Search

The central aim of the paper is to analyze the ceasefire line in eastern Ukraine, widely referred to as the "Contact Line," as an evolving border and a potential social and political boundary. We conceptualize the ceasefire line both as a special type of border that divides conflicting parties and a formerly integrated population and as a border regime managing different forms of mobility. Our mixed method approach combines ethnographic and survey data. The analysis of the formal border regime regulating the access to the divided territories is broadened by a perspective that foregrounds the local residents' practices and perceptions. The article highlights different mobilities and the informal variations in the border practices along and across the ceasefire line as well as the social and political identities accompanying these practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article traces the trajectories of Russia’s projection of its external power in its neighbourhood through the analysis of its bordering and de-bordering practices. It looks specifically at what happened in Abkhazia between 1993 and 2013, focusing on its role in managing the international border along the Psou River and on its impact on the Georgian-Abkhaz ceasefire line along the Inguri River. It argues that, while the appreciation of borders is often limited to symbols of sovereignty, Russia aptly employed bordering and de-bordering practices as policy tools to expand its clout much further than its national external borders. It also illustrates the importance of the implementation component of border regimes. By looking at macro- and micro- dynamics, as well as underlining the gap between official discourse and practice, this article explicates some of the mechanisms underpinning Russia’s cycles of retreat and expansion in the Caucasus.

Due to the diverse reasons, people have been migrating from one place to another since centuries. Kashmir conflict is one of the world's unsettled conflicts, which has negative implications on regional security and stability, with no termination in sight for the tumult. Since the beginning of uprising in 1988, the Jammu & Kashmir region has been the spot of dreadful violence, death and displacement. Due to the unrest, thousands of refugees have crossed over to Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K, shortly AK)and encountered a number of tangible and intangible challenges; however, the AK Government has given certain incentives to these refugees. On the other hand, the Government of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K, also known as Indian Occupied Kashmir) has introduced Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy in November 2010 to facilitate the return of these refugees, yet, due to certain reasons, the policy has remained unsuccessful in achieving its goal. Though refugees have been entering into the social fabrics of the local communities through intermarriages and socio-economic ventures since 1989, yet the Government is still indecisive about their future settlement. This study is focused on the issues and challenges to the refugees, Government response and the possible solution regarding their future settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

History is replete with charismatic leaders who rendered a yeoman service to their people and the country. Each leader had a goal, a vision and a cause for which he fought against forces pulling him apart. Of all those who emerged as leaders of new nations after world war II, Mr. Bhutto was among the most impressive. He led his country to become a complete sovereign player on the global chessboard. The whole focus of his extraordinary talent and approach was to bring security, economic stability and social cohesion to the people of Pakistan. In pursuing these objectives, Bhutto had staked out as tough a fight as Sukarno, Zhou enlai, Nkrumah and Jawahar Lal Nehru faced in their respective countries. Pakistan's economy, politics, socialization and foreign policy had been ravaged by political upheavals and the war of 1971 but Mr. Bhutto waged a multi-pronged strategy against all those challenges. Only an immensely popular and brilliant man like Mr. Bhutto could have held Pakistan during those critical years, maintaining the territorial integrity of the country and initiating a nation-building, state-building process. In particular, Mr. Bhutto's foreign policy aimed at benefiting Pakistan by developing ties with resourceful Muslim countries and neutral powers. Mr. Bhutto's major task was on two interrelated levels: Feeding, clothing and providing shelter to the down-trodden majority of Pakistan, and containing the role or influence of America and its allies in Pakistan politics. Zulfi Bhutto impressed statesmen, policy makers, journalists, social activists, scholars and common men around the globe as being firmly dedicated to retaining people's basic rights by fighting against imperial, dictatorial and interventionist devices of global power-brokers. In writing about Zulfi Bhutto's foreign policy, it is tempting to include some of its profound impacts on Pakistan which are contributing a great deal to our survival even now. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]