CSD Seminar: The only democracy in the Middle East: what went wrong?

The only democracy in the Middle East: what went wrong?’ The talk examined closely the claim that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. Just click on his name below to listen to recording.

Illan Pappe 

Dear all, 
We are please to announce that our second meeting of the International Development Forum will be on the theme of War and Development, entitled: Securing Peace: the role of the military in Sri Lanka’s post-war reconstruction. It will be on Thursday 01/12/2011 at 17:30, Westminster Forum, 32-38 Wells Street, W1T 2UW. The speakers will be: Dr Jonathan Goodhand and Dr Dave Rampton from School of Oriental and African Studies. See abstract of their paper below.

I hope to see you all at the meeting,
Farhang

Securing Peace: the role of the military in Sri Lanka’s post-war reconstruction

Abstract
This article examines the inter-linkages between development, security and the military in Sri Lanka. It foregrounds developments in the final stages of the war and the 'post war' period (2007 - 2011), with particular reference to the role that military actors have played in 'securing' the north east. Contemporary politico-military dynamics are however placed in an historical perspective and it is argued that the current militarization of development (drawing on Duffield et al's conceptualization of development as a technology of governance) is a manifestation of long standing trends, linked to the nature of the post colonial state, discourses of nationalism and development and transformations induced by three decades of civil war. Our exploration of the Sri Lankan case critically engages with and aims to nuance broader debates on security, rights and development, which in our view tend to overstate the hegemonic role of international actors and underplays the agency of domestic actors in defining and implementing 'nationally owned' (but frequently illiberal) development agendas.

Dear all,

On 13^th of October 2011 we launched the International Development Forum with a well-attended meeting of over 50 academics and students from different universities such as Westminster, School of Oriental and African Studies, London School of Economics and Kings College. Dr Dibyesh Anand and Professor David Chandler opened up the meeting on ‘the contested idea of development’; this was followed by a Q and A session. Thanks to all those who came along and please check the blog for details of our next event. We have uploaded the video recordings of the speakers’ presentations: just click on their name. Please feel free to provide comments.

Best wishes,

Farhang

Dr Dibyesh Anand

Professor David Chandler

Dear all
With the launch of International Development Forum this month, 13/10/2012, by the department of Politics and International Relations we are now launching our blog. We aim to stimulate debate on development issues and bring together academics, students and professionals to complement our research and teaching. This blog hopes to offer a new forum for interactions between scholars, students, professionals of various backgrounds and the public at large. Together, we hope we can share information, viewpoints and visions for the future with common goals of advancement and progress for all.
We will include the staff and students research materials: articles, journals, media appearances. We will publicise conferences and meetings of the department of Politics and Internationals Relations and other departments within the University of Westminster as well as other universities in the UK and outside.
We would welcome any support or ideas to develop this forum.
 
Farhang Morady October 2011