. India, as the largest country in terms of area and population and sharing a common boundary with most of the South Asian countries, has a very important presence. The first regional organisation of the region SAARC has remained a frame work for low key regional interactions in a few selected areas of social and economic activity. If it has really to take off and become a meaningful organisation, it must be provided with a definite political push.

 The Department of Political Science, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, India and The Research Committee on Asian and Pacific Studies (RC18) of the International Political Science Association Research Committee, headquartered in Montreal, Canada will be jointly organising the UGC sponsored International Conference in Jodhpur, India on 21-22 February 2014. The theme of the conference is "South Asia in Global Perspective: Democracy, Human Rights and Nation Building”. This conference seeks to explore and capture these changes through a wide range of analysis. The following are suggested sub-themes on which the papers are welcome. The conference is open to thought-provoking aspects related to the following subjects:

·     Democratic values, processes, institutions, culture and power politics in South Asia

·     Protection of Human Rights : issues, problems, mechanisms and challenges

·     Nation building process after the end of cold war : ethnic disturbances, questions of minorities and weaker sections, people's movements

·     Role of SAARC in development, cooperation  and integration  of the region, other regions of the world

·     External forces affecting the region specially  the US and Chinese  presence

·     Structures and processes in politics, economy, law and society

·     Women as actors of change and gender issues.

·     Key challenges  threatening the region; population, poverty, food security, unemployment, education, health, sanitation, environmental degradation, disaster management and sustainable development 

·     Impact of international law, institutions, NGOs ,IGOs and UNO

·     Border disputes, water disputes, terrorism and violence 

·     South Asian fraternity: some measures for peace and cooperation in global perspective

 Today, the South Asian region is emerging as a centre of power in new world order. This region must develop new systems and meet new challenges in global perspectives. In this back drop the present International Conference will be an enabling forum for better understanding the theme through study, research, discussion, lectures, exchange of ideas and information from all over the world. The deliberations are likely to enhance the knowledge and concepts in theory and practice.

About Jodhpur (popularly known as Sun City):

Jodhpur is the second largest city of Rajasthan. This walled and colourful, traditional city, the old town where of is a maze of Blue Streets, Clock Towers the dramatic sand stone Meherangarh Fort and Umaid Bhawan Palace. Some major tourist attractions nearby and around the city are there. It is well connected with other tourist attraction of Rajasthan, mainly Jaipur, Udaipur, Bikaner and Jaisalmer.

Call for Paper & Important Dates:

Papers are invited for this International Conference. The paper givers are suggested to send their abstracts and full paper by E-mail to the following: directormb2014@gmail.com and secretaryjsm2014@gmail.com

Registration fee for Participants:

 Registration fee be sent by Demand Draft /Cheque (multicity) drawn in favour of “DIRECTOR, ICPS JNVU 2014” payable at Jodhpur or by Electronic Transfer  in Account No. 05710100017048 (DIRECTOR, ICPS JNVU 2014) of Bank of Baroda, University campus, Jodhpur (Raj.) India (IFSC Code : BARBOUNIJOD & MICR Code: 342012006). All communications regarding the conference be directed to the Conference Director.

 It would be a privilege for all of us to have you here for the conference. Delegates are advised to reserve their tickets in advance and inform us the program so that we can ensure there your comfortable stay in Jodhpur.

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RC18-Asian and Pacific Studies to celebrate 35^th Anniversary

at Madrid 2012 IPSA World Congress

Since its establishment at the 1976 IPSA World Congress in Edinburgh, the Research Committee on Asian and Pacific Studies (RC-18) has organized panels for every world congress and held international roundtable conferences in various locations.

The first International Roundtable Conference was held in 1978 in Chicago. The first panel on Asian Studies was organized in 1979 at the Moscow World Congress of IPSA.

During 2010-2011, RC18 held an "International Roundtable Conference on Central Asia in the 21st Century" at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana (USA). The Asian and Pacific Studies sessions will include 13 panels for the 22nd World Congress of IPSA in Madrid, Spain in 2012.

The RC-18 has lost two senior members in 2010- 2011: Dr. Robert Scalapino, Director East Asia Study Institute of the University of California, was a paper-giver in the first International Roundtable Conference of RC 18 in 1978.  Dr. Loretta Makasier Sicat, served as Secretary of RC18 and passed away in 2010. She was a Professor of Political Science at the University of the Philippines and President of the Political Science Association of the Philippines.  Both were prominent Political Scientists, specializing in Asian Studies. They will be always in our memory.

Dr. Angelin Chang, Professor of Cleveland State University, was selected as the new Secretary of RC18 to fill the vacancy. She is a life member of IPSA and she has participated in the World Congress of IPSA since 1985.  She has contributed excellent assistance for the organization of panels of RC18 for the 22nd World Congress.

RC18 plan to celebrate its 35th Anniversary of its establishment, during the 22nd World Congress of IPSA in Madrid, July 8-12, 2012.

The organization of the RC 18 is as follows:

Chair: Teh-Kuang Chang, Ball State University, USA

Vice Chair: Haroon Khan, Henderson State University, USA

Secretary: Angelin Chang, Cleveland State University, USA

The 12 Board Members include the following:

Mehrigiul Ablezova, American University, Kyrgyzstan

Malin Åkebo, Umeå University, Sweden

Marceli Burdelski, University of Gdańsk, Poland

Angelin Chang, Cleveland State University, USA

Taekyoon Kim, Waseda University, Japan

Lee Lai To, National University of Singapore

Sadig Malki, King Abdullah Aziz University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Luis Ernesto Nava Molero, Simón Bolívar University, Venezuela

Gonzalo S. Paz, George Washington University, Argentina

Elmira Satybaldieva, University of Kent, UK

Walter Sánchez, University of Chile, Chile

Pushpa Thambipillai, University of Brunei Darassalam, Brunei

RC 18 welcomes suggestions for future programs, membership applications and paper proposals. Please contact:

Dr. Teh-Kuang Chang

Department of Political Science

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana 47306

U.S.A.

Telephone and Fax: +1 (765) 289-5628

Email:  tchang@bsu.edu

Dr. Teh-Kuang Chang, Chair

International Political Science Association

Research Committee on Asian and Pacific Studies (RC18)

Dr. Angelin Chang, Secretary

International Political Science Association

Research Committee on Asian and Pacific Studies (RC18)

Background Recognised as a study group in 1976; granted research committee status in 1979.

Objectives Advances the development of Asian and Pacific studies and promotion of the study of political science in Asian and Pacific countries. The work of this committee focuses on the following areas: the modernisation of Asian countries, including the economic and political development of the countries in the Asian and Pacific basin; regional security, including the rise and decline of alliance systems in Asia; and the impact of national integration and world peace.