http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk:80/handle/2031/5367 Wed, 01 May 2013 08:58:05 GMT 2013-05-01T08:58:05Z http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk:80/handle/2031/6823 Title: Aid in Sri Lanka – Traditional donors and their failure to incite change Authors: De Silva, Suren Mark Abstract: In 2009 the ongoing civil war in Sri Lanka reached a climax. Western aid conditionality, which was previously used as a means of keeping Sri Lanka focused on peace initiatives, failed as leverage against impending human rights abuses. Such conditionality infringed on the sovereignty of the country and its ability to deal with its own terrorist issues without external intervention. This form of aid conditionality was particularly ineffective as it was in the face of Eastern donors who were unconditional in their offers of aid. These Western conditions therefore acted as a catalyst in Sri Lanka’s movement to Chinese, Indian and Iranian donors, while culminating an atmosphere of anti-Western rhetoric and interference in the country. Significant amounts of aid have since been given by these donors to Sri Lanka resulting in economic growth along with a myriad of human rights abuses, where during the last few months of the war an estimated 40,000 civilians died and afterward as a result of disappearances. This paper argues against the use of conditional aid as leverage against human rights abuses when it infringes on the sovereignty of a nation, particularly while in the face of non traditional donors. This paper stresses the need for caution and awareness in the use of aid conditionality taking local perspectives into consideration. Notes: “This paper by Suren Mark de Silva discusses contemporary models of international aid in Sri Lanka and highlights the failure of traditional donors to tackle human right abuses through aid conditionality. The paper investigates issues of conditionality and sovereignty, thus engaging one of the long-standing debates on international aid and cooperation. Yet the author is careful to adopt a nuanced perspective that finds flaws both in non-interventionist and conditional approaches to aid. Through a well-informed discussion of Sri Lanka’s political history and with an emphasis on elite nationalistic concerns, the author concludes that traditional donors have not been able to accommodate Sri Lanka’s aspirations for independence, nor to understand the challenges posed by non-conditional aid from emerging economies. The arguments are supported by well-founded data, which demonstrates extensive research. One of the great things of this paper is that the author shows a sensitivity to the importance of political context that is sometimes lacking in popular and academic research on international aid. Overall, this is an excellent paper that demonstrates outstanding capacity for critical thinking and detailed research.” -- Dr Ruben Gonzalez-Vicente, April, 2013 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk:80/handle/2031/6823 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk:80/handle/2031/6822 Title: Will China avoid falling into the middle income trap under the new generation of leadership? Authors: Lo, Kit Ying Clarice (盧潔瑩) Notes: “Up to the present, China has relied heavily of low-productivity assembly by an ever-increasing workforce to generate high rates of growth. The potential of that strategy is coming to an end as the economy matures, the growth of the workforce begins to slow, and wages as well as living standards rise. There is a need, therefore, to transform and upgrade the economy, towards high-productivity activities and a capacity for indigenous innovation. This essay draws on a wide range of sources to assess the potential for this transition under the new leadership. It is nicely written, and shows an excellent grasp of the social, political and economic challenges China faces. Its strength is the maturity of judgement shown in reaching a balanced conclusion, in an area where much academic and journalistic commentary is marred by uncritical positive or superficial negative approaches. Overall, an excellent paper which shows an impressive ability to make sense of a complex and controversial topic.” -- Prof Paul Cammack, April, 2013 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk:80/handle/2031/6822 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk:80/handle/2031/6455 Title: A critical analysis of Hong Kong political culture: apathy and activism? Authors: Muster, Maxine Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk:80/handle/2031/6455 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk:80/handle/2031/6446 Title: Analyze the prospects for greater democratization in Hong Kong Authors: Ho, Wing Yee (何詠儀) Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk:80/handle/2031/6446 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z