International Development Forum / International Development Society

The US / Iran Conflict: Imperialism, Hegemony and Intervention

The Department of Politics and International Relations will host a seminar jointly organised by the International Development Forum and International Development Society on the US / Iran conflict: imperialism, hegemony and intervention

Abstract

The crisis of Iran and the West, especially the US has reached a new climax: a threat of attack on Iran from NATO, the US and Israel are reminiscent of the 2003 Iraqi invasion. Although Iran denies that they are processing nuclear weapons, the West has refused to believe Iran’s claim and continues to impose sanctions on Iran. This meeting will assess the root causes of the conflict, the role played by the US in the region and the implications of the conflict in the region and beyond. 

Speakers

Professor David Chandler: 

Dr Farhang Morady

Dr Sahar Taghdisi Rad

Monday 26^th of March 2012, 17:30, Board Room, 309 Regent Street

IDS: the realities, issues and challenges of life in informal settlements.

IDS is delighted to announce yet another event! This time we will be addressing the realities, issues and challenges of life in informal settlements. In 2008 for the first time in history more people live in cities than rural areas. This fact, however, does not necessarily represent progress- the number of people living in slums will soon exceed 1 billion, that is one-third of urban dwellers. With UN forecasting the number of the slum dwellers doubling in next 25 years, slums are the fastest growing human habitat. Slums, being informal settlements not recognized by municipalities, lack basic infrastructure, public services, clean water and sanitation. This makes living in slums very challenging and often dangerous. Monday, 19th of March, University of Westminster,  Regent Street Campus, RS 152 SPEAKERS: Dr. Atreyee Sen RCUK Fellow in Coflict, Cohesion and Change, University of Manchester Presenting her essay: 'Against Our Mothers’: Child Vigilantes and Public Beating of Women in an Indian slum Isis Paola PhD researcher at University of Westminster (Research Project on Creativity and Scarcity in the Built Environment) Sharing her experience from 6 months fieldwork in Mathare, second largest slum in Kenya: It is the aim of this talk to encourage a critical discussion on urban informality and poverty, with a focus on issues of agency and inclusion We will be screening BBC show "Famous, Rich & in the Slums" in which four UK celebrities try to live in the largest African slum Kibera (Nairobi, Kenya). You will also have an opportunity to see series of pictures by student of MA Photojournalism at the University of Westminster, Pio De Rose, who visited Kibera in 2011. Snacks and drinks will be provided! Hope to see you there, IDS Team

Religion and ‘postsecular’ international relations

Is international relations (IR) still secular or have we entered a new,‘postsecular,’ era, where centuries old secular certainties no longer apply? This paper will argue that we have now entered an era of ‘postsecular’ international relations, and examine activities of religious transnational actors (RTAs) to support this contention. Just click on his name below to download the lecture.

Jeffrey Haynes, 14 March, 2012. 

Resisting Development, Promoting Dignity: Challenging the Postcolonial Informal Empires of China and India: Commentary by Kateryna Onyiliogwu

I went to this wonderful and inspiring talk by Dr. Dibyesh Anand today. I was interested in this subject as China and India have become more powerful in the world today and the eyes of international community are closely on current affairs of these states. Dr. Anand talked about China and India as postcolonial informal empires in their treatment of their own population, especially in Tibet and Kashmir. As negative effects of colonisation are widely discussed by scholars, I was struck by the term, new for me, ‘Postcolonial informal empires’ as I couldn’t grasp the idea that ex-colonies like India and China can behave in a similar way as colonisers towards their own people, in particular, minorities. By adapting political ideas and technologies of ex empires such as nationalism and uniting these with narratives of historical greatness, India and China are building their multinational states. In order to control these states China and India are accepting multi-ethnic cultural rights but denying political agency, bringing further marginalisation of rights for their minorities in Tibet and Kashmir respectively. Having in mind the famous quote by John Acton that ‘The most certain test by which we judge whether a country is really free is the amount of security enjoyed by minorities’, I kept wondering whether following the path of ex-empires like Britain and France can bring greater development to China and India as whole nations?

Resisting Development, Promoting Dignity: Challenging the Postcolonial Informal Empires of China and India

A talk by Dr  Dibyesh Anand   

 22/02/2012, 5pm, Room 250, Regent Street. 

Is development a mechanism of control deployed by powerful states to discipline their people? Can development resolve conflicts between the state and ethonational groups who don't see themselves represented within the state and have their own aspirations for a separate identity? Or does it exacerbate the conflict? Taking the example of Chinese-controlled Tibet where protests, including in the form of self-immolations, are ongoing  and Indian-controlled Kashmir - where security apparatus of the state subverts most democratic processes, this lecture will argue that China and India are Postcolonial Informal Empires that promote development but deny dignity. The focus will be mainly on Tibet that is witnessing a repressive policy of the Chinese government that mixes total political control with rapid development and protests against China resulting from this policy

IDS: Simon Maxwell speaking on TUESDAY 7th FEBRUARY 6pm at Regents Campus

Reminder:

Simon Maxwell is a leading authority on international development. He has been a researcher, field worker and adviser, and for twelve years to 2009 was Director of the Overseas Development Institute, the UK’s principal think-tank on international development and humanitarian issues. He has lived long-term in Kenya, India and Bolivia; and has worked for the UNDP, the British aid programme, and the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, as well as ODI. He has been an adviser to successive UK Ministers of development and a Forum Fellow of the World Economic Forum. Current positions include Executive Chair of the Climate and Development Knowledge Network, project leader of the European Development Cooperation Strengthening Programme, and Specialist Adviser to the UK House of Commons Select Committee on International Development. Simon is a Member of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Economic Development and Poverty Reduction, as well as a trustee of various organisations, including the Fair Trade Foundation and the Spanish think-tank, FRIDE. Recent contributions can be found on his website, www.simonmaxwell.eu, including on aid effectiveness, the results agenda, the food crisis, and climate change. In 2007, Simon was awarded a CBE for contributions to international development.

Please join us on TUESDAY 7th FEBRUARY 6pm at Regents Campus, room to be confirmed. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

We hope to see you there!

IDS

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