THE JADAVPUR
ASSOCIATION OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
A non-Profit, Non Governmental Organization
(Registered under The West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961)
29,BRAHMAPUR, GOVT.SCHEME, BANSDRONI, Kolkata 700070
Tel: 033-24107726/6394
e-MAIL: mailtojair@rediffmail.com
NEWS LETTER
VOL: I ISSUE III
The Jadavpur Association of International Relations in collaboration with the School of International Relations and Strategic Studies, Jadavpur University organized a seminar on Waves of Democracy in South Asia on 26th September, 2008 at K.P.Basu Memorial Hall, Jadavpur University. The seminar was attended by different scholars and students from different universities and colleges.
Inaugural Session
The Seminar began with the Inaugural Session. The initiation address was delivered by Dr. Partha Pratim Basu, Head of the Department, Department of International Relations, Jadavpur University. Dr. Basu began by saying that the JAIR’s main objective is to try to fill a long standing vacuum in International Relations. The objectives outlined by Dr. Basu were to bring together people of various disciplines within the academia of this association, bringing together various research scholars and people from various circles associated with International Relations. He further went on to say that this is just a humble beginning and JAIR’s aim is to become an All India entity in course of time.
Professor Dipankar Sinha, Professor, University of Calcutta began his keynote address by introducing the theme Waves of Democracy in South Asia to be a complex and diverse topic for any researcher, he talked about the constituents of democracy. Determinants may constitute of people’s rule, right to chose rulers etc. he added. In South Asia, newer phases to democracy may come up but it still remains the least bad system for conflict resolution, he argued. The intra-state and inter-state conflict in South Asia is important while determining the determinants of democracy in South Asia. According to Dr. Sinha, the metaphors of waves have two implications. First, waves are not constants and secondly, waves are long and high with exceptions like emergency and non-dramatic expressions of everyday life. He mentioned about Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives where waves are determinant upon time only. He pointed towards the fact that Waves can be internal or external. International Relations focuses on the former and the later should not be underestimated. In this regard Professor Sinha also spoke of Lawrence Whitehead’s essay on democracy. The waves of democracy can be deceptive too, he added. In terms of International Relations, South Asia displays democratic deficit because in intra-state relations, there is no sharing of values or respect for each other. Mentioning about the deficit of human capital in South Asia, he spoke about SAARC which underestimates human security, development, co-operation and peace –building . He also spoke about Media’s role in South Asia. Finally, he spoke about the policy scale of South Asia and not just the economic scale. This can be reinforced by horizontal communications which should include values, symbols emotions etc. to sustain waves of Democracy in South Asia.
Professor Purusottam Bhattacharya, Professor, Department of International Relations and Director, School of International Relations and Strategic Studies, Jadavpur University chaired the Inaugural Session. Professor Bhattacharya began by drawing attention to the fact that democracy is Universal According to one group while another group argues that there are certain preconditions for democracy. He highlighted that democracy doesn’t always have a peaceful establishment by illustrating on the civil wars of England and US. Focusing on the South Asian countries where democracy has been a concept in recent times, Professor Bhattacharya concluded, conflict and violence should not damper the spirit of democracy in South Asia.
Vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Shibashis Chatterjee, Reader, Department of International Relations.
ASSOCIATION OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
A non-Profit, Non Governmental Organization
(Registered under The West Bengal Societies Registration Act, 1961)
29,BRAHMAPUR, GOVT.SCHEME, BANSDRONI, Kolkata 700070
Tel: 033-24107726/6394
e-MAIL: mailtojair@rediffmail.com
NEWS LETTER
VOL: I ISSUE III
The Jadavpur Association of International Relations in collaboration with the School of International Relations and Strategic Studies, Jadavpur University organized a seminar on Waves of Democracy in South Asia on 26th September, 2008 at K.P.Basu Memorial Hall, Jadavpur University. The seminar was attended by different scholars and students from different universities and colleges.
