No description available.

This dissertation examines class and ethnicity in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Southeastern Bangladesh. The indigenous people of this region are now in a minority because of the influx of Bengalees. This study argues that ethnic conflicts, ethnicity or "tribalism" in the CHT emerged as consequences of British, Pakistani and Bengalee colonialism, modernization and development projects undertaken by the international development agencies; these factors changed the relations of production and were accompanied by militarization of the area and a destruction of the traditional mode of life. Ethnicity as an ideology has played a determinant role in the CHT rather than class, despite the fact that the CHT groups and the Bengalees are divided into several socio-economic levels. Here, class interests and class issues are undermined and overshadowed by the presence of ethnic antagonisms and an ideology of "tribalism" among Bengalees and the indigenous CHT peoples.

Thesis--Zürich. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 300-307).

University, Diss., 2004--Bonn.

No description available.

Master's thesis. / Format: PDF. Bibl.

Techn. University, Diss., 2004--Dresden.

No description available.

Shipbreaking industrin i Chittagong, Bangladesh är i huvudsak en fråga om miljöorättvisa på grund av exporten av miljöproblem och risk. Föreliggande examensuppsats syftar till att fylla bristen på kvalitativ forskning kring ämnet. För närvarande har en av de viktigaste rösterna inte varit en del av den akademiska diskursen – rösten från individer som bor i områdena kring industrin. Det empiriska materialet samlades in med hjälp av semi-strukturerade intervjuer under en två månader mindre fältstudie i samhällena som ligger kring industrin. Resultatet synliggör respondenternas syn på industrin och visar hur de är påverkade av den. Ett tydligt mönster framträder ur materialet och förkroppsligar teorierna som visar hur risk och miljöproblem exporteras från center, dessa absorberas sen av individerna i periferin. Export av miljöproblem, fattigdom och ökade risker utgör en kausalitet och skapar miljöorättvisa. / The shipbreaking industry in Chittagong, Bangladesh is a matter of environmental injustice due to the export of environmental problems and risks. This thesis fills the current gap in research regarding qualitative material concerning the shipbreaking industry. Currently, one of the most important voice has not entered the academic discourse – the voice of the individuals living in the communities surrounding the industry. The empirical material was gathered by conducting semi-structured interviews during a two months field study in smaller communities around the shipbreaking yards. The result displays the respondent’s views on the industry, and show how they are affected by it. A clear pattern emerges and embodies the theories showing how risk and environmental problems are exported, these are then absorbed by individuals in the periphery. Export of environmental problems, poverty and increasing risks constitutes a causality and creates environmental injustice.

This thesis examines how, and the extent to which, the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Accord of Bangladesh contributed to transform conflicting relations of the parties, and communities living in the CHT. This case study research has combined two methods: (i) key informant interviews and (ii) consultation of wider secondary literature, reports of accord signing parties, international organizations, NGOs and other stakeholders, newspaper articles, working papers etc. We have developed a process-oriented analytical framework through reviewing eight widely studied peace agreements and their following conflict transformation processes. This theme-based distinctive framework has guided us to conduct a comprehensive analyse of the CHT case. We argue that the 1997 CHT Accord, developed as a part of an internal strategic conflict management and negotiation process, and stipulated for limited territorial power-sharing and localized proportional power-sharing of communities, to a considerable extent helped to transform parties’ conflicting relations, and the conflict itself, despite the Accord’s limited nature and partial implementation. The post-accord immediate implementation of some key provisions helped to build confidence of the parties and engaged them in decision-making process. This restrained them not to return to violence, although an incremental accord implementation process helped to address some complexities but created contradictions and dubious relations between them over some issues. The accord considerably contributed to improve socio-economic conditions of CHT people. Nevertheless, it shifted the dynamics of original conflict towards an intra-ethnic dimension, whereas the inter-community relations remained highly polarized due to inadequate attention paid by relevant stakeholders to bridge their gaps for peace. / Commonwealth Scholarship Commission