Thesis--M.A., University of Hong Kong, 1985.

Thesis--M.A., University of Hong Kong, 1983.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1985.

Thesis (M.A. in National Security Affairs)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2003. / Thesis advisor(s): H. Lyman Miller, Edward A. Olsen. Includes bibliographical references (p. 87-91). Also available online.

This dissertation examines the international history of the Gulf region during the period from 1958 to 1979. It begins with the fall of the Iraqi monarchy and ends with the fall of the Shah of Iran. Particular attention is paid throughout to the establishment of the new Gulf states and their emergence into `modernity'. In Chapter I we deal with the historical background of the Gulf states, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Besides the historical background we also deal with recent social, economic and political developments within all of these states. Special attention has been paid to the culture, religion and society of our subjects since these factors play a major role in the domestic and external decision-making. Faysal of Saudi Arabia, for example, formed his policies according to his strong Islamic beliefs. In Chapter II we deal with the conflicts and disputes among our subjects. Disputes over whole territory, as in the case of the Iraqi claim over Kuwait and the Iranian claim over Bahrain or disputes over islands which one state believes to be part of its national territory but which claim is disputed - the Iranian claim to the two Tunbs and Abu Musa or the Bahraini claim to Zubara, for example, or disputed claims by several parties - in the case of the Buraimi Oasis between Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Oman. These claims became important as a result of the oil discoveries in our region and the establishment of new states deepened some of these conflicts. There have also been important strategic considerations at stake - for example, with regard to the Iraqi claims to the two Kuwaiti islands of Warba and Bubiyan. In Chapter III we look at the involvement of the superpowers in the region. Particular attention is given to the relationships between the United States and Iran and between the United States and Saudi Arabia on the one hand and that between the Soviet Union and Iraq on the other. Attention has inevitably focussed upon military rivalry and the development of armed forces. In the subsequent chapters the emphasis changes. We deal with the region as a whole and look at events as they involve all the countries concerned. These chapters cover the entire period from 1958 to 1979 on a daily basis by watching its politically dynamic developments, starting with the fall of the Iraqi monarchy and the emergence of the revolutionary regime in its place and ending with the downfall of the Shah of Iran in 1979. That has entailed consideration of the fate of the Iraqi revolution and the emergence and fragile independence of Kuwait. Another significant landmark is the British announcement in 1968 of their determination to bring their long-established role in the region to an end three years later. That in turn leads to a consideration of the politics of the establishment of the United Arab Emirates and also of the international aspects of the Omani question. The final chapters consider the `Algiers Accord' between Iran and Iraq and the dispute over the Shatt al-Arab waterway. Considerable note is taken of the Kurdish revolt in its various phases. The thesis comes to an end by describing the downfall of the Shah and the international evaluation of its significance.

This thesis examines the effects of 'Historical Globalization' on Sylhet and its people from 1874 to 1971. The aim of the thesis is to show two intersecting worlds within which the people of Sylhet lived their lives. At the local level they have responded to the introduction of the capitalist tea plantation. At the global level they established a 'diaspora' and social networks that maintained contact with the homeland. The dissertation considers the reshaping of Sylhet and its role as buffer zone between Assam and Bengal - the biggest province of British India. Thus it looks at Sylhet's place as the producer of global commodity tea - interfacing capital and labour that left long-term impact. It explores how local people itself becoming global for seeking economic fortune. The dissertation further examines identity politics from 1870s to 1971 as these events shaped political mobilizations at home and abroad that ended up the creation of Bangladesh. The study begins in 1874, when Assam Province was created taking Sylhet from Bengal and ends in 1971, when Bangladesh emerged where Sylhetis played a key role at home and across the globe. The chapter one traces the distinctive nature of Sylhet as a frontier, a meeting point of cultures even before the opening of Sylhet for tea capitalism. Chapter two examines the local and overseas entrepreneurs involved in the development of the plantation. Chapter three focuses on the phenomenon of labour migration within the South Asian context created by the plantation, the recruitment of tea labourers from other regions up to 1000 kilometres away, some affected by famine and a sharp termination of the contacts with their homeland following the partition in 1947. Chapter four explores mobility of labour created by the merchant marine, drawing in Sylheti seafarers with a tradition of migration and involvement in water transport and taking them across the globe. It considers the impact of 1947 partition, cutting off Sylhetis from Calcutta and ships - out migration not only continues but become torrent. Chapter five goes on to examine social improvement through communication, education and public health. Chapter six looks at the political mobilization in Sylhet, the reaction of the Hindu elites to the prospect of decolonization and the displacement of this elite following partition in 1947 and trans-national network of Diaspora nationalism. The Sylhet referendum in 1947 emerged as a watershed needs emphasising more strongly as a structuring element in the overall study.

