Niloy Biswas | University Of Dhaka (original) (raw)
Papers by Niloy Biswas
International Affairs , 2024
How do international peacekeeping experiences inform the security governance of contributing stat... more How do international peacekeeping experiences inform the security governance of contributing states from the global South? This article advances theoretical and policy arguments that international peacekeeping exposure contributes to forming multitudes of effects on domestic security affairs and shaping the contributing countries' security governance. The analysis problematizes the transformation of norms, policies, practices and institutional approaches in shaping the national security outlook of the contributing nations. Considering peacekeeping as a discursive ‘glo-cal’ affair and Bangladesh as a critical case, this study underscores how Bangladesh's contributions to United Nations Peace Support Operations (UNPSOs) inform its security governance. The article adopts a qualitative–interpretive approach to examine the assembling effects of Bangladesh's participation in such endeavours. It highlights the transformation in security institutions, new capacities in knowledge and income-generating sectors, new peacekeeping norms, and partnerships in security cooperation as the cornerstones in the national security outlook. Extending the purview of the existing literature on contributors' roles and impact, this article has offered assemblage as a dynamic conceptual lens to understand new domestic significance for the armed forces as global peace providers. Challenges related to the struggle for democracy, political stability and good governance persist in Bangladesh; nevertheless, the peacekeeping assemblage explains how the country has considered accelerating its global peace endeavours.
Paal Magazine, 2023
In the maritime domain, understanding insecurity is not just an epistemological dilemma; it is in... more In the maritime domain, understanding insecurity is not just an epistemological dilemma; it is indeed more ontological in
nature. What is security in the ocean and the surroundings? Whose security is at stake, and against what threats? This leads to another question. In what Paul Crutzen and others discussed, how do we frame
security crisis in the age of Anthropocene—human dominance on the
earth's geological, biological, and chemical processes?
Bandung Journal of the Global South, 2023
This paper aims to examine the dynamics of social inclusivity of the local people in the civil se... more This paper aims to examine the dynamics of social inclusivity of the local people in the civil security governance of Bangladesh with a particular reference to the functions of community policing in the urban areas of the state. The broader framework of the sdg 16 informs the conceptual analysis of this paper-promoting peaceful and inclusive societies in establishing local ownership and an inclusive and improved security situation through community policing in Bangladesh. The empirical discussions in this paper include the findings of in-depth interviews with the civilian members of the community policing forums and members of the local police stations. The discussion aims to highlight-how and in what ways the community policing system, both forums and officers in police stations, has adopted an inclusive framework to ensure the participation of local community citizens. Furthermore, the discussion also highlights the challenges of including locals and civil society organisations in the security governance of the state. Finally, this paper argues that political patronage is a critical factor obstructing social inclusivity in the community policing system.
International Peacekeeping, 2014
This article argues that the participation of the Bangladeshi armed forces in UN peacekeeping has... more This article argues that the participation of the Bangladeshi armed forces in UN peacekeeping has produced positive benefits for civil–military relations in the country and that this process is best explained by reference to concordance theory, as propagated by Rebecca Schiff. Unlike traditional theories of civil–military relations, concordance theory highlights dialogue, accommodation and shared values or objectives held by the military, the political elites and society. We argue in this paper that peacekeeping has gradually emerged in Bangladesh as an issue where all three partners are converging and prone to hold similar views. This may have a profound impact upon Bangladeshi politics whereby the chances of military intervention in domestic politics will lessen. This paper helps in understanding the implications of Bangladesh's involvement in UN peace missions, an issue on which little work has been conducted until now despite the fact that it has important implications for both the Bangladesh state and its armed forces.
