Civil Government Research Articles

INSURGENCY OF THE ETHNIC ARMED ORGANIZATIONS’ ROLE IN MYANMAR’S 2021 COUP: A TOTAL PEOPLE’S WAR ANALYSIS

This article attempts to uncover events in Myanmar during the 2021 coup and its relationship with the country's various Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs). The Tatmadaw initiated the 2021 coup because the civilian government's landslide victory was based on deceit and fraud. The aim was to ascertain whether the Ethnic Armed Organizations' (EAOs) inability to overturn the military coup is linked to their shortcomings in implementing the total people's war (TPW) strategy. To that end, this qualitative article utilized a historiography-analytical-based approach in its analysis. The analysis was grounded in a methodology that incorporated a framework encompassing Kiras' four concepts of a successful insurgency and Nasution's perspective on nationalism. The two methodological tools, therefore, consist of the concepts "space," "time," "support," and also "legitimacy." The EAOs' myriad backgrounds and resources make their implementation of the mentioned concept vary. The article concludes by saying that further research is needed to clarify and make other generalizations on the research question.

The Influence of Cuba’s Leftist Ideas on Brazil's Leftist Radicalism

The work is devoted to the influence of the Cuban socialist idea on the Brazilian state. It is known that the revolution in Cuba led to a number of important socio-political and economic processes in Latin America, including Brazil. The article focuses on the development of leftist movements in Cuba in the late 50s and early 60s, and how leftist revolutionaries influenced the growth of socialism and communism in Latin America. The work evaluates not only the left-wing personalities in Brazil, who were inspired by the success of the Cuban Revolution, but also the analysis of left-wing movements formed during this period of time, taking into account the fact that one of the main factors in the formation and development of socialist and communist associations was the Cuban factor, which not only promoted the idea of building socialism, but also radicalized leftist movements. The article raises the issue of the participation of Catholic associations of the 60s in the development of the ideas of socialism and the promotion of political literacy of supporters of the fusion of biblical ideas in Brazil with left-wing ideas. Special attention is paid to the 1964 military coup in Brazil, which led to the degradation and prohibition of leftist movements in the country until the period of transition to civilian governance in the country. Along with this, the article notes that the successes and failures of the leftist movements of the 60s in Brazil directly influenced the leftist movements of the late 20th and early 21st century in the country.

Military Reforms in North Vietnam in the 17th–18th Centuries and their Impact on the Combat Capability of the Army

Throughout Vietnam's medieval history, the military aristocracy has always played a crucial role in government, relying on private armies that formed the basis of the armed forces. Nevertheless, in the second half of the 17th –– first quarter of the 18th centuries in the northern part of Vietnam, with the temporary cessation of wars, there has been a transition from military dictatorship and related forms of government to a state in which, at least formally, the first place would be given to civilian officials. This transition required a major reorganization of the army, which was carried out in two stages. At the first stage, in 1674, under the ruler Trinh Tac, the administration of the northern part of the country finally ceased campaigns against the separatists in the south and significantly limited the military's ability to interfere in the affairs of the civilian government. At the same time, private military armies and the principle of recruiting professional military personnel, mainly from the South, were preserved. At the second stage, in the 1720s, under Trinh Cuong, it was decided to abandon professional detachments as the basis of the armed forces completely, and troops began to be formed through recruitment and centralized training of senior and middle-level commanders at the military schools. The latter of these reforms caused significant damage to the combat capability of the troops, which clearly manifested during the civil wars that broke out in the country in the 1730s–40s.

How Physicians Should Respond to Climate Change.

Urgent warnings about the existential threat of climate change are coming from leaders in nearly every sector of society, including virtually all climate scientists, notable heads of civil governments around the globe, the world's top religious leaders, prestigious medical journals, as well as principals of the largest financial firms. Surveys show that the majority of U.S. physicians in several specialties are caring for patients who are experiencing direct health harms due to climate change. In public platforms, physicians are expressing their awareness that this public health crisis places everyone at risk, but many people are at greater risk, including children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions, elders, and those who experience environmental injustice or live in harm's way. Physicians should respond to this crisis with meaningful activities performed within the context of their current roles. The role of medical care provider is the best known role. But, throughout their careers, physicians have ongoing responsibilities as educators of colleagues, trainees, and patients. They are influential employees of medical institutions, trusted experts who exercise civic responsibility, and sources of guidance for public policymakers. Physicians and other health professionals, individually and through their organizations, also work to influence our societal response to the challenge of climate change. The first annual Lancet Journal Countdown Report in 2016 tracking health indicators of climate change stated that climate change had the potential to wipe out all public health gains of the last half century, but it also presents a tremendous opportunity to save lives and improve health. All physicians should work toward the latter outcome.

