DOCSLIB.ORG

Steam-Valve Theory and Political Efficacy

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Steam-Valve Theory and Political Efficacy The Steam-valve Theory: Terrorism and Political Efficacy by Edith Wu B.A. (Honours), Simon Fraser University, 2012 Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the School of Criminology Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Edith Wu 2017 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Summer 2017 All rights reserved. However, in accordance with the Copyright Act of Canada, this work may be reproduced, without authorization, under the conditions for Fair Dealing. Therefore, limited reproduction of this work for the purposes of private study, research, criticism, review and news reporting is likely to be in accordance with the law, particularly if cited appropriately. Approval Name: Edith Wu Degree: Master of Arts Title of Thesis: The Steam-valve Theory: Terrorism and Political Efficacy Examining Committee: Chair: Martin Andresen Associate Director and Professor Garth Davies Senior Supervisor Associate Professor Martin Bouchard Supervisor Professor André Gerolymatos External Examiner Director and Professor Stavros Niarchos Foundation Centre for Hellenic Studies Simon Fraser University Date Defended /Approved: May 24, 2017 ii Abstract A wealth of literature examines terrorism and its relationship with political participation, often concerning legitimate opportunities to effect political change. Overall, these studies support the notion that a democratic system is an effective bulwark against terrorism. There is, however, a paucity of research that evaluates societal activism from the citizen’s perspective and its effects on political violence. When a disgruntled public lacks proper avenues to be heard and engage meaningfully in the political process, terrorist events may arise. Using data from the Global Terrorism Database, World Values Survey, World Bank, and Freedom House, a multilevel negative binomial analysis is conducted to assess terrorist events in relation to political activism across 18 countries from 1990 to 2012, while considering factors often cited as catalysts for political violence. The findings suggest that terrorism is significantly more likely to occur when frustrated citizens do not perceive peaceful political activism as a viable alternative. Keywords: steam-valve theory; terrorism; political violence; political efficacy; multilevel analysis; negative binomial regression iii Dedications To the big man upstairs, to my parents, bro, Olivia, Courtney, grams (婆 婆 仔), and Aunt Mary (EE), and … in memory of Aunt Joanne. Ephesians 2:8-9 iv Quotation If the prospect of living in a world where trying to respect the basic rights of those around you and valuing each other simply because we exist are such daunting, impossible tasks then what sort of world are we left with? And what sort of world do you want to live in? - Princess Diana of Themyscira (Wonder Woman, Volume 2, Issue 170) v Acknowledgements First and foremost, to my senior supervisor, Dr. Garth Davies. I have had the privilege to discover academia with your support and knowledge since undergrad. Without fail, you challenge me and help me develop the skills necessary to address the questions I yearn to understand. I cannot articulate how much your patience, mentorship, time, and astonishing level of perceptiveness are appreciated. It is an honour to be your 徒弟, 師父; thank you for every opportunity you have given me. Steam-valve is as much mine as it is yours, PC. To Dr. Martin Bouchard (SNA!) and Dr. André Gerolymatos, thank you for your generous comments and insightful criticisms on the theory and thesis; much obliged. They were thoughtful and the questions animate me to delve into my theory even further. I would also like to express my gratitude to Dr. Sheri Fabian and Dr. Gail Anderson for honours (check-in?) and their unwavering support throughout the years. It is a pleasure to have had the opportunity to know and learn from you both. To Dr. Martin Andresen, thank you for your comments, chairing my defence, and fueling my love of maps, which you helped solidify in those upper division courses in environmental criminology. To Dr. Ted Palys, it was your qualitative course that heavily nudged me down the path of terrorism research, for that I am eternally grateful. Unily: Dr. Rebecca Carleton, Steph Dawson, Cristina Pastia, and Christine Neudecker – you ladies are my anchor. Thank you for the sound advice, believing in me, and always having my back; your positivity and nerdiness are absolutely infectious! Your existence is nothing short of a blessing. Rebecca, thank you for your guidance and your faith in me. You were the first to see my potential and afforded me the academic opportunities to achieve more than I ever anticipated (Hi Aish!). My partner-in-crime and travel buddy, Cris (AB):1 I shan’t forget the cave, piranhas-with-legs, or our other numerous near-death experiences. Thank you for tolerating my ridiculousness, recklessness, and all the proof- reading (theses and publications)! I am so eager for all the travelling and adventures that await us; the world is our oyster. Wishful, heart, and Gryffindors rule. 1 The brain to my heart, Willow to my Buffy, hippo to my rhino, frack to my frick, Ms. Me to my Agent Muffet, mini to my little, Holmes to my Watson, and Taystee to my Poussey vi My fellow students, particularly (in no particular order) Shannon Linning (Roxie), Sadaf Hashimi, Aynsley Pescitelli, Sarah Yercich, Heather Brand, Allison Campbell, Andrew Reid, Ryan Scrivens, Julie Mitchell, Ashley Hewitt, Adam Vaughan, and Bryan Monk, your friendly faces consistently put a smile on my face. In addition to the aforesaid academic Drs., I must also acknowledge Dr. Margaret Jackson (selfie?), Dr. Simon Verdun-Jones, Dr. Kim