30. Sep 2008

Terrorism and its Impact on Pakistan-India Relations

India, InFocus, Pakistan

Let me start with the proposition that terrorism has had an adverse impact on relations between India and Pakistan – and for two reasons. First is the cross border movement of terrorists (who say they are motivated by oppression of fellow Muslims) from Pakistan to India.

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15. Sep 2008

Peace and Conflict in Asia by Timo Kivimäki

ASEM, InFocus, Peace

Peace and Conflict in Asia   Asia has been a laboratory of various conflict phenomena. On the one hand, certain types of political violence are much more common, especially in East Asia than elsewhere in the world. For example, violence tends to be more controlled, systematic and authoritarian. At the same time, Asia has been […]

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15. Sep 2008

Reform without reform, or how to add another stone to the bridge of understanding – still under construction – between East and

InFocus, Korea

If there is one country in the world that resists understanding despite globalization, world wide webs and information overload, it must be North Korea. Confined in self-imposed seclusion added by internationally imposed isolation, the Northern half of the Korean peninsula proceeds in the footsteps of ancient regimes known to the West as Hermit Kingdoms.

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15. Sep 2008

Documentary Drama and Social Movement Activism in China by Ceclia Milwertz

China, gender, InFocus

Public consciousness raising in which poor girls at a school in Guangxi province or rural women in Hebei province create documentary drama based on their own lives are generally not viewed as politically significant events. However, in the long run the involvement of people in documentary drama activities may turn out to have far-reaching implications […]

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5. Sep 2008

ASEM Education Hub: Thematic Network on Peace and Conflict Studies

ASEM, InFocus

The Thematic Network on Peace and Conflict Studies is part of the ASEM Education Hub, which came into being in a decision by Asian and European leaders at the ASEM London Summit in 1998. It is lead from NIAS by Timo Kivimäki, and its board consists of many important peace practitioners, such as President Martti […]

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2. Sep 2008

Why we love China, and they us by Perry Johansson

China, InFocus

Is it just ironic that 2008 the radical “sixtyeighters” celebrate with a plethora of nostalgic accounts will go down in the history books as the year when their beloved Chinese Communist Party invited the world for the triumphant Olympic Games of Beijing. The spectacular opening ceremony was so hypnotic it made the Eurosport commentator whisper […]

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