Aesthetics of dis-ability: A Short Study on Samuel Beckett’s Endgame

Locke, while writing his Second Treatise on Civil Government in 1689 states that all men by nature are ‘free, equal and independent’ but is everyone equal? We know by now that equity is the means through which true equality can be achieved but in order to make a change, we also need to accept the fact that ‘normalcy’ is nothing but a social construct. All those whom our society regard as ‘abnormal’, ‘incompetent’ or ‘non-productive’ have the right to live as much as ‘normal’ people do. When it comes to persons with disabilities, it gets even more complicated by the existing taboo. A sense of uneasiness and discomfort prevail whenever we confront bodies un-like our own. Some tend to sympathise while others tend to dismiss it altogether. Samuel Beckett tries to break this taboo by making use of characters in his writings who with their decomposing bodies, make an attempt to live the absurdities of life. His characters ‘stare at death with passionate attention’ but do not commit suicide because they are tenacious enough to live. Afterall as Molloy says, ‘To decompose is to live too’. The paper analyses Beckett’s Endgame in terms of disability and aesthetics. It aims to explore how the playwright makes use of theatre as a device to shatter the camera obscura that the bourgeoisie order maintains on bodies that it cannot contain. The able-bodied people witness man at his most vulnerable, striving to sustain by taking help of others thereby realising that co-dependency is evident and inevitable.

Democratic Conundrum: Introspecting Complexities and Dynamics in Pakistan's Political Landscape

Research Problem: This research aims to explore the main obstacles hindering Pakistan's democratic transition, including weak economic policies, structural imbalances, and military interference, all of which have led to insecurity, conflict, and the oppression of civilian rule. In addition, this research also aims to understand Pakistan's political culture which combines autocratic and democratic ideologies, as well as how political satisfaction with different regimes impacts the acceptance of military regimes and the inability of marginalized groups to express their opinions under authoritarian rule. Research purposes: The aim of this research is to identify and analyze the main challenges facing Pakistan's democracy, including issues of partisanship and segregation practices, as well as to understand historical and current issues that can help identify changes needed to strengthen democracy in Pakistan. Research methods: This research uses a descriptive-analytical approach by collecting data through literature reviews and analysis of official documents, such as government reports and international agency reports. Interdisciplinary analysis is used to understand the impact of historical and socio-cultural factors on the development of democracy in Pakistan. Results and Discussion: The research results show that the main challenges to Pakistan's democracy include fraudulent electoral processes, political centralization, segregation, and biased party politics. The lack of a dynamic civil society and military domination of civilian government are contributing factors to the failure of democracy in Pakistan. Discussions of history and current issues also provide insight into the changes needed to improve democracy in the country. Research Implications and Contributions: This research has important implications for policymakers and stakeholders interested in improving democracy in Pakistan. By understanding and identifying the challenges faced, this research can provide guidance for developing appropriate strategies and measures to strengthen democracy and promote political inclusion in Pakistan.

RIGHT TO RECALL ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE: MAKES SENSE IN INDIAN PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY

सभा वा न प्रवेष्टया, वक्तव्यं वा समंजसम्। अब्रुवन बिब्रुवन, वापि, नरो भवति किल्विषी। "One must not enter either an Assembly Hall, Or he must speak there with all the righteousness, For one who does not speak or one who speaks falsely, Does himself in the equal sin involve."Manu, The inscription on dome near Lift No. 2 of parliament Whenever the Legislators endeavour to take away, and destroy the property of the people they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any further obedience, and are left to the common refuge, which God hath provided for all men, against force and violence.Second Treatise of Civil Government John Locke (1690).

