The Political Economy of Conflict in South Asia

The states of South Asia are some of the most populous and rapidly growing in the world. Increasingly economically integrated with one another and the worldwide economy, events in South Asia can have global impact. In addition, South Asia is one of the most heavily militarized regions on the planet with numerous on-going conflicts that involve, or have the potential to draw in, outside powers. This collection of multi-disciplinary essays examines the economic causes and consequences of military conflict in South Asia from a variety of perspectives embracing fiscal, social, strategic, environmental and several other dimensions. It also analyses the numerous separatist conflicts that continue to afflict the region as well as inter-state rivalry between the great powers.

Destructive conflicts have thwarted growth and development in South Asia for more than half a century. This collection of multi-disciplinary essays examines the economic causes and consequences of military conflict in South Asia from a variety of perspectives embracing fiscal, social, strategic, environmental and several other dimensions.

Matthew J. Webb is Assistant Professor of politics at the Petroleum Institute, United Arab Emirates. He has a Ph.D. in international relations from the Australian National University and has taught at universities in New Zealand, Australia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. His research interests include normative and explanatory dimensions of violent separatism in South Asia as well as the economic consequences of military spending in developing states.

Albert Wijeweera is Senior Lecturer in finance in the Southern Cross Business School at Southern Cross University, Australia. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Tennessee, USA, and an MSc in quantitative finance from the University of London, UK. His career includes positions with the University of New England, The Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi and the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He has extensive experience in conducting applied econometrics research and his recent publications have appeared in Applied Economics, Applied Financial Economics, Global Economy Journal, Journal of Developing Areas, Applied Economics Letters and Defence and Peace Economics.

1. Introduction; Matthew J. Webb and Albert Wijeweera
2. The Economics of Conflict in the Chittagong Hill Tract Region of Bangladesh; Syed Serajul Islam
3. The 'Political Economy' of Sikh Separatism: Ethnic Identity, Federalism and the Distortions of Post-Independence Agrarian Development in Punjab-India; Jugdep S. Chima
4. The Political Economy of the Ethnonationalist Uprising in Pakistani Balochistan, 1999-201; Farhan Hanif Siddiqi
5. Nepal's Protracted Transition: Explaining the Continuing Political andEconomic Impasse; Pramod K. Kantha
6. India's Indigenization of Military Aircraft Design and Manufacturing: Towardsa Fifth Generation Fighter; Michael B. Charles and Elisabeth Sinnewe
7. The War on Terror and its Economic Impact on Pakistan; Howard Brasted and Zahir Ahmed
8. Terrorist Activities and Financial Market Performance: Evidence from Sri Lanka; Albert Wijeweera
9. Greed, Grievance and Violent Separatism in South Asia; Matthew J. Webb
10. The Himalayan Ranges, Glaciers, Lakes and Rivers: An International Ecological, Economic and Military Outlook; Lavanya Vemsani
11. Defense, Security and the Economy in South Asian Countries; Christos Kollias and Stephanos Papadamou
12. A Survival Analysis of the Onset of Peace in South Asia; Ali C. Tasiran and Zainab Kazim Ali
13. Conclusion