|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Wednesday, 17 March 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Defence, technology and cooperative security in South Asia A new book has been published by the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies entitled, "Defence, Technology and Cooperative Security in South Asia."
It will contain the summary of the proceedings of the Tenth Summer Workshop held in Shanghai, China from 3rd to 13th December, 2003, on the nuclear issue. The book will be a valuable addition to the present literature available on the nuclear threat; it comes out at a time when some new states in Asia are becoming potential nuclear and when there is criticism on the proliferation of nuclear technology, by the states who possess such capability. The publication also aims to disseminate information available with the RCSS on the security and strategic aspects of nuclearisation of the region. The Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS), based in Sri Lanka has been engaged in research, and academic interaction on security, strategic and international issues pertaining to South Asia since 1993. The objectives of the Centre, are the advancing the cause of co-operation, security, conflict resolution, confidence building, peace and development in the countries of the South Asian region. The Centre in its programme of work on related subjects, holds seminars, workshops, conferences, and publishes books, monographs and reports. The workshop on 'Defence, Technology and Cooperative Security in South Asia is one such annual feature of the RCSS. The present publication intended to be a standard compendium, on the nuclear issue, is the outcome of this workshop. India and Pakistan are already nuclear states; the other declared nuclear power in Asia, is China. Being a world power, China plays a key role in the region. The United States, the only super power too wields its influence in the regional power politics. The workshop was therefore, conceptualised to be a meeting of minds of selected scholars from India, Pakistan and China. There were faculty members from the United States while Nuclear Threat Initiative, Washington was a co-sponsor, with the Ford Foundation. There were sixty participants and faculty members, drawn from India, Pakistan and China. All three countries being overtly nuclear, the workshop concentrated on three issues of relevance in the field of security, namely, changing nature of 'arms control' the potential changes in the international system, including American policies, and the future of South Asia with China's and America's regional role. While the panel of experts discussed the broad parameters of the global nuclear issue, the participating scholars, were able to gain an exposure to modern thinking on it, and the South Asian security concerns; it also paved the way for intellectual interaction on a wide variety of themes on the subject. The papers presented were on the following themes, which form the contents of the book, as well - * Nuclear Weapons, Consequences of a Hypothetical Nuclear Conflict in South Asia Problems of Nuclear Early Warning systems in South Asia; 1998 Nuclear Tests and South Asian Security * The Threat of Terrorist Use of Weapons of Mass Destruction The curriculum was designed with a view, to understand the nature of the problem, its regional and global manifestations, possibilities of denuclearisation or management, non-proliferation, the impact of the nuclear issue on the regional bi-lateral problems, and ways and means of their resolution. The participants greatly, benefited from the discourse. They being scholars drawn from the respective countries will be expected to contribute substantially in the decision-making processes of the region pertaining to the security policies. The proceedings of the workshop, mentioned above are included in the book published by the RCSS. The RCSS, too, intends to reach out to the South Asian countries, to inform them of its activities, including the studies done on the Nuclear Proliferation Issue, through this publication. Another aim of RCSS is to obtain the support of the media to publicise the work done by them, so that a greater number would benefit by RCSS research, and other activities through their participation, and interaction. Regional Centre possesses also a wide spectrum of reading material on related subjects, in its library cum documentation centre. As had been the policy of the Centre academics and researchers in this field are invited to gain access to the information available. The Centre through its network, of alumni and faculty members, keeps the policy makers of South Asia, informed of the research done in the security and strategic fields, including the nuclear issue; perhaps, it is one way of contributing to the process of decision making. The Regional Centre for Strategic Studies, has already, announced that the libraries interested, could order a full set of research material, available with the Centre, which would be sent free of charge. The Centre could be contacted on the following contact address, telephone numbers, fax number, and the e-mail addresses; Associate Director, Regional Centre looks forward to develop more interaction with the academics, researchers, and others who are into studies in the related fields of strategic and security, in the South Asian countries. RCSS sponsors, coordinates, and supports, research, promotes interaction among professionals, and fosters linkage and collaboration between institutions, that are engaged in security and strategic studies. In achieving these objectives RCSS continues with its programmes on collaborative studies, granting research awards, sustained programmes on confidence building measures, holds workshops on non-traditional security studies, small arms and conventional weapons, and conferences on strategic issues, conflict prevention, and resolution. A networking of South Asian Scholars and dissemination of information on issues, is being undertaken as a priority. In these endeavours RCSS calls for interactive support from scholars. Regional Centre for Strategic Studies. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