PAKISTAN’S STRATEGIC CULTURE

The article examines the strategic culture of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, with the focus on the dominance of military elites in the political life of this state. The author’s goal is to analyze the factors that led to the rise of the army in the specific political and security environment of Pakistan. The generalship has done more than merely determine the main directions of the security policy and make principled decisions of a strategic nature; it has fully controlled all aspects of Pakistani society. This has been the case not only during military coups and direct military rule, but also when civilian governments were in power. Crucial decisions have been made only with the consent of or even as initiated by the army leadership. Moreover, from the very beginning of its independence, Pakistan has been nurturing its own version of the "army + Islam" formula, in which one component complemented and upheld the other. This "duet" was deeply rooted in the very emergence of Pakistani identity as a Muslim state of South Asia, i.e., a state established on a religious basis. After highlighting the preceding historical factors of the formation of such a specific culture, the study then explores its manifestations in the contemporary state through examples illustrating the influence of military leaders on the internal development and international behavior of the country. The author argues that for the 75 years of its independence, the Pakistani army has been a guarantor of social stability, which has brought it significant support from the population. On the other hand, the generalship has been repeatedly criticized for inhibiting the development of democratic institutions in the country and active interference in domestic policies and the life of the population. The author places a special emphasis on investigating the strategic behavior of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the context of the development of Ukrainian-Pakistani relations. The army has the power to influence bilateral cooperation and Pakistan’s official neutral position regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war by adjusting this attitude.

When Coups Occur: Erosion of Democracy in Thailand and Myanmar.

It is generally accepted that attempts at coup d'état have decreased since the end of the Cold War. But this does not mean that coup attempts will not occur in the future. With the recent two military coups in Thailand and Myanmar, all the continental states in Southeast Asia have entered authoritarian rules. This article explores when coups possibly occurred in the cases of Thailand in 2014 and Myanmar in 2021 that experienced overthrowing the civilian governments and the rise of the military in power. The Early Warning Signals (EWS) recently endorsed to investigation of the likelihood of military coups and qualitative analysis of collected data on factors affecting such incidents were combined to better explain the situations. From this approach, this article found that Group Grievance and Security Apparatus indicators in the Fragile States Index are important factors leading to the occurrence of military coups in the two countries. Also, from the qualitative analysis, a political culture relying on on iconic political leaders in the two countries has been a negative influence that deludes democratization and challenges civilian rule.

Conscience and the continuum of constitutionalism: John Calvin on civil government

Abstract This article examines John Calvin’s theology on its own terms with the aim of appreciating the normative basis and implications of his political theory. Although the claim that Calvin’s account of civil government falls within the category of political ‘theology’ is less controversial, the normative implications of his theological ontology for political actors are more commonly contested. Calvin seminally wrote ‘on Civil Government’ in Book IV, Chapter xx of the Institutes of the Christian Religion. In contrast, his accounts of conscience and natural law are far less systemized.1 This article contends that this reticence is not due to lack of importance but rather, due to its foundational nature. Indeed, the opening statement of the Institutes is indicative of the coherence of the Reformer’s thoughts wherein any emerging polity is composed of what this article refers to as the ‘spheres-of-influence’ scheme—a normative system originating inward from the vertical relationship every human agent has with the divine, and then extending horizontally outwards to bind the collective in a common system of values. Such an ontology is predicated on the concepts of conscience and the divine image, which renders all persons, who possess this natural repository of moral knowledge, accountable to transcendent standards of virtue. It follows that when we overlay this ‘continuum’2 onto a constitutional framework, we place the priority, not on the individual rights of the citizen, but on the responsibilities of all political actors whereby others precede the self and the common good prevails over self-interest.

Guardians and Governors: The Multifaceted Role of the Pakistan Army in National Development and Islamic Ethics

This comprehensive study explores the multifaceted role of the Pakistan Army in the development of Pakistan, with a particular focus on its integration of Islamic perspectives and ethical considerations. The Pakistan Army, since the country's inception in 1947, has evolved from a traditional military force into a pivotal actor in national affairs, influencing political, economic, and social spheres. This paper delves into the historical background of the Army, tracing its evolution from a segment of the British Indian Army to an independent entity deeply embedded in the fabric of the Pakistani state. It examines the Army's significant yet controversial role in the political arena, where it has intermittently assumed direct control and wielded substantial influence over civilian governance. In terms of economic contributions, the study investigates the Army's direct involvement in various business ventures and its substantial impact on national economic policies. This includes an analysis of the Army's infrastructure projects and its role as a major employer, highlighting both the benefits and challenges of its pervasive economic presence.