Rossmo, Dr. Chris Giles, and Dr. Bryan Kinney for their encouragement, wisdom, and humour throughout my MA. Your presence in the department and at conferences are always delightful to say the least. To the staff, Vivian Chen, Roxanne Jantzi, and Shaneza Bacchus, I am grateful for your continuous and expeditious assistance behind the scenes. Outside the nerd community, I would like to thank Judy Wang, Yui Takayama, Chantel Chung, Cory Quinlan, and Dr. Kara Wallik (pen of pal). A shout-out to the Byngalings is also in order. I love you ladies and gents. Thank you for your unreserved support and keeping me grounded for over a decade… or two; I am so fortunate to have each one of you in my life. My friends and unily – despite my doubts and stumbles throughout this voyage, you inspire me to be better, stronger, and make my heart feel so full. Finally, I would like to thank my family (see Dedications). In various forms and capacities, your unconditional love allows me to follow my heart. Uncles Evan, Kanny, and Pino, and Aunt Rose: although you are on the other side of the largest oceanic divide (NOAA, 2014), your support in my academic and personal endeavours are still palpable. I appreciate everything all of you have given me throughout the years, as well as putting up with my silliness, curiosity, and animated personality. I hope this thesis makes you proud. In this longer than expected journey, I owe my sanity to Britney Spears, Stars, Ally Hills, Avalon Young, Beyoncé, Chvrches, Drake, Bieber’s last album, Lana del Rey, Metric, Motley Crüe, Rihanna, and Tchaikovsky as well as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 24, Archer, Bones, Breaking Bad, Cosmos, Dexter, Elementary, Fringe, Game of Thrones, Orange is the New Black, Orphan Black, Star Trek (Voyager), The 100 (3.07), The Walking Dead, Harry Potter books, the Final Fantasy series, Uncharted 4, TLoU, and League of Legends. For those who attended my defence or sent their regrets/well-wishes: a special gratitude is also extended to you. I cherish the sentiments and support you offered so generously. vii Table of Contents Approval ............................................................................................................................... ii Abstract ............................................................................................................................... iii Dedications ......................................................................................................................... iv Quotation.............................................................................................................................. v Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. vi Table of Contents...............................................................................................................viii List of Tables ........................................................................................................................ x List of Figures....................................................................................................................... x 1. Introduction ...............................................................................................................1 2. Literature Review ......................................................................................................3 2.1. Civil Participation and Political Efficacy ......................................................................3 2.1.1. Conditions for Movements ..............................................................................5 2.1.2. Theoretical Explanations for Political Activism ...............................................8 2.1.3. Violent Campaigns ........................................................................................11
Load more

Recommended publications
  • INSURGENCY in the INDIAN NORTHEAST: STUDENT VOICES from KOLKATA India's Disputed Borderland Regions Consist of Kashmir In
    INSURGENCY IN THE INDIAN NORTHEAST: STUDENT VOICES FROM KOLKATA India’s disputed borderland regions consist of Kashmir in the extreme north western part of the subcontinent and the north-east, located on the other side of the subcontinent in the extreme eastern sector of the Himalayas. A disputed territory is an area over which two or more actors (states or ethnic groups) claim sovereignty (Wolff, 2003:3). Since independence in 1947, from British colonial rule, India has had very problematic relations with both Kashmir and the Northeast, both of which have been classified as ‘disturbed areas’ by the New Delhi political establishment. Both regions have experienced strong secessionist movements that have tried to break away from the Indian union. ‘Secession is a bid for independence through the redrawing of a state’s geographical boundaries in order to exclude the territory that the seceding group occupies from the state’s sovereignty’ (Webb, 2012:471). Insurgent groups from both regions, Kashmir and the Indian northeast, do not seem to have a sense of one-ness with the rest of India or India proper. Also, in both regions, external forces have been strongly involved since independence e.g. Pakistan in Kashmir and China and Burma in the Indian north-eastern states. Out of the two disputed borderland regions, this paper will be focussing only on the Indian northeast. It is the aim of this paper to look into the many facets of the conflict in the Indian northeast and to especially focus on student voices. One reason why students have been chosen for purposes of this paper is because throughout the contemporary history of the Indian northeast especially with regard to Assam, students have been very active in putting their demands forward to the national Indian government and have been active in organising protest movements and causing political agitation.
