| Journal of Social and Policy Sciences |
J-SAPS |
Peace and Conflict Scholarship in South Asia and Pakistan: The Voids, Needs and Role of Think Tanks
The paper argues that the shrinking economic resilience of international donors and aid agencies, and the incompatibility of conflict analysis
mechanisms generated by the developed world warrant home-grown
scientific conflict analysis mechanisms by developing and conflict-torn
countries. It empirically examines economic prowess, aid trends by donors
and prevalence of peace and conflict scholarship as well as the organizational
capacity of think tanks in South Asia, with particular focus on Pakistan. It
employs two frames of references to investigate the latter-conflict analysis
as an established empirical construct, and peace and conflict research in
regional setting. The analysis confirms the need for indigenization of peace
and conflict studies by developing countries, but finds this region
structurally deficient to undertake structured study of peace and conflict,
including conflict analyses. Virtually non-existent academic and social
sector scholarship supports this assertion. The paper proposes establishment
of research projects of global outreach, regional peace and conflict studies’
hub and publication of scientific research to address the current academic
and operational gaps in this field.
Key words: peace and conflict studies; conflict analysis; think tanks;
South Asia; Pakistan; scholarship.
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