The Politics, Challenges, and Future of United Nations Peacekeeping Contributions, 2013
CGS PEACE REPORT Vol 4 Issue 3, 2020
Studia Politogiczne Vol.56, 2020
Social Science Review, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp-65-90., 2018
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and UK Agency for International Development (DFID) ... more The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and UK Agency for International Development (DFID) supported the first internationally-driven police reform initiative (2003-2016) in Bangladesh. This decade-long joint venture of the Government and international donors in the Police Reform Programme (PRP) demonstrates both opportunities for institutional reform in policing and fear of quick-fixes to empower police for political interests. In order to illustrate this politics of police reform efforts in Bangladesh, this paper addresses a major research question—how the state actors, international development agencies (IDAs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) are involved in reforming the civil security sector reform (i.e. Police) in Bangladesh. In doing so, this paper provides a critical analysis of the police reform initiatives in Bangladesh since 1971. The major objectives of the analysis is to provide information on the reformers of Bangladesh Police in the context of a broader governance reform, and to analyse the context of the reform process that is affected by national and international actors in Bangladesh. The paper follows the qualitative approach by conducting an in-depth review of relevant primary and secondary literature. It has considered: (a) books on the history of policing and police reform in Bangladesh, (b) unclassified primary reports available in libraries and national archives, and (c) popular media write-ups on police reforms in Bangladesh. The paper argues that the politics of police reform is not immune to the trajectory of political dynamics of the modern Bangladeshi state. One needs to analyse the political dynamics of Bangladesh and its influence on the role of national and international actors to understand the police reform process.
Resolve Network Research Paper No. 2, 2017
Community policing in Bangladesh is a potentially effective vehicle to improve security and compl... more Community policing in Bangladesh is a potentially effective vehicle to
improve security and complement the fight against violent extremism.
The Bangladesh police have developed a structure for involving local
communities in initiatives to prevent crime and improve security. Program implementation, however, has been experimental, haphazard, and under-resourced. Reports of police abuses and a widespread perception of a lack of accountability amid escalating clashes between police and suspected extremists exacerbate the situation. These factors have combined to limit the effectiveness of community policing as a tool to contain the extremist threat. Despite these challenges, local communities in Bangladesh are concerned about the problem of violent extremism, and many want to help the police. The Bangladesh police need to reconsider their topdown approach to community engagement. Police need to adopt stronger policies to ensure closer alignment of strategies to bolster citizen support for rule of law and tactics to address local violence. They need to work harder to build trust with citizens, including minorities who are often the victims of violent extremism. Community policing needs to be understood not as a formula for the political cooptation of powerful local elites, but as a means to erase the trust deficit between the police and the public at large.
Promoters of Peace: The BIPSOT Journal, 2019
This paper examines a question on how Bangladesh has promoted its international engagement in the... more This paper examines a question on how Bangladesh has promoted its international engagement in the United Nations to ensure shared partnership of stakeholders to sustain development, peace, and
security around the world. It is imperative to trace the transformation of the nature of cooperation between the United Nations and the so-called ‘small’ states in the context of the twenty-first century. Bangladesh
is considered as a critical case in this paper and it unfolds the patterns of cooperation in three broad areas of intervention—(a) enhancing development goals, (b) promoting peace and security, and (c) ensuring
good governance through capacity development. This discussion is informed by evidence that the ‘small’ states are increasingly capable of facilitating functional networks of states and non-state actors that would aim to contribute in promoting multilateralism. In doing so, it conducts a qualitative content analysis of the UN and Government of Bangladesh (GoB) documents to examine the process of cooperation.
National Security, Vivekananda International Foundation Vol.III (1) , 2020
Bangladesh has been a pioneer in promoting regional cooperation in South Asia. It has been an act... more Bangladesh has been a pioneer in promoting regional cooperation in South Asia. It has been an active partner of various regional, sub-regional and inter/trans-regional initiatives. During the Cold War period, these regional initiatives started as an alternative to power politics and regional tensions. However, in the twenty-first century, it is not
yet clear whether regional cooperation can accelerate growth for all member states in an even manner. This article examines Bangladesh’s perspective and participation in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Co-operation (BIMSTEC) in order to understand the progress of a trans-regional approach in promoting peace, prosperity and security. It argues that Bangladesh’s participation in BIMSTEC is a conscious choice to accelerate its growth and development through a comprehensive approach of connectivity.
Asian Journal of Comparative Politics, 2019
The article examines the relationship between the state and military in Myanmar to understand the... more The article examines the relationship between the state and military in Myanmar to understand the country’s policies regarding persecution of religious and ethnic minorities in the context of the Rohingya population of Arakan. The article applies the idea of the garrison state, a concept originally developed by Harold J Lasswell. It applies a process-tracing approach to understand the relations between the state and military of Myanmar, by examining primary documents and secondary literature on the subject. The article argues that Myanmar is a state which is compulsively concerned about perceived threats to its sovereignty. This real or imagined anxiety translates into cultural, social and economic attributes, and its policies to [re]produce violence against the Rohingya minorities of Arakan. These features endorse the idea that militarism is habitually developed by a garrison state, such as Myanmar, which is reflected in the policies of citizenship and the construction of minorities. Therefore, violence becomes a continuous tool that is applied by the state, particularly against the peripheral minorities and other marginalised groups.
