JNU | RTI | Directory | Contact Us | Emergency Services | List of Holidays
-A A +A

CSLG is organising a seminar by Brandon J. Miliate

CSLG is organising a seminar by Brandon J. Miliate

Event End Date
Event Title
CSLG is organising a seminar by Brandon J. Miliate
Event Details

CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF LAW AND GOVERNANCE
Jawaharlal Nehru University

SEMINAR SERIES

BRANDON J. MILIATE
PhD Student- Political Science, Indiana University, Bloomington

On

Identity on the Edge: Kuki-Chin-Mizo Political Demands and Their Justification

Abstract : In this talk, I will be presenting my preliminary findings from over six months of field research on Kuki-Chin-Mizo political movements/demands and the identity narratives that are used to justify them. I argue that we must consider all political demands and narratives as part of a process of ethnogenesis that is being actively shaped and contested through political movements/insurgencies. Three factors are particularly important to understanding the shape of these debates. Nomenclature issues lead to massive divisions between peoples that generally consider themselves closely related. Two, the intra and interstate borders that divide the Kuki-Chin-Mizo peoples and the nature of state and community building in borderlands further complicates conceptions of identity. Finally, state institutions incentivize certain types of identity narratives and demands, even when such narratives do not correspond to the situation on the ground. I will conclude with some policy recommendations for creating a more peaceful solution in the region.

Tuesday, 08 August, 2017
3.00 PM, Conference Room, CSLG, JNU

About the Speaker: Brandon J. Miliate is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Political Science at Indiana University, Bloomington. His is also a Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellow. Brandon was an affiliated researcher with the Centre for the Study of Law and Governance, JNU, February-May 2016, during his fieldwork in Northeast India.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR TEA AFTER THE SEMINAR

ALL ARE WELCOME

A warm welcome to the modified and updated website of the Centre for East Asian Studies. The East Asian region has been at the forefront of several path-breaking changes since 1970s beginning with the redefining the development architecture with its State-led development model besides emerging as a major region in the global politics and a key hub of the sophisticated technologies. The Centre is one of the thirteen Centres of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi that provides a holistic understanding of the region.

Initially, established as a Centre for Chinese and Japanese Studies, it subsequently grew to include Korean Studies as well. At present there are eight faculty members in the Centre. Several distinguished faculty who have now retired include the late Prof. Gargi Dutt, Prof. P.A.N. Murthy, Prof. G.P. Deshpande, Dr. Nranarayan Das, Prof. R.R. Krishnan and Prof. K.V. Kesavan. Besides, Dr. Madhu Bhalla served at the Centre in Chinese Studies Programme during 1994-2006. In addition, Ms. Kamlesh Jain and Dr. M. M. Kunju served the Centre as the Documentation Officers in Chinese and Japanese Studies respectively.

The academic curriculum covers both modern and contemporary facets of East Asia as each scholar specializes in an area of his/her interest in the region. The integrated course involves two semesters of classes at the M. Phil programme and a dissertation for the M. Phil and a thesis for Ph. D programme respectively. The central objective is to impart an interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of history, foreign policy, government and politics, society and culture and political economy of the respective areas. Students can explore new and emerging themes such as East Asian regionalism, the evolving East Asian Community, the rise of China, resurgence of Japan and the prospects for reunification of the Korean peninsula. Additionally, the Centre lays great emphasis on the building of language skills. The background of scholars includes mostly from the social science disciplines; History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, International Relations and language.

Several students of the centre have been recipients of prestigious research fellowships awarded by Japan Foundation, Mombusho (Ministry of Education, Government of Japan), Saburo Okita Memorial Fellowship, Nippon Foundation, Korea Foundation, Nehru Memorial Fellowship, and Fellowship from the Chinese and Taiwanese Governments. Besides, students from Japan receive fellowship from the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.