Workshop Abstract-Dr.Sabur

ABSTRCT

THE CHALLENGE OF CBMS: A BANGLADESHI PERSPECTIVE

AKM ABDUS SABUR*

No world region is characterized by so much lack of confidence as South Asia. This would be discussed in the light of the analysis of the effectiveness of the CBMs already initiated and the direction of regional conflicts, particularly that between India and Pakistan. It would be argued that the prevailing security situation is the outcome of the development strategy pursued by the ruling elites with excessive preponderance to security considerations as against the development needs. The worst outcome of this strategy is the emergence of South Asia as the poorest, most malnourished, illiterate (and so on) region of the world. Such a monumental failure creates constant pressure on the ruling elite to redirect mass grievances.

The most convenient means of serving this purpose is conflict with the neighbors. The ruling elite, thus, has a vested interest in nourishing as well as occasionally artificially fomenting conflicts. Therefore, CBMs and conflict management efforts are destined to fail unless there is a fundamental change in the development strategy: a shift away from military security to socio-economic and politico-cultural development, a shift away from security to development. This may create the stake in a friendly neighborhood. Otherwise, tremendous works already done by the academic and professional circles with a view to promoting CBMs and conflict management would continue to be ignored by the policy-making circles. Finally, prospects for South Asia's transformation from its emphasis on security in military sense to development in the era of globalization would also be analyzed.

* Senior Research Fellow, Bangladesh Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

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