This paper attempts to discuss a major research question—to what extent and why a national peacek... more This paper attempts to discuss a major research question—to what extent and why a national peacekeeping policy is significant for a top peacekeeping contributing nation, such as Bangladesh, to address the global and local challenges of UN peacekeeping missions? In doing so, the paper offers a review of the national policies of different states and its importance in the international peacekeeping discourse. Later, it unfolds the trends of Bangladesh's contribution to UN peacekeeping missions and analyzes the challenges in the changing patterns of global peacekeeping. In the final section, the paper prescribes the critical aspects that a prospective national policy may need to address in the context of Bangladesh. The paper argues that Bangladesh will eventually need a national policy to effectively utilize its resources, to coordinate the role of different institutions, and to fulfill its normative visions in international peacekeeping endeavours. It suggests that the process of formulating a national policy needs to be inclusive of actors and issues relevant to the changing future patterns of global peacekeeping.
Cette contribution vise à corréler la réforme du secteur de la sécurité et le développement, de m... more Cette contribution vise à corréler la réforme du secteur de la sécurité et le développement, de manière plus pragmatique et dans une perspective africaine. Elle fait valoir que la réforme du secteur de la sécurité peut jouer un rôle important dans la réduction de la pauvreté, mais seule elle ne réduira pas nécessairement la pauvreté. La réduction de la pauvreté est un processus extrêmement complexe et difficile. Le secteur de la sécurité peut contribuer à créer un environnement propice à la réduction de la pauvreté et au développement mais, pour que la réforme du secteur de la sécurité ait un impact, elle doit faire partie d'un projet plus large de réduction de la pauvreté. Pour établir cet argument, cette etude est divisée en trois sections. Tout d'abord, elle explique les fondements conceptuels de la réforme du secteur de la sécurité et son lien avec l'évolution des scénarii post-conflit. En outre, il est important d'étudier le mécanisme, tel que la prévention des conflits, par lequel la réforme du secteur de la sécurité peut contribuer efficacement à la réduction de la pauvreté et au développement. Dans la deuxième section, le document met l'accent sur l'écart entre la théorie et la pratique de la réforme du secteur de la sécurité, illustrée par l'étude des cas de la Sierra Leone et du Libéria. La perspective africaine est importante parce qu'elle explore les arguments de l'incapacité possible de la réforme du secteur de la sécurité, à atténuer la pauvreté, en s'interrogeant sur l'efficacité de cet exemple de «bonne pratique» et en soulignant les dangers du développement du secteur de la sécuritédans le vide. La troisième section traite des défis auxquels est confrontée la communauté des donateurs pour réduire l'inefficacité de la théorie et de la pratique de la RSS et suggère que, compte tenu de l'ampleur des défis, les solutions sont complexes et fastidieuses. Enfin, le document conclut que le RSS n'est pas une solution unique pour réduire le sous-développement, ni un échec en termes de développement d'une nation post-conflit. Les SSR et le développement sont des processus à long terme. La RSS est relativement récente et les donateurs apprennent encore. Il est donc important d'être pragmatique sur ce que et comment la RSS peut atteindre en termes de développement et de reconnoitre ses limites. Les bailleurs de fonds devraient mener des recherches plus poussées et ne pas se désabuser et retirer leur soutien.
This article was part of the Briefing Book prepared for the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace... more This article was part of the Briefing Book prepared for the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations by IPI and CIC.
United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions have become an important feature of world politics sinc... more United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions have become an important feature of world politics since the end of the Cold War. In recent times, the intensity of peacekeeping missions has increased and new challenges have also emerged. Under such circumstances, the UN has often highlighted the importance of regional organizations getting more involved in undertaking and sustaining such missions. South Asian countries provide a large number of troops to UN missions and yet, a regional collaboration has not been accorded much importance by countries of the region. This paper argues, given the emerging challenges, South Asian countries may have to resort to a regional approach with regard to peacekeeping missions.