Non-state armed groups with territorial control as emergent actors of wartime water governance

In discussions of water management during conflict, non-state armed groups (NSAGs) primarily feature in relation to the strategic use of water resources to gain military or political advantage, but not as actors of civil governance within territories under their control. Given the humanitarian importance of water services, we study the role of NSAGs in wartime water governance and their interactions with other actors, based on empirical data from three cases in the Middle East: (1) the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, (2) the Houthi-controlled north of Yemen, and (3) Northeastern Syria under the control of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and its Syrian Democratic Forces. Our theoretical framework builds on previous studies on rebel governance to analyze NSAG involvement in local water service provision, water infrastructure development, and institutional processes related to policy-making and long-term planning. We find differences between the three cases regarding the access to external funds and the local expectations toward public water services, and identify financial interests and local legitimacy as main motivations for NSAG’s involvement in water governance. Our results also show several examples of water service provision in NSAG-controlled areas being “outsourced” to other actors, including state authorities, private providers and international organizations.

Church and State: The Promise of Reformed Theology for the Church Today

This article surveys the ways in which Reformed theology (particularly the Westminster Standards and subsequent generations of Scottish and American Presbyterians) has articulated the relationship between the church and civil government. It addresses two fruits of this line of reflection that are especially pertinent to the contemporary church. The first is that this doctrine makes provision for the divinely guaranteed religious liberty of all human beings, even in the face of a civil government’s attempts to abridge or usurp that authority. The second is that this doctrine provides clear guidance to the church concerning the ways in which the church, in its organized capacity, may and may not engage in matters that concern both the church and the state. KEYWORDS: Church, state, civil magistrate, religious liberty, Westminster Assembly, Scottish Presbyterian, American Presbyterian, PC (USA)

The Interaction between Custom and Ritual in Chinese Society

Abstract In traditional China’s complicated social system, the interaction between custom and ritual laid the foundation for a national political framework and local societal functions, and has continued to play a role in modern Chinese nation-building since the May Fourth Movement. The essence of this interaction is that it draws together national politics with non-governmental micropolitics; by engaging widespread support from across society, it ensures that society’s internal mechanisms function smoothly through a shared cultural identity, thereby eliminating real or potential social crises. Today, in a time of rapid globalization, all nations are faced with issues such as international regulations, national legal rights, and civil governance. Chinese traditional political wisdom and social mechanisms embedded in the interaction between custom and ritual may be useful.

The Brazilian Military Dictatorship: a Present Past

The 1964 coup in Brazil launched a military dictatorship that for two decades subjected diverse social groups to authoritarianism and repressive violence. In 1985, the last military president was replaced by a civilian government following an agreement between dissident factions of the dictatorship and a section of the democratic opposition. This agreed transition allowed the military institutions to remain untouched and united, preserved from punishment or any need to express regret, while the Constitution approved in 1988 tried to set the grounds for a lasting democracy. These events from the 1980s have continued to shape politics in Brazil, including the more recent political scenario, which from 2014 experienced a radical shift rightwards that strengthened those discourses nostalgic for the dictatorship and gave rise to the Bolsonarist phenomenon.
 The purpose of my presentation is to synthesize this process as a means to understand the present political situation. In the conclusion, I comment on the role of the military corporation in the current Lula government and develop some hypotheses concerning the political future of the armed forces in Brazil.

Personal Income Tax and Provisions of Education and Road Infrastructures in Lagos State, Nigeria

Infrastructural provision has been the major point of concern to governments in all states of the federation in Nigeria. Government of Lagos State without exception has been facing serious challenges in provision of infrastructure to Lagosians. The state has been witnessing infrastructural deficit despite huge revenues accruing to the government monthly and this is actually affecting the standard of living of the citizens. Since the advent of civilian government in the state, internally generated revenue has been on the increase, yet the state is still witnessing many infrastructural deficits. This study examined the effect of personal income tax revenue on infrastructural provisions in Lagos state with respect to Education and Road Infrastructures. The study adopted ex-post facto research design. The study covered Personal Income Tax and Infrastructures provisions on Education and Road by the government of Lagos State from 1997 to 2018. Data were obtained from Lagos State Internal Revenue Services (LIRS), Lagos State Ministry of budget and planning and Lagos State Ministry of Finance. The validity of data was premised on the statutory audit of the financial statements by the office of the Auditor General of Lagos State. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found that Personal Income Tax has significant effect on infrastructural provision by the government of the state. On IFED, Adjusted R2 = 0.372, Prob(F-stat) = 4.753, at 5% significance level [β = -0.815; P – value = 0.036]. Also on IFDR, Adjusted R2 = 0.315, F-stat = 3.915, Prob(F-stat) = 0.028), at 5% significance level [β = 0.352; P – value = 0.154]. The study concluded that Personal income tax has impacts that are significant on infrastructural provisions of the state. The study recommended that, government should make it a top priority, the provisions of infrastructures on education to guarantee quality education of the pupils in the state. Also, government should embark on massive road network construction with proper maintenance of the existing ones so as to avoid frequent occurrence of carnage on the roads and government should make more effort to widen the tax net especially among the rural dwellers so that more revenues can be collected as personal income tax in the state.