Inaugural Session
The Seminar began with the Inaugural Session. The initiation address was delivered by Dr. Partha Pratim Basu, Head of the Department, Department of International Relations, Jadavpur University. Dr. Basu began by saying that the JAIR’s main objective is to try to fill a long standing vacuum in International Relations. The objectives outlined by Dr. Basu were to bring together people of various disciplines within the academia of this association, bringing together various research scholars and people from various circles associated with International Relations. He further went on to say that this is just a humble beginning and JAIR’s aim is to become an All India entity in course of time.
Professor Dipankar Sinha, Professor, University of Calcutta began his keynote address by introducing the theme Waves of Democracy in South Asia to be a complex and diverse topic for any researcher, he talked about the constituents of democracy. Determinants may constitute of people’s rule, right to chose rulers etc. he added. In South Asia, newer phases to democracy may come up but it still remains the least bad system for conflict resolution, he argued. The intra-state and inter-state conflict in South Asia is important while determining the determinants of democracy in South Asia. According to Dr. Sinha, the metaphors of waves have two implications. First, waves are not constants and secondly, waves are long and high with exceptions like emergency and non-dramatic expressions of everyday life. He mentioned about Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives where waves are determinant upon time only. He pointed towards the fact that Waves can be internal or external. International Relations focuses on the former and the later should not be underestimated. In this regard Professor Sinha also spoke of Lawrence Whitehead’s essay on democracy. The waves of democracy can be deceptive too, he added. In terms of International Relations, South Asia displays democratic deficit because in intra-state relations, there is no sharing of values or respect for each other. Mentioning about the deficit of human capital in South Asia, he spoke about SAARC which underestimates human security, development, co-operation and peace –building . He also spoke about Media’s role in South Asia. Finally, he spoke about the policy scale of South Asia and not just the economic scale. This can be reinforced by horizontal communications which should include values, symbols emotions etc. to sustain waves of Democracy in South Asia.
Professor Purusottam Bhattacharya, Professor, Department of International Relations and Director, School of International Relations and Strategic Studies, Jadavpur University chaired the Inaugural Session. Professor Bhattacharya began by drawing attention to the fact that democracy is Universal According to one group while another group argues that there are certain preconditions for democracy. He highlighted that democracy doesn’t always have a peaceful establishment by illustrating on the civil wars of England and US. Focusing on the South Asian countries where democracy has been a concept in recent times, Professor Bhattacharya concluded, conflict and violence should not damper the spirit of democracy in South Asia.
Vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Shibashis Chatterjee, Reader, Department of International Relations.
Session I
Chaired jointly by Professor Dipankar Sinha and Sri Snehasis Sur, this session dealt with the unconventional papers of the seminar.
The first paper in the Seminar was presented by Miss Sankhamala Roy of Jadavpur University on Democratic Connotations of some recent films of India’s two Islamic neighbours-Pakistan and Afghanistan. The paper traced the stories of three films; Osama (2003), and Kandahar (2001) from Afghanistan and Khuda Ke Liye (In the name of God) from Pakistan depicting vandalism of human rights. Defining democracy in its musical aspect, she concluded her paper with a few lines from the film Khuda Ke Liye.
The second paper was presented by Sri Rajdeep Roy of Jadavpur University. The paper was based on the song Goli Maar Bhije Mein from the film Satya.His paper emphasized as to how the song and its lyrics develop a sense of community and with respect to the liberal democratic model. Sri Roy draws a parallel as to how electoral democracy is a threat to gang democracy, characterized by a different sense of community development.
Session II
Sri Siladitya Sikdar from Asutosh College in his paper emphasized on the motivation forces of liberalization and privatization for the starding of democracy in South Asia. His counterpart Sri Parikshit Thakur, focused on Democratization of Nepal stating the precursors of an ideal democracy. He reinstated the history of Nepal associating with the changing forms of political structure of the state.
Ms. Yashi Surana from Presidency College in her paper drew attention by saying that the diversity prevalent in the South Asian countries calls for the development of democracy in these countries. From the observations she made in her paper, she ended her paper by noting that South Asia defines the conventional notion of democracy.
Quoting the eminent political philosopher and politician John Caldwell Calhoun’s notion of democracy Miss Zilpha A.Modi with Mr. Somnath Sengupta stated the failure of constitution of India in providing democracy to the varied Indian mass. They focused on the Northeast of India to analyze the transition of tribal democracy.