This article argues that the participation of the Bangladeshi armed forces in UN peacekeeping has... more This article argues that the participation of the Bangladeshi armed forces in UN peacekeeping has produced positive benefits for civil-military relations in the country and that this process is best explained by reference to concordance theory, as propagated by Rebecca Schiff. Unlike traditional theories of civil-military relations, concordance theory highlights dialogue, accommodation and shared values or objectives held by the military, the political elites and society. We argue in this paper that peacekeeping has gradually emerged in Bangladesh as an issue where all three partners are converging and prone to hold similar views. This may have a profound impact upon Bangladeshi politics whereby the chances of military intervention in domestic politics will lessen. This paper helps in understanding the implications of Bangladesh's involvement in UN peace missions, an issue on which little work has been conducted until now despite the fact that it has important implications for both the Bangladesh state and its armed forces.
International Affairs , 2024
How do international peacekeeping experiences inform the security governance of contributing stat... more How do international peacekeeping experiences inform the security governance of contributing states from the global South? This article advances theoretical and policy arguments that international peacekeeping exposure contributes to forming multitudes of effects on domestic security affairs and shaping the contributing countries' security governance. The analysis problematizes the transformation of norms, policies, practices and institutional approaches in shaping the national security outlook of the contributing nations. Considering peacekeeping as a discursive ‘glo-cal’ affair and Bangladesh as a critical case, this study underscores how Bangladesh's contributions to United Nations Peace Support Operations (UNPSOs) inform its security governance. The article adopts a qualitative–interpretive approach to examine the assembling effects of Bangladesh's participation in such endeavours. It highlights the transformation in security institutions, new capacities in knowledge and income-generating sectors, new peacekeeping norms, and partnerships in security cooperation as the cornerstones in the national security outlook. Extending the purview of the existing literature on contributors' roles and impact, this article has offered assemblage as a dynamic conceptual lens to understand new domestic significance for the armed forces as global peace providers. Challenges related to the struggle for democracy, political stability and good governance persist in Bangladesh; nevertheless, the peacekeeping assemblage explains how the country has considered accelerating its global peace endeavours.
Paal Magazine, 2023
In the maritime domain, understanding insecurity is not just an epistemological dilemma; it is in... more In the maritime domain, understanding insecurity is not just an epistemological dilemma; it is indeed more ontological in
nature. What is security in the ocean and the surroundings? Whose security is at stake, and against what threats? This leads to another question. In what Paul Crutzen and others discussed, how do we frame
security crisis in the age of Anthropocene—human dominance on the
earth's geological, biological, and chemical processes?
Bandung Journal of the Global South, 2023
This paper aims to examine the dynamics of social inclusivity of the local people in the civil se... more This paper aims to examine the dynamics of social inclusivity of the local people in the civil security governance of Bangladesh with a particular reference to the functions of community policing in the urban areas of the state. The broader framework of the sdg 16 informs the conceptual analysis of this paper-promoting peaceful and inclusive societies in establishing local ownership and an inclusive and improved security situation through community policing in Bangladesh. The empirical discussions in this paper include the findings of in-depth interviews with the civilian members of the community policing forums and members of the local police stations. The discussion aims to highlight-how and in what ways the community policing system, both forums and officers in police stations, has adopted an inclusive framework to ensure the participation of local community citizens. Furthermore, the discussion also highlights the challenges of including locals and civil society organisations in the security governance of the state. Finally, this paper argues that political patronage is a critical factor obstructing social inclusivity in the community policing system.
International Peacekeeping, 2014
This article argues that the participation of the Bangladeshi armed forces in UN peacekeeping has... more This article argues that the participation of the Bangladeshi armed forces in UN peacekeeping has produced positive benefits for civil–military relations in the country and that this process is best explained by reference to concordance theory, as propagated by Rebecca Schiff. Unlike traditional theories of civil–military relations, concordance theory highlights dialogue, accommodation and shared values or objectives held by the military, the political elites and society. We argue in this paper that peacekeeping has gradually emerged in Bangladesh as an issue where all three partners are converging and prone to hold similar views. This may have a profound impact upon Bangladeshi politics whereby the chances of military intervention in domestic politics will lessen. This paper helps in understanding the implications of Bangladesh's involvement in UN peace missions, an issue on which little work has been conducted until now despite the fact that it has important implications for both the Bangladesh state and its armed forces.