The former-Soviet states that make up Central Asia are among the most challenging group of countries to understand in the twenty-first century geopolitical and geoeconomic context. As one of the last of the world’s frontiers, much of this regions’ energy potential in oil and natural gas has yet to be tapped or, even, be found; and the region’s strategic position make Central Asia a significant region for energy markets and global affairs. The last few decades in Central Asia have been shaped by the determination to develop their energy sectors with a balance between attracting foreign energy firms and preserving its authority over its energy assets. States have also struggled to protect their sovereignty over their political and economic affairs from militant, nationalist or sectarian groups as well as from great powers like Russia and China. In spite of its many challenges, Central Asia has many opportunities to develop those institutions, regional relationships and positive economic and political practices that will promote a productive energy sector and a thriving economy. Central-Asian states must achieve its goals of establishing an energy policy that secures prosperity for all, promoting productive energy relations with all Central-Asian states, reducing undue foreign influence but promoting foreign cooperation that benefits Central-Asia’s global relationships, and establishing peace and stability that protect energy infrastructure, production and exports. The future of Central-Asian energy relations can take many different paths and is dependent on the fate of its neighbors Russia, Afghanistan, South Asia and Iran. Russia’s needs for Central Asia’s neighbors to become unstable or inhospitable to energy development, but peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan can open new markets for Central Asia; and changes in Iran can unlock new opportunities to ship oil and gas to Western markets around Russia. For all that the region has endured since independence, the world should apply greater value on this region as its energy prowess and strategic importance make Central Asia an influential player in twenty-first century global relations. / text

published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) coursed many deaths worldwide according to World Health Organization. Disease burden of IPD among adults were estimated in western countries. However, relative information is lacking in Asia, which occupies over 60% of global population. The objective of this review is to address the disease burden of IPD among adults in Asian and totally 15 articles was reviewed in this paper. The burden of IPD in Asia among adults is hard to estimate but generally in the high level. The highest case fatality rate was occurred in Taiwan about 30.2% in 2007. The most common antibiotic resistance is penicillin and serotypes among Asian countries is similarly; the most common types are 23F, 3, 6B following by 14, 19F, 4, 18C. The factors affect disease burdens are complexity. In the same time, these reference papers only cover 7 regions or countries among Asian; data from other countries and regions was not enough for analysis. Further study about disease burden of IPD among Asian population in adults is necessarily. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

Asia has populated with the second largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS. Under the advancement of transportation, the open up of borders between cities and countries, and the process of globalisation, people move from their place of origin to other places for better living conditions and employment opportunities. Mobile people and migrants are identified as the high risk population of HIV infection. Poverty, discrimination, limited access to healthcare and social services, separation with supports and families, being alienated in resident communities, and gender inequalities are the unfavourable conditions which make the migrant population vulnerable to HIV infection. Existing literatures have investigated and examined the potential risk factors among the mobile population. Inconsistencies were found among research but high risk sexual behaviours and poor knowledge and attitude were observed and reviewed within the migrants. However, literatures which compared the people who migrated with other local people in the same population were not yet reviewed systemically. Therefore, this paper aimed to review the articles which compare the migrant group and the non-migrant group in Asian population to identify the association between migration and the risks of HIV infection. A literature search of five databases (PubMed, Medline, Cochrane, CNKI, Wanfang Med Online) was performed and nine articles were eventually selected for review. The migration status of literature was studied as explanatory variable and compared across studies. Outcome variables of interest were grouped into four categories as: demographic characteristics, sexual practices, awareness towards HIV/AIDS, and disease prevalence. To conclude, compared to people who did not migrate, migrants in Asia were more tend to be less educated, have multiple sex partners, engage in high risk sexual intercourse and commercial sex, but their overall condom usage were lower. Also, they had higher risk of sexually transmitted infections and poorer knowledge in HIV/AIDS. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health