conflict studies

Indian flag
28. Sep 2023

How India’s crackdown on NGOs is serving Hindu nationalism

conflict studies, democracy, Hinduism, Human rights, India, InFocus, InFocus, nationalism

Over the past decade, the Indian government has systematically cracked down on dissenting, secular, and minority non-governmental organizations (NGOs) by limiting their access to funding. Organizations have been forced to shut down or severely limit their advocacy and community work. The gap that these organizations leave behind in communities is filled with exclusivist volunteer groups, which promote the government’s Hindu-nationalist (Hindutva) ideology. It appears that the crackdown on organizations is not only aimed at silencing critics, but it is also polarizing communitie

Read more
Bangladesh flood
6. Jul 2023

The Final Straw: How a cyclone created a revolution in Bangladesh

Bangladesh, catastrophes, conflict studies, Elections, India, InFocus, Nation-building, Pakistan, political parties

The birth of Bangladesh as an independent nation-state in 1971 was a remarkable moment in modern history. It was remarkable not only for its people’s lengthy fight for freedom but also because of the role history. It was remarkable not only for its people’s lengthy fight for freedom but also because of the role of the Bhola cyclone, an unforeseen natural disaster that accelerated Bangladesh’s separation from the rest of Pakistan. Yet the cyclone – and how it affected local, regional and global politics – has only received limited attention by the historians.

Read more
18. Mar 2022

Afghanistan: The Other Perspective

Afghanistan, conflict studies, democracy, development, InFocus, Nation-building, regional relations

The on-going war in Ukraine may serve as a grim reminder of history- how rivalry between major powers for global political advantage pushes a country – the theatre of rivalry – towards an inevitable crisis situation, and a bleak, grim future remains the only possibility. Afghanistan of today bears the testimony of such a scenario, after the experience of a long era of political insecurity and instability. This article attempts to focus on the other perspective of security, the people-centric approach of human security scenario in Afghanistan, to search how a prolonged situation of uncertainty fails the country of its basic necessities of today, and even betrays its past potentials.  

Read more
9. Aug 2013

On Testimonial Therapy & the Life Project

cambodia, conflict studies, Human rights, InFocus, Therapy, Trauma, Vietnam

INTERVIEW What testimonial therapy does is try & bring private suffering into public & political spheres.   Inger Agger (IA) is a psychologist, currently working with the Danish Institution Against Torture,(DIGNITY) and the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies. She visited Hong Kong in early March to conduct a workshop on Testimonial Therapy, which is her […]

Read more