The Politics, Challenges, and Future of United Nations Peacekeeping Contributions, 2013
CGS PEACE REPORT Vol 4 Issue 3, 2020
Studia Politogiczne Vol.56, 2020
Social Science Review, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp-65-90., 2018
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and UK Agency for International Development (DFID) ... more The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and UK Agency for International Development (DFID) supported the first internationally-driven police reform initiative (2003-2016) in Bangladesh. This decade-long joint venture of the Government and international donors in the Police Reform Programme (PRP) demonstrates both opportunities for institutional reform in policing and fear of quick-fixes to empower police for political interests. In order to illustrate this politics of police reform efforts in Bangladesh, this paper addresses a major research question—how the state actors, international development agencies (IDAs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) are involved in reforming the civil security sector reform (i.e. Police) in Bangladesh. In doing so, this paper provides a critical analysis of the police reform initiatives in Bangladesh since 1971. The major objectives of the analysis is to provide information on the reformers of Bangladesh Police in the context of a broader governance reform, and to analyse the context of the reform process that is affected by national and international actors in Bangladesh. The paper follows the qualitative approach by conducting an in-depth review of relevant primary and secondary literature. It has considered: (a) books on the history of policing and police reform in Bangladesh, (b) unclassified primary reports available in libraries and national archives, and (c) popular media write-ups on police reforms in Bangladesh. The paper argues that the politics of police reform is not immune to the trajectory of political dynamics of the modern Bangladeshi state. One needs to analyse the political dynamics of Bangladesh and its influence on the role of national and international actors to understand the police reform process.
Resolve Network Research Paper No. 2, 2017
Community policing in Bangladesh is a potentially effective vehicle to improve security and compl... more Community policing in Bangladesh is a potentially effective vehicle to
improve security and complement the fight against violent extremism.
The Bangladesh police have developed a structure for involving local
communities in initiatives to prevent crime and improve security. Program implementation, however, has been experimental, haphazard, and under-resourced. Reports of police abuses and a widespread perception of a lack of accountability amid escalating clashes between police and suspected extremists exacerbate the situation. These factors have combined to limit the effectiveness of community policing as a tool to contain the extremist threat. Despite these challenges, local communities in Bangladesh are concerned about the problem of violent extremism, and many want to help the police. The Bangladesh police need to reconsider their topdown approach to community engagement. Police need to adopt stronger policies to ensure closer alignment of strategies to bolster citizen support for rule of law and tactics to address local violence. They need to work harder to build trust with citizens, including minorities who are often the victims of violent extremism. Community policing needs to be understood not as a formula for the political cooptation of powerful local elites, but as a means to erase the trust deficit between the police and the public at large.
Promoters of Peace: The BIPSOT Journal, 2019
This paper examines a question on how Bangladesh has promoted its international engagement in the... more This paper examines a question on how Bangladesh has promoted its international engagement in the United Nations to ensure shared partnership of stakeholders to sustain development, peace, and
security around the world. It is imperative to trace the transformation of the nature of cooperation between the United Nations and the so-called ‘small’ states in the context of the twenty-first century. Bangladesh
is considered as a critical case in this paper and it unfolds the patterns of cooperation in three broad areas of intervention—(a) enhancing development goals, (b) promoting peace and security, and (c) ensuring
good governance through capacity development. This discussion is informed by evidence that the ‘small’ states are increasingly capable of facilitating functional networks of states and non-state actors that would aim to contribute in promoting multilateralism. In doing so, it conducts a qualitative content analysis of the UN and Government of Bangladesh (GoB) documents to examine the process of cooperation.
National Security, Vivekananda International Foundation Vol.III (1) , 2020
Bangladesh has been a pioneer in promoting regional cooperation in South Asia. It has been an act... more Bangladesh has been a pioneer in promoting regional cooperation in South Asia. It has been an active partner of various regional, sub-regional and inter/trans-regional initiatives. During the Cold War period, these regional initiatives started as an alternative to power politics and regional tensions. However, in the twenty-first century, it is not
yet clear whether regional cooperation can accelerate growth for all member states in an even manner. This article examines Bangladesh’s perspective and participation in the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Co-operation (BIMSTEC) in order to understand the progress of a trans-regional approach in promoting peace, prosperity and security. It argues that Bangladesh’s participation in BIMSTEC is a conscious choice to accelerate its growth and development through a comprehensive approach of connectivity.
