A project of destruction,peace, or techno-science? Untangling the relationship between the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) and the Kurdish question in Turkey

The Southeastern Anatolia Project (Güneydo?u Anadolu Projesi, GAP) was initiated in the 1970s to produce energy and irrigate arid lands through constructing dams and hydroelectric power plants on the Euphrates and Tigris rivers and extensive irrigation networks in southeastern Turkey. Over time, the project was expanded to achieve a wider range of goals in different fields and radically transform Southeastern Anatolia Region. It is also widely claimed that GAP was initiated to address the root causes of the Kurdish question in Turkey and that security considerations and political calculations were actually the raison d’être of GAP. However, this supposed link between GAP and the Kurdish question was often established in a simplistic manner and the question how these two have been related – or not – remained largely untangled. This article aims to fill this research gap and examine the complex and multi-dimensional nature of the interrelationship between GAP and the Kurdish question based on diverse primary and secondary data sources. Accordingly, the article identifies and discusses major narratives in which GAP was conceived as a political and strategic ‘anti-Kurdish’ plot; remedy for the conflict; and totally technical non-political project and presents an alternative and more accurate perspective on how to interpret this relationship.     

“高位推动”模式下区域协同治理政策的时空演进——以2014-2019年京津冀协同发展的政策文本分析为例

京津冀协同发展已进入政策转变阶段的关键时期。国家和地方的相关政策需要从"谋思路、打基础"的顶层设计阶段,演变到"攻坚克难"的政策执行阶段。复杂的地缘政治因素使得京津冀协同治理的方式显著区别于"珠三角"等地的准市场机制。基于"三地四方"京津冀协同发展政策文本数据,研究发现京津冀协同发展是具有显著"高位推动"特征的区域协同治理模式,即高位推动为协同治理的核心驱动力赋能、长期引导治理主体开展政策协同、重塑协同治理主体的角色定位。基于此,未来京津冀协同发展应注意高位推动作用审慎让渡市场机制,建立社会组织参与的多元主体协同机制,尝试共建共管产业园区。     

Development as a Source of Conflict: The Sahukars,Displaced People and the Maoists in Koraput

The dominant debate in India on the role of development in reducing conflicts still remains open. Despite development measures by both state and non-state actors, conflicts continue to emerge frequently in the country. In Koraput district of Odisha state, development models implemented by the state and by non-state actors have accentuated conflicts. The Sahukar-model of development has caused land alienation among marginalised communities leading to conflicts between the landowners and the landless. Large-scale displacements caused by mega development projects have intensified the confrontation between the displaced and the state. The Communist Party of India-Maoist (‘Maoists’ in short) claims to have an alternative development model, which rejects the state-led development plan. The alternative model imposed by the Maoists—reclaiming land from the rich and adopting ‘Community Farming’—has further exacerbated the conflicts among various communities. Though the nature of conflict and its contenders keep changing, the conflicts as such refuse to die down in Koraput.     

Fresh challenges faced on the ground by the Kingdom of the Sky: A quest for peace,harmony and stability

This article argues that Lesotho’s landlocked position, which inhibits trade and results in enclaves of the poor, not only leads to its dependency on South Africa, but also contributes to its instability. It points out that destabilisation remains a problem in spite of Lesotho having served as an excellent model of peaceful transfer of power in a strengthened democratic arena under its 1993 Constitution, as the country had just celebrated 20 years of relative peace. However, despite the 1991 Windhoek Declaration military coups, violence, violation of both human rights and human security continue to contribute to instability in Lesotho, requiring the frequent intervention of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and especially so following the attempted coup in 2014. Lesotho’s Coalition government, which is a prime-ministerial form of government, is discussed in some detail in this article. The role of peacekeeping forces is also examined. The article recommends demilitarisation as the only practical, viable and long term solution to the problem of recurring coups in this country. The authors conclude that a sustained campaign against corrupt activities by government, though laudable, has somewhat surprisingly served to weaken the foundation of the Coalition in Lesotho.     

Reality and rumour: the grey areas of international development in Guatemala

In Guatemala, development projects and practitioners are frequently associated with rumours. These rumours, often related to suspicions of ulterior motives, have a high degree of potency and endurance. This paper investigates this relationship between development and rumour, focusing on some of the more prevalent rumours including robaniños (baby-stealers), religious rumours regarding the Antichrist and rumours related to vaccinations and sterilisation. As a counter to perspectives which essentialise a lack of education in the perpetuation of rumours, I explore how they become devices through which one can understand power imbalances and everyday violence(s) inherent in many development projects and processes.     

An analysis of well-being in urban Nigeria

Improving the well-being of Nigerians is the aim of Nigeria Vision 20:2020, the key development policy document in Nigeria. However, as well-being is an emerging and contested concept, this article explores how the well-being of urban citizens is understood in Nigeria, and identifies key trends affecting urban well-being as expressed by a selection of strategic elite stakeholders in Nigerian society. These included senior civil servants and politicians, and various senior members of civil society groups and academia. The analysis also reveals characteristics underpinning policies for urban well-being.     

大学生公益组织的发展困境及其突破——以青岛农业大学“虹书屋”为例

大学生公益组织的运行状况直接决定着公益活动的质量与效果。以"虹书屋"为例,大学生公益组织存在制度缺失、组织成员素养不足、资金匮乏、社会多方主体缺位等问题。对此,可以通过完善制度、加强专业培训、多元化筹资、寻求多方扶持等方式实现突破。     

中国大陆体验教育30年的发展与思考

回顾中国大陆的体验教育,从1985年引进团康,1994年注册拓展训练,到2004年开展本土化的历奇教育师资培训,共30年的发展历程。总结、梳理中国大陆30年体验教育发展经验,得到今后推动中国大陆体验教育发展的策略是:倡导行业价值引领,深化体验教育理念,发挥高校研发优势,强化资源整合力度。     

科学发展观——我国公共政策评估的首要标准

公共政策评估标准是开展公共政策评估的前提。为了更有效、更科学地开展公共政策评估活动,应设立正确的首要标准,以首要标准来统率次要标准。科学发展观标准应当成为我国公共政策评估的首要标准:科学发展观标准是对以往我国公共政策评估标准的纠正和完善;科学发展观标准符合我国社会主义国家公共政策的本质要求;科学发展观标准顺应公共政策的发展趋势。坚持科学发展观作为我国公共政策评估的首要标准能有效提升我国公共政策质量,推进我国社会主义和谐社会建设进程。     

中国—东盟现代物流业发展人才支撑体系研究

外向型高级物流管理人才的缺乏已经成为制约广西物流业高速发展的瓶颈问题,如何培养能够适应中国—东盟合作要求的国际化实战型物流人才,已经成为各方面关注的问题。本文提出了面向中国—东盟培养国际物流人才模式的概念,通过对该模式的解析,在参考了现实中成功做法的基础上,为这种模式的选择提供参考,并为该模式的运作提供长效机制建设的建议。