Reforming the Civil Service System of Japan

The article deals with the issue of reforming the Japanese civil service. Japan's civil service system was reformed in 2014 by amending the National Civil Service Law. The amended law covers a wide range of areas, but the main issue is the new procedure for appointing leaders. The introduction of this new process has fundamentally changed the relationship between the prime minister and the executive branch. This article first describes aspects of the Japanese government's civil service reform and analyzes the content and process of this reform in two dimensions (i.e., transformational factors and transactional factors). It then explains how the reform changed the relationship between the prime minister and the executive branch.

Discourse Style of Nigerian Coup Plotters

This paper focuses on investigating selected speeches of Nigerian coup plotters, with a view to ascertaining their discourse styles. The paper speculates that the broadcast idiolect revolves around propaganda, polemics, and discursive styles, including the fox, Tartuffe or tortoise style, where they intimidate their opponents and the civilian populace into submission. This paper, by its nature, involves both qualitative and quantitative kind of research as it relies heavily on observation and library research. The military class succeeded in intervention mission but failed abysmally in the thrust of salvation. Their selfish quest made them neocolonialists in military garb. This paper, therefore, argues that their dismal failure in political governance of their Motherland ends up leaving the masses much poorer and more disillusioned than they had been under the corrupt civilian government. The unmitigated disaster the military precipitated in political governance constrained Nigerian literary patriots to publish social satires – in all genres - amidst propaganda. This implies that they reprehensively indict the military villains and continuously call for a revolution from the disconsolate Nigerians.

Policy Regime Analysis of Border Security Governance in Myanmar: A Preliminary Case Study of Myawaddy (2020–2021)

This study is a case-study research that explores the anatomy of Myanmar’s border security governance using the Myawaddy Township as an exploratory case study. To explore how the Burmese borderlands, represented by Myawaddy, have been governed, the policy–regime approach is adopted as a conceptual framework to illustrate the idiosyncrasies, including relevant parties and their interactions. It was found that the following actors are involved in the security governance of borderlands: ethnic armed organisation, local bureaucratic agencies, Border Guard Forces (BGFs) and foreign interest groups. Prima facie, civil government agencies have performed their duties of overseeing border activities; however, they appear to have only de jure authority, serving as soft infrastructures for the lawful border economy. Contrarily, Karen BGF leaders, appointed by the Tatmadaw (i.e. Myanmar armed forces), have held de facto authority, controlling and benefiting from the border’s shadow economy—which is marked by gambling businesses—as well as from running protection rackets. Still, the BGF units in Myawaddy have retained a considerable degree of autonomy without necessarily following the Tatmadaw’s order. In a nutshell, border security governance in Myanmar’s Myawaddy consists of several governing modes existing in parallel and, hence, it is prismatic in nature

To Discipline a Nation: Italy and the War Governments, 1915–1919

ABSTRACT This article examines the militarisation of Italian society under the wartime emergency. It highlights the central role of two pieces of legislation in April and May 1915, both enacted before Italy formally entered the war, in transferring powers from parliament to the executive and from the civilian authorities to the military, all in the name of national defence and security. It also analyses the constant conflict between army headquarters in Udine and the civilian government in Rome, with Chief of General Staff Luigi Cadorna maintaining that ministers were incompetent, cowardly or too liberal in their approach to wartime rule. As Cadorna’s stranglehold over the north of Italy, including the front-line areas and the increasingly expanding war zones, grew, so too did the harshness of military justice in those territories. The piece ends by considering the legacy left by Cadorna, both for his successor as Chief of General Staff Armando Diaz, in November 1917, and for the transition from war to peace after the end of 1918. Some of the exceptional measures practised during the war fed into policies of surveillance of Slav and ‘Austrian’ groups in the New Provinces acquired under the Treaty of St. Germain in 1919, while the emphasis on discipline and order encouraged many former and serving officers to throw in their lot with ultra-nationalist groups, and eventually with Mussolini’s Fascists.