Asian Journal of Comparative Politics, 2019
The article examines the relationship between the state and military in Myanmar to understand the... more The article examines the relationship between the state and military in Myanmar to understand the country’s policies regarding persecution of religious and ethnic minorities in the context of the Rohingya population of Arakan. The article applies the idea of the garrison state, a concept originally developed by Harold J Lasswell. It applies a process-tracing approach to understand the relations between the state and military of Myanmar, by examining primary documents and secondary literature on the subject. The article argues that Myanmar is a state which is compulsively concerned about perceived threats to its sovereignty. This real or imagined anxiety translates into cultural, social and economic attributes, and its policies to [re]produce violence against the Rohingya minorities of Arakan. These features endorse the idea that militarism is habitually developed by a garrison state, such as Myanmar, which is reflected in the policies of citizenship and the construction of minorities. Therefore, violence becomes a continuous tool that is applied by the state, particularly against the peripheral minorities and other marginalised groups.
This paper attempts to discuss a major research question—to what extent and why a national peacek... more This paper attempts to discuss a major research question—to what extent and why a national peacekeeping policy is significant for a top peacekeeping contributing nation, such as Bangladesh, to address the global and local challenges of UN peacekeeping missions? In doing so, the paper offers a review of the national policies of different states and its importance in the international peacekeeping discourse. Later, it unfolds the trends of Bangladesh's contribution to UN peacekeeping missions and analyzes the challenges in the changing patterns of global peacekeeping. In the final section, the paper prescribes the critical aspects that a prospective national policy may need to address in the context of Bangladesh. The paper argues that Bangladesh will eventually need a national policy to effectively utilize its resources, to coordinate the role of different institutions, and to fulfill its normative visions in international peacekeeping endeavours. It suggests that the process of formulating a national policy needs to be inclusive of actors and issues relevant to the changing future patterns of global peacekeeping.
Cette contribution vise à corréler la réforme du secteur de la sécurité et le développement, de m... more Cette contribution vise à corréler la réforme du secteur de la sécurité et le développement, de manière plus pragmatique et dans une perspective africaine. Elle fait valoir que la réforme du secteur de la sécurité peut jouer un rôle important dans la réduction de la pauvreté, mais seule elle ne réduira pas nécessairement la pauvreté. La réduction de la pauvreté est un processus extrêmement complexe et difficile. Le secteur de la sécurité peut contribuer à créer un environnement propice à la réduction de la pauvreté et au développement mais, pour que la réforme du secteur de la sécurité ait un impact, elle doit faire partie d'un projet plus large de réduction de la pauvreté. Pour établir cet argument, cette etude est divisée en trois sections. Tout d'abord, elle explique les fondements conceptuels de la réforme du secteur de la sécurité et son lien avec l'évolution des scénarii post-conflit. En outre, il est important d'étudier le mécanisme, tel que la prévention des conflits, par lequel la réforme du secteur de la sécurité peut contribuer efficacement à la réduction de la pauvreté et au développement. Dans la deuxième section, le document met l'accent sur l'écart entre la théorie et la pratique de la réforme du secteur de la sécurité, illustrée par l'étude des cas de la Sierra Leone et du Libéria. La perspective africaine est importante parce qu'elle explore les arguments de l'incapacité possible de la réforme du secteur de la sécurité, à atténuer la pauvreté, en s'interrogeant sur l'efficacité de cet exemple de «bonne pratique» et en soulignant les dangers du développement du secteur de la sécuritédans le vide. La troisième section traite des défis auxquels est confrontée la communauté des donateurs pour réduire l'inefficacité de la théorie et de la pratique de la RSS et suggère que, compte tenu de l'ampleur des défis, les solutions sont complexes et fastidieuses. Enfin, le document conclut que le RSS n'est pas une solution unique pour réduire le sous-développement, ni un échec en termes de développement d'une nation post-conflit. Les SSR et le développement sont des processus à long terme. La RSS est relativement récente et les donateurs apprennent encore. Il est donc important d'être pragmatique sur ce que et comment la RSS peut atteindre en termes de développement et de reconnoitre ses limites. Les bailleurs de fonds devraient mener des recherches plus poussées et ne pas se désabuser et retirer leur soutien.