    [Show full text]
  • PERSPECTIVES on TERRORISM Volume 11, Issue 5
    ISSN 2334-3745 Volume V, Issue 5 October 2017 PERSPECTIVES ON TERRORISM Volume 11, Issue 5 Table of Contents Welcome from the Editors......................................................................................................1 Articles Countering Violent Extremism in Prisons: A Review of Key Recent Research and Critical Research Gaps.........................................................................................................................2 by Andrew Silke and Tinka Veldhuis The New Crusaders: Contemporary Extreme Right Symbolism and Rhetoric..................12 by Ariel Koch Exploring the Continuum of Lethality: Militant Islamists’ Targeting Preferences in Europe....................................................................................................................................24 by Cato Hemmingby Research Notes On and Off the Radar: Tactical and Strategic Responses to Screening Known Potential Terrorist Attackers................................................................................................................41 by Thomas Quiggin Resources Terrorism Bookshelf.............................................................................................................50 Capsule Reviews by Joshua Sinai Bibliography: Terrorist Organizations: Cells, Networks, Affiliations, Splits......................67 Compiled and selected by Judith Tinnes Bibliography: Life Cycles of Terrorism..............................................................................107 Compiled and selected by Judith
    [Show full text]
  • Sub-National Movements, Cultural Flow, the Modern State and the Malleability of Political Space: from Rational Choice to Transcultural Perspective and Back Again
    8 Sub-National Movements, Cultural Flow Sub-National Movements, Cultural Flow, the Modern State and the Malleability of Political Space: From Rational Choice to Transcultural Perspective and Back Again Subrata Mitra, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg Introduction Using the Telengana movement in South India as a template, this article juxtaposes two methods of analysing the phenomenon of sub-national movements (a special type of ethno-national movement) within the larger framework of the challenge of state-formation and nation-building in multi- ethnic, post-colonial states.1 The methods are as follows: first, explanatory models based on conventional tools of comparative politics such as conflicts of interest, fixed national and regional boundaries, and the strategic manoeuvres of political leaders and their followers. Second, a transcultural approach that draws on political perceptions and behaviour influenced by deep memory, cultural flow, and the hybridisation of indigenous and imported categories. This article applies these methods to the Telengana movement in South India, first, within the theoretical perspective of the rational politics of cultural nationalism, and then extending the method to introduce explanatory phenomena that belong more broadly to the transcultural approach. Though the empirical exemplars are drawn mostly from India, the mthod is applicable to the wider world of sub-national challenges to the modern state. Sub-national movements belong to the generic category of collective efforts used to assert cultural nationalism in a territorial space that corresponds to a homeland that its advocates strongly believe to be legitimately theirs. Typically, 1 An earlier version of this article was presented at the annual conference of the Association for Asian Studies, Honolulu, March 31–April 3, 2011.
