Dynamics of Internal Conflicts in Southeast Asia

Second Study Group Meeting on the Dynamics of Internal Conflicts in Southeast Asia
Date: 17 January 2011
Venue: Bali, Indonesia
(in collaboration with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Indonesia)

Within Southeast Asia, the occurrence of internal conflicts has been a persistent problem that poses a serious challenge not only to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states but also to regional stability. With these broader implications in mind, the Study Group on the Dynamics of Internal Conflicts in Southeast Asia was convened to investigate the circumstances that resulted in the relapse, deadlock or success in resolving internal conflicts in four case studies, namely Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Thailand. In this second meeting, the five members of the group presented draft papers for discussion and comment. Participants included Dr Rizal Sukma of CSIS, Jakarta, Assoc. Prof. Herman Kraft of the Institute for Strategic and Development Studies, and Assoc. Prof. Mely Caballero-Anthony of the RSIS Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies. Questions of interest include the following: Why did the peace agreements in Aceh, Moro Philippines, and Myanmar collapse and lead to a relapse? Why has the conflict in southern Thailand never achieved a peace agreement and attempts at peace-making have continued to stagnate? Why has the Aceh conflict finally come to a close and what had sustained the peace-process thus far? Following the comments from the meeting, members of the study group will finalise their papers for submission in the second half of 2011. The papers are expected to be compiled and published in an edited volume.

Posted on: 17/1/2011 8:30:00 AM  |  Topic: Internal and Cross-Border Conflict