This article was part of the Briefing Book prepared for the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace... more This article was part of the Briefing Book prepared for the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations by IPI and CIC.
United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions have become an important feature of world politics sinc... more United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions have become an important feature of world politics since the end of the Cold War. In recent times, the intensity of peacekeeping missions has increased and new challenges have also emerged. Under such circumstances, the UN has often highlighted the importance of regional organizations getting more involved in undertaking and sustaining such missions. South Asian countries provide a large number of troops to UN missions and yet, a regional collaboration has not been accorded much importance by countries of the region. This paper argues, given the emerging challenges, South Asian countries may have to resort to a regional approach with regard to peacekeeping missions.
This article argues that the participation of the Bangladeshi armed forces in UN peacekeeping has... more This article argues that the participation of the Bangladeshi armed forces in UN peacekeeping has produced positive benefits for civil-military relations in the country and that this process is best explained by reference to concordance theory, as propagated by Rebecca Schiff. Unlike traditional theories of civil-military relations, concordance theory highlights dialogue, accommodation and shared values or objectives held by the military, the political elites and society. We argue in this paper that peacekeeping has gradually emerged in Bangladesh as an issue where all three partners are converging and prone to hold similar views. This may have a profound impact upon Bangladeshi politics whereby the chances of military intervention in domestic politics will lessen. This paper helps in understanding the implications of Bangladesh's involvement in UN peace missions, an issue on which little work has been conducted until now despite the fact that it has important implications for both the Bangladesh state and its armed forces.
Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Vol. 64, No. 2, 2019
Intelligence, National Security, and Foreign Policy: A South Asian Narrative, an edited volume by... more Intelligence, National Security, and Foreign Policy: A South Asian Narrative, an edited volume by ASM Ali Ashraf, examines the linkages between the local understandings of intelligence, national security and foreign policy in the backdrop of the post-9/11 international politics. This book is a product of three seminars organized in 2014 by Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (BILIA) in collaboration with the Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka.
Indo-Pacific Circle Op-Ed, 2022
The Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean are historical maritime routes for both South and South-Ea... more The Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean are historical maritime routes for both South and South-East Asia. Recently, these have emerged as routes for intra-Asian and trans-regional movements of people, mainly from Bangladesh and Myanmar, to Southeast Asian destinations (ex. Malaysia and Thailand) and then extend the journey towards Australia. The drivers of such migration are essentially informed by three factors: economy, conflict, and climate.
COVID-19": The Otherside of Leaving through the Pandemic, 2021
This chapter inquires a straight but fundamental question—whether or not the pandemic generates a... more This chapter inquires a straight but fundamental question—whether or not the pandemic generates an environment which is convenient for rumours to go viral and to be consumed and shared by the rumour communities. In understanding the relationship, the chapter observes how rumours have managed to get a place in interpersonal, social and political spaces of human lives. It may be noted that one should not just concentrate on contents of rumours. Contents get deformed when it travels through interpersonal spaces, communities and states. It is rather the sociology of
rumours that provides alternative perspectives to the answer. I would also probe further to learn—where is the agency located in rumours? Do rumours in pandemics provide an agency to its creator/s or to the media that carry rumours, and the both? The medium of rumours is critical and
this is particularly significant when we are experiencing a surge of social media and its contribution to [re]shaping contents for rumours. To answer these questions, it is crucial to understand whether or not the media and rumour communities are either individually or jointly responsible to shape
rumours during a pandemic. Rumours clearly do not grow like amoeba and do not inherit agency out of the blue that would like to win the endorsement of public and weaken the effectiveness of conventional institutions of states/societies. It could be the actors and institutions of a particular society/state that transcends agency to rumours.
Globalization and Cultural Transformations among the Youth: Tertiary Institutions under the Spotlight, 2023
This chapter aims to examine the relationship between neoliberal globalisation and changing patte... more This chapter aims to examine the relationship between neoliberal globalisation and changing patterns of social movements in Bangladesh through the lens of agencies and spaces used in such campaigns. Actors, agenda, and resources mobilised demonstrate agencies and redefine social roles beyond the mainstream political and social spheres. It is further influenced by the hybridisation of spaces (both physical and virtual) with new agendas, new media and communication technologies. Are agencies and the space mutually constitutive in understanding the transformations of social movements? Against this backdrop, this chapter examines how contemporary movements have emerged as a hybrid space online and offline by accommodating multivariate agencies that had transcended beyond territorial barriers of ideas, conventional political activism and mobilisation factors in social movements. The study analyses the recent trends (2013-2020) of youth movements in Dhaka as critical case studies to understand evolving patterns of agencies and hybrid movement spaces. The paper argues that the hybridity of space and agencies creates multiple identities for social movements and several choices for the people. It gives options for many to participate in the actions in various capacities and others to isolate them from the agenda and outcomes.