    [Show full text]
  • Naga Identity: Naga Nation As an Imagined Communities
    International Journal of Research in Social Sciences Vol. 8 Issue 2, February 2018, ISSN: 2249-2496 Impact Factor: 7.081 Journal Homepage: http://www.ijmra.us, Email: [email protected] Double-Blind Peer Reviewed Refereed Open Access International Journal - Included in the International Serial Directories Indexed & Listed at: Ulrich's Periodicals Directory ©, U.S.A., Open J-Gage as well as in Cabell‟s Directories of Publishing Opportunities, U.S.A Naga Identity: Naga Nation as an Imagined Communities Longkoi Khiam* T.Longkoi Khiamniungan* Abstract Nationalism, as a political phenomenon, has gained much currency in the last few centuries. It has aroused large collectives of people and has become the grounds on which economic, cultural and political claims have been made. The nation has also become a marker of identity for individuals and whole societies. In this paper, I would like to look at the beginnings and formation of Naga nationalism and the important economic, cultural and political claims it makes. The beginnings of Naga nationalism could be located in the specific encounter Nagas had with modernity via British administrators and missionaries. From the 1940s onwards, the claims made by Naga nationalism have been met with certain ideological and militarist response from the Indian state. The response of the Indian state has determined the subsequent efforts of the Nagas to define the contours of their nationalism. Key words: Nationalism, nation, Naga identity, political, imagined communities, Nagaland, India, Indian response * Assistant Professor, Central University of Haryana 637 International Journal of Research in Social Sciences http://www.ijmra.us, Email: [email protected] ISSN: 2249-2496 Impact Factor: 7.081 Introduction As identities are mobilized to serve the political designs of vested interests, it seems obvious that the idea of a Naga nation and behind the „national liberation‟ and „secessionist‟ movements in the region is seemingly at least, incompatible with the idea of the Indian 'nation state'.
    [Show full text]
  • Aida World Congress 2006
    AIDA WORLD CONGRESS 2006 INSURANCE, REINSURANCE AND THE IMPACT OF TERRORISM General Reporters: Professor Rob Merkin Professor Jerome Kullmann I THE QUESTIONNAIRE 1. MEANING OF TERRORISM (a) Is there any general definition of “terrorism”, “terrorist activity” or any related term in the general law within your jurisdiction? (b) If there is a definition, for what legal purposes is the definition relevant? 2. TERRORISM AND POLICY WORDINGS (a) To what extent do insurance and reinsurance policies written in your country exclude the liability of insurers and reinsurers for war risks? If so, is any distinction drawn between commercial and consumer contracts. Please answer this question on a class/sector by class/sector basis. (b) To what extent do insurance and reinsurance policies written in your country exclude the liability of insurers and reinsurers for terrorism risks? If so, is any distinction drawn between commercial and consumer contracts? Please answer this question on a class/sector by class/sector basis. (c) To what extent do war risks or exclusions and terrorism risks or exclusions or those for other acts of political or other violence such as malicious damage overlap? (d) Are there any market definitions of terrorism in use for insurance or reinsurance contracts? Please answer this question on class/sector by class/sector basis. If these have been introduced in response to recent developments how do these differ from previous provisions? (e) If there are policy restrictions on or exclusions of terrorism cover, when were these first
    [Show full text]
  • Flags of Asia
    Flags of Asia Item Type Book Authors McGiverin, Rolland Publisher Indiana State University Download date 27/09/2021 04:44:49 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10484/12198 FLAGS OF ASIA A Bibliography MAY 2, 2017 ROLLAND MCGIVERIN Indiana State University 1 Territory ............................................................... 10 Contents Ethnic ................................................................... 11 Afghanistan ............................................................ 1 Brunei .................................................................. 11 Country .................................................................. 1 Country ................................................................ 11 Ethnic ..................................................................... 2 Cambodia ............................................................. 12 Political .................................................................. 3 Country ................................................................ 12 Armenia .................................................................. 3 Ethnic ................................................................... 13 Country .................................................................. 3 Government ......................................................... 13 Ethnic ..................................................................... 5 China .................................................................... 13 Region ..................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Brazil Country Handbook 1
    Brazil Country Handbook 1. This handbook provides basic reference information on Brazil, including its geography, history, government, military forces, and communications and trans- portation networks. This information is intended to familiarize military personnel with local customs and area knowledge to assist them during their assignment to Brazil. 2. This product is published under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Defense Intelligence Production Program (DoDIPP) with the Marine Corps Intel- ligence Activity designated as the community coordinator for the Country Hand- book Program. This product reflects the coordinated U.S. Defense Intelligence Community position on Brazil. 3. Dissemination and use of this publication is restricted to official military and government personnel from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, NATO member countries, and other countries as required and designated for support of coalition operations. 4. The photos and text reproduced herein have been extracted solely for research, comment, and information reporting, and are intended for fair use by designated personnel in their official duties, including local reproduction for train- ing. Further dissemination of copyrighted material contained in this document, to include excerpts and graphics, is strictly prohibited under Title 17, U.S. Code. CONTENTS KEY FACTS. 1 U.S. MISSION . 2 U.S. Embassy. 2 U.S. Consulates . 2 Travel Advisories. 7 Entry Requirements . 7 Passport/Visa Requirements . 7 Immunization Requirements. 7 Custom Restrictions . 7 GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE . 8 Geography . 8 Land Statistics. 8 Boundaries . 8 Border Disputes . 10 Bodies of Water. 10 Topography . 16 Cross-Country Movement. 18 Climate. 19 Precipitation . 24 Environment . 24 Phenomena . 24 TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION .
    [Show full text]
  • • University Microfilms. a XEROX Company. Ann Arbor. Michigan
    70-23,27-S BOWLING, John William, 1920- A CRITIQUE OF CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT THEORY. i The American University, Ph.D., 1970 Political Science, international law and | relations i j • University Microfilms. A XEROX Company. Ann Arbor. Michigan © Copyright by John William Bowling 1970 A CRITIQUE OF CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT THEORY by John William Bowling Submitted to the Faculty of the School of International Service of The American University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in International Studies Signatures of < Chairman: ^ Deapi of the School Date: 1970 THE A M E p p tfljpsiTY The American University Washington, D. C. H U 3 The gentle journey jars to stop; The dreadful dream is done; The long-gone goblins, up ahead Stand waiting, every one. Walt Kelly TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction ............................................. 1 Analytical Propositions................................. 1 Introductory No t e ................................... 8 Chapter I Parallels in World History..................................21 Chapter II The Coming of the Western Culture: The Birthplace and the Borderlands.................... 38 Chapter HI The Coming of Western Culture: Spain....................... 53 Chapter IV The Coming of Western Culture: Eastern Europe.............. 64 Chapter V The Coming of Western Culture: Russia and J a p a n ............ 91 Chapter VI Ideologies: "Democracy, " " C o m m u n i s m , " and "Fascism" . 123 Chapter VII The Theme and the Actors: Nationalism and the Elites .... 148 Chapter VIH The Record in Afro-Asia and Latin Am e r i c a ................. 189 Chapter IX Casting the R u n e s ........................................ 226 Selected Bibliography........................................ 245 Primary Sources .......................................
    [Show full text]
  • EDITORIAL a Naga International Support Center, NISC Congratulations to Mr
    Nagalim Voice OKING | VOL 006 | ISSUE 002 JULY | 2014 EDITORIAL A Naga International Support Center, NISC www.nagalim.nl Congratulations to Mr. Narendra A human rights organization Modi, the new Prime Minister of India London May 6 2014, Amsterdam May 12 2014 on his successful election to the 16th In- dia Lok Sabha election held recently. We Absence of Postcolonial Accountability the root cause wish him a successful tenure in Parlia- ment while serving the people of the larg- of conflicts regarding Self Determination? est democracy in the world. We hope that Mr. Narendra Modi will be able to sail In the Netherlands, where I am from, we celebrated Lib- smoothly through the rough political wa- eration Day yesterday for the 69th time. Why? Because we ter of India as he enjoys majority in Par- should never forget how precious freedom really is; it should liament. We can’t help but bid adieu to Dr. not be taken for granted. Manmohan Singh, the former Prime Min- Informal Meeting with Ajit Lal (GoI) This is especially true for the Indigenous Peoples of our ister of India who tried his best to resolve/ world because most of them have not been able to enjoy the transform the Indo-Naga issue. sible with a man guided by the teachings of the freedom we experience as normal. While congratulating the new Prime Prince of Peace and the correct political ideas I am the secretary of the Naga International Support Cent- Minister of India, it is also imperative to in- and wisdom. We, Nagas, must rise up to the oc- form him of his moral and political respon- er and as such support the Naga Peoples in their quest for Self casion.