Sri Amit Srivastava of Jaypuria College in his paper analyzed the system of government participation through a method of representation. Giving emphasis on the various forms of democracy established through women’s participation in civil movements and voting of opinion by people, the fact that democracy can survive in all forms was the observation drawn.
The session was chaired by Professor Radha Raman Chakrabarti, All India Vice-President, JAIR and former Vice-Chancellor, Netaji Subhas Open University.
Session III
Presented by Ms. Priyanka Dutta Chowdhury and Ms.Upasana Roy Barman of Jadavpur University this paper portrayed the different factors like the dominant role of the army, political leaders, feudal lords and bureaucracy’s on political system of Pakistan in the felicitation of democracy.
Examining the waves of Democracy in South Asia at different points of time, Ms. Dyotona Banerjee and Ms. Sanchaita Dasgupta of Jadavpur University focused on Pakistan with the history of its military Presidents and civilian governments as well. It concluded reinstating the truth of political history of Pakistan, which has been a change without a change.
Presented by Ms.Anandi Chakraborty and Ms.Sukanya Manna of Jadavpur University the paper focused on the changing political scenario of Nepal with the demise of monarchy and victory of democracy and India’s growing apprehension of its new neighbour.
Addressed by Ms.Nabila Jamshed, the paper showcased the consolidation and institutionalization of democracy in both Nepal and Pakistan. She emphasized how the wave of democracy in both nations was given a boost by forces of conflict and concluded by making an interesting study of the paradox of the people’s power.
Ms. Tuhina Chatterjee’s paper stressed on the importance of people’s participation in a democracy and how different collective phenomenon has been taken to initiate this. To support her observations, she pointed out the various integrated village planning programme initiated by UNICEF and other likely organizations.
The session was chaired by Dr. Partha Pratim Basu, President (Working council), JAIR and Head of the Department, Department of International Relations, Jadavpur University
Session IV
Smt. Chandrabali Ghoshal of Jadavpur University in her paper pointed out the chronic instability that has dogged Bangladesh ever since its formation. The purpose of the paper was to show how fatal Islamic Fundamentalism can prove to the establishment of Democracy.
The paper by Mr.Drona Bandyapadhaya of Jadavpur University dealt with the parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh which started off in its right spirit but ended up creating a total new.
Ms. Madhumita Dutta and Ms. Tilottama Mukherjee’s paper focused on the various impediments on the path of democracy in Bangladesh.
Presented by Ms. Pratyusha Mitra and Ms. Amrin Parveen of Jadavpur University showcased the various developments taking place in Bangladesh after its creation.
The session ended with debates on Islamic fundamentalism between the various speakers and the audience with the chairperson concluding that democracy by its very nature allows anti-democratic elements within society.
The session was chaired by Dr. Anindyajyoti Majumder, Reader, Department of International Relations, Jadavpur University.
Session V
Presented by Ms. Aniqa Ali of Jadavpur University the paper pointed out the crucial importance of strategic location of Afghanistan and how the different monarchical governments have been finally uprooted by intervention of democracy in the contemporary times.
Ms. Oindrila Roy of Jadavpur University in her paper showed the reasons of crisis in democracy in Sri Lanka.
Ms. Adrija Chatterjee and Ms. Titli Maitra of Jadavpur University in their paper highlighted the transformation of Sri Lanka from a promising democracy having an elected parliament for more than a decade and half from 1947 to one of the failing states in 2007.
Dr. Shibashis Chatterjee Reader, Department of International Relations, Jadavpur University and convener, JAIR in his chairman’s address gave his own observations about the external tussle with the concept of democracy. He stated democracy as an unfinished concept and how it is tackled under valid grounds is the challenging to which the democracy has to rise. He gave his precious suggestions to the students who presented their papers in the seminar.
The students’ seminar on Waves of Democracy in South Asia came to an end with the distribution of certificates.
The vote of thanks was given by Dr. Imankalyan Lahiri, General Secretary, JAIR.
Prepared by Smt. Payel Sen and Smt. Ayatakshi Das and written by Smt. Payel Sen for The Jadavpur Association of International Relations © JAIR, 2008