Rohingya Camp Narratives: Tales From the ‘Lesser Roads’ Traveled, 2022
How intersectionality [re]shapes Rohingya identities in Myanmar visà- vis in Bangladesh at the cr... more How intersectionality [re]shapes Rohingya identities in Myanmar visà-
vis in Bangladesh at the crossroads of oppression brings to the forefront
Rohingya identity formation as a social, cultural, and political credential
within Myanmar. We now have ‘old’ and ‘evolving’ pictures of the
same people. Such a view quashes any realpolitik interpretation locating
Rohingya refugees as part and parcel of bilateral Bangladesh-Myanmar
relations.2 In other words, this chapter’s key contributions lie in depicting
‘identity’ as a non-state marker and intersectionality as a possible vehicle
of oppression.
Policing the Global South Colonial Legacies, Pluralities, Partnerships, and Reform, 2022
Since 2008, Bangladesh police have declared community policing an ‘essential part’ of initiatives... more Since 2008, Bangladesh police have declared community policing an ‘essential part’ of initiatives to reduce crime, increase public safety, and improve community relations. The police have developed a structure for involving local communities in initiatives to prevent crime and improve security. However, programme implementation has been experimental, haphazard, and under-resourced. How does a community policing approach counter violent extremism in Bangladesh? Evidence indicates that community policing does work in Bangladesh and that those participating in more active and energised community policing groups see its potential for countering violent extremism. The chapter highlights that the police need to reconsider their top-down approach to community engagement and adopt more robust policies to ensure a closer alignment of strategies to bolster citizen support for tactics to address violent extremism. Police need to work harder to build trust with citizens, including minorities, who are often the victims of extremism.
Global-Local Tradeoffs, Order-Disorder Consequences: 'State' No More An Island?, 2022
We argue the complex future of peace operations requires cautious but optimistic stakeholder step... more We argue the complex future of peace operations requires cautious but optimistic stakeholder steps to accommodate changing peace operation patterns. By reducing major global peace trends to local experiences, we supply comparative historical evidence from peacekeeping and peace enforcement operations: their scopes and legal mandates, as well as the intertwining global–local network that proved so crucial to success. Further exploring local security and legitimacy implications of the expanded U.N. will to use peace enforcement, we detect both doctrinal and operational challenges to contemporary peace operations, helping us shed light on three facilitative features of future U.N. peace support operations: (a) technological development and its U.N. peacekeeping impact; (b) the growing regional flavor of peacekeeping operations; and (c) the U.N. combating capacities against violent extremism. Future peace supporting complexities, we conclude, need a more contextual approach with mandate flexibility.
This book examines the discourse of South Asian women’s work and employment trends through the le... more This book examines the discourse of South Asian women’s work and employment trends through the lens of rights and innovations. It has 13 chapters. The contributors take a broad geographical canvas and diverse thematic areas to study how various changes in their work sectors influence women’s rights, and how women innovate and adopt innovative ways to steer through their personal and professional lives. Reflecting on women’s lives and work experiences from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, the studies also demonstrate the renewed demands for implementing a right based framework due to excelled automation in the industries and different work sectors.
BIMSTEC: The Journey and The Way Ahead, 2021
This chapter has two-fold objectives. First, it aims to investigate the process of constructing B... more This chapter has two-fold objectives. First, it aims to investigate the process of constructing BIMSTEC as a security community with a special focus on collaborative counter-terrorism (CT) endeavours of its member states. Second, it underscores the significance of the transformation of CT approach to preventing/countering violent extremism (P/CVE) approach as an effective means of trans-regional security cooperation model in Asia. On this backdrop, there are two major research questions in this chapter. First, how has the BIMSTEC moved forward forming a trans-regional security order based on CT? Second, this is a policy-focused question: what conditions and factors would be instrumental for the trans-regional security community to transform its approach from CT to P/CVE?