    [Show full text]
  • Executive Intelligence Review, Volume 23, Number 16, April 12
    What is LaRouche's tists many of them veterans of the Soviet "There exists no authority on Russia? space program possible solution • • April 1994, laRouche, paroled in On Oct. 12, 1988, in Berlin, laRouche In to this crisis, either issued his famous Food for Peace pro­ January after five years in prison, made for Russia or for posal, which included collaboration his first visit to Russia, at the invitation of the world within the between the Soviet Union and a free, re­ the Universal Ecological Academy. bounds of the united Germany to overcome the grow­ previously accepted ing economic crisis. WHY YOU NEED THIS REPORT: EIR's Special Report, issued in August includes terms of dominant • 1989, laRouche enunci­ 1994, In November "Russia�s Future: The Three Alternatives": international ated his Paris-Berlin-Vienna Productive Lyndon laRouche's account of his six-day trip economic and Triangle, an infrastructure program for to Russia. "A Reconstruction Strategy for financial institutions." the economic reconstruction of post­ Russia-And the World Economy" by communist Eurasia. -Lyndon LaRouche Lyndon H. laRouche, Jr. ''Whither Russia: • Situation Report," by Brig. Gen. Paul-Albert in "Prospects for Russian In October 1993, laRouche was elect­ A Economic Revival," ed to the Universal Ecological Academy Scherer (ret.) "The Military in Post­ prepared for Feb. 20, for his contributions to the science of Bolshevik Russia," by Konstantin George 1995 hearings at the phy sical economy. The Academy was "Have We Already Lost Eastern Europe Russian State Duma. and Russia?" by William Engdahl founded in May 1989 by a group of scien- Mail 142 pages, $250 EIR 94-004 to: __ Name __________________________________ ________ ____ ______ o Please sene the EIR Special Report, "Russia's future: dictatorship, chaos, or Address ___________________________________________________ _ reconstruction?" to the address shown.
    [Show full text]
  • Abstracts in Alphabetical Order
    Abstracts in alphabetical order “They are taking our land”: a comparative perspective on indigeneity and alterity in Meghalaya and the Chittagong Hill Tracts Ellen Bal (VU University Amsterdam) & Eva Gerharz (Ruhr‐University Bochum) The border region of Bangladesh, India, and Burma has been the scene of dozens of tribal autonomy conflicts since the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947 (Baruah 2007). These conflicts have unsettled the whole region, impacted international relations, threatened national stability, and caused a deep sense of insecurity among the locals. The majority of these conflicts pivot on ‘sons‐of‐the-soil’ claims, invoking notions of autochthony to legitimize occupational rights to lands and regional autonomy (Cf. Vandekerckhove 2009). Most conflicts link up to the globalized discourse on indigenous rights, which has been particularly powerful since 1993 (the United Nations’ ‘Year for Indigenous Peoples’). Our paper addresses the notions of citizenship, indigeneity and alterity (otherness) at work in Meghalaya and the Chittagong Hill Tracts from a comparative perspective. Although a number of similar issues are at stake, the situations in the two regions differ, partly because of different political contexts which frame these discourses. British colonial policies had been geared towards the isolation of the hills from the plains in order to secure the available resources for the colonial state (Van Schendel 1992). Independent India continued such particularistic policies, granting a special position to the so‐called tribal Northeast Indian hill states (Vandekerckhove 2009, 53). However, the subsequent governments of Pakistan and Bangladesh (since 1971) moved towards inclusion of the tribal territories. In the Chittagong Hill Tracts this attempt of national inclusion resulted in a vicious war between indigenous insurgents and the state.
    [Show full text]
  • Identity Politics and Social Exclusion in India's North-East
    Identity Politics and Social Exclusion in India’s North-East: The Case for Re-distributive Justice N.K.Das• Abstract: This paper examines how various brands of identity politics since the colonial days have served to create the basis of exclusion of groups, resulting in various forms of rifts, often envisaged in binary terms: majority-minority; sons of the soil’-immigrants; local-outsiders; tribal-non-tribal; hills-plains; inter-tribal; and intra-tribal. Given the strategic and sensitive border areas, low level of development, immense cultural diversity, and participatory democratic processes, social exclusion has resulted in perceptions of marginalization, deprivation, and identity losses, all adding to the strong basis of brands of separatist movements in the garb of regionalism, sub-nationalism, and ethnic politics, most often verging on extremism and secession. It is argued that local people’s anxiety for preservation of culture and language, often appearing as ‘narcissist self-awareness’, and their demand of autonomy, cannot be seen unilaterally as dysfunctional for a healthy civil society. Their aspirations should be seen rather as prerequisites for distributive justice, which no nation state can neglect. Colonial Impact and genesis of early ethnic consciousness: Northeast India is a politically vital and strategically vulnerable region of India. Surrounded by five countries, it is connected with the rest of India through a narrow, thirty-kilometre corridor. North-East India, then called Assam, is divided into Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. Diversities in terms of Mongoloid ethnic origins, linguistic variation and religious pluralism characterise the region. This ethnic-linguistic-ecological historical heritage characterizes the pervasiveness of the ethnic populations and Tibeto-Burman languages in northeast.